Are Democrats and Republicans more similar? Flashcards
Introduction? Stance? Points?
More different than similar.
Some may weakly argue that bi-partisan legislation shows similarities. –> Broad churches allow some factions? to compromise? BUT more clashes and divides.
Social, Economic, Foreign Policy.
Social Policy: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022)
UNITY
Changes to do with gun control and school safety programs. → 15 Republicans voted for it as well.
–> Highlights move to more agreement → First major gun safety legislation in 30 years.
Social Policy: Respect for Marriage Act (2022)
UNITY
Protects interracial and same-sex marriage, even if changes in future court rulings. → 12 Republicans in the Senate joined this.
AO2: Even on ‘liberal’ institutions, more modern societal structures have become increasingly accepted by both parties.
Social Policy: Counter
RFMA: Overlooks majority Republican stance who voted against the bill, including utilising the filibuster to try to impede upon this process.
SCA: Anomalous, with Republicans in general opposing more gun restrictions. In 2023, Senate Republicans blocked efforts by Democrats to try to pass universal background checks legislation.
Social Policy: Abortion
DIVISION:
Major party line stances on abortion. →Ensuring Access to Abortion Act (2022) passed along party lines in the House. → All Democrats voted for the bill.
–>Divisions over whose rights to protect, Republicans often citing the right to life of the unborn, Democrats right of bodily autonomy/ privacy/ choice.
Social Policy: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (2025)
Would ban women and girls who are trans from playing on women and girls sports teams. → Unlikely to pass the 60 high threshold in the Senate due to needing Democrat support.
–> Even on the very fundamental concept of what constitutes as a woman there continue to be divisions.
Overall AO3 for social policy?
Whilst may be able to find some agreement, often not comprehensive. –> Disagreements preventing further bipartisan legislation from passing.
Economic Policy: Housing Crisis
Both see it as a key issue and both promise to reduce costs and get more housing costs. → 3 million new housing units. (Harris). → Eliminate certain regulations, ultra-low tax and ultra-low regulations for large scale housing construction (Trump).
–> Both see need to take major action in response to cost of living and rising housing prices.
Economic Policy: No tax on tips act (2025)
Would eliminate the federal income tax on cash tips. Introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (Rep). Joining him to introduce it includes even Democratic Senators such as Rosen (Nevada).
AO2: Senators from different parties working together to help improve livelihoods / address major concerns of those in their states. (Representing the state over staying just within the party line).
Economic Policy: Counter
Housing: Superficiial agreement, vastly differnt ways of doing so and justificiations behind rising costs: Trump blames undocumented immigrants, Harris including Stop Predatory Investing Act (corporations who markup housing prices).
No Tax on Tips Act: Currently Democrat support can be seen as minority. Most supporters are still Republican behind it, with the two senators supporting both from the same state.
Economic Policy: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)
Reducing taxes for individuals and corporations. → Trump’s economic flagship policy, no Democrats voted for in the Senate.
AO2: Overall direction of economic policy → Whether to raise tax for more government expenditure, it is clear foundationally there are differences, in spite of factions such as more moderate/ centrist Blue Dogs existing within parties.
Economic Policy: American Rescue Plan (2021)
$1.9T economic relief in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Heavy party line voting, with only one Democrat voting against.
–> AO2: Even in the aftermath of a global pandemic, parties are still unwilling to compromise with one another.
Foreign Policy: Israel.
UNITY: Both generally support.
→ Democrats where only 7% of candidates had an extreme stance e.g US should stop the war. → Republicans also united, 64% support Israeli military actions (2024).
–> Both share similar perspectives/ backing of allies.
Foreign Policy: $95bn aid package.
Bolsters support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan → 79-18 vote in the Senate.
Both see need to provide additional support to allies, see necessity in upholding key values such as democracy, against authoritarianism etc.
Foreign Policy: Counter
Israel: Superfiicial, vastly different approaches: Biden is more moderate, presents US as potential meditator for the situation. Trump gives near-absolute support.
$95bn bill ignores months of struggle beforehand in House, especially over the scale and size of aid to Ukraine (worth $61bn).
Foreign Policy: Paris Agreement
Withdrawal from Paris Agreement by Trump in 2017 and 2025. Rejoined by Biden in 2021.
–> Environment continues to be a dividing trend between parties. Democrats see it as crucial, (74%) Republicans more concerned about current economic affairs. (1/7 see environment as crucial).
Foreign Policy: Foreign Intervention
US as the strongest and richest country has a “responsibility to take a leading role.” 13% of Republicans, with 57% seeing a need to reduce involvement v 65% of Democrats.
—> Interventional v Isolationist approach.
Conclusion: DIVIDED?
Clearly more so, polarised even more in recent years/ with return of Trump.
