Essay plans - Parties Flashcards
What is the ideology of the Republicans?
SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE
Focused on the preservation of traditional values and beliefs.
Concerned with many social issues such as opposition to abortion, advocacy against drug usage, opposition to same-sex marriage, support for school prayer.
For example, Mike Pence is opposed to abortion, critical of sex education as he is in favour of abstinence education and opposes the expansion of LGBT rights.
The Republicans being socially conservative is significant because this appeals to religious voters, especially in the Southern “Bible Belt”, therefore these voters have formed the core vote of the Republican party in several key elections, such as the election of Reagan in 1980 and 1984 and George W. Bush in 2004.
FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE
Advocate for low taxes, reduced government spending and minimal government debt - deregulation, free trade, privatization and tax cuts are its defining qualities.
Tea Party are the most fiscally conservative and call for lower taxes, and for a reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit through decreased government spending, small-government principles and opposes government-sponsored universal healthcare.
Republicans have very different views to Democrats on how the deficit should be reduced - rather than raising taxes - would discourage enterprise and hard work - they believe the focus should be on cutting the cost of the federal government – but with the exception of defence spending.
The Republicans being fiscally conservative is significant because this means that they are more likely to disagree with the Democrats on fiscal issues, which can cause gridlock and make the federal government ineffective, such as during the 2013 Government Shutdown.
MAIN STREET PARTNERSHIP
However, the Main Street Partnership makes the Republicans less conservative.
There are currently 47 members and they are often labelled as “Republicans in Name Only” by the Tea Party Movement.
Susan Collins is a moderate Republican - aligns with the Democrats on many social issues – voted against repealing ACA in 2017 and only Rep to against undoing an Obama coal mining rule that reduced mining waste – but remains fiscally conservative – voted in favour of Bush tax cuts in 2003 and the 2017 Rep tax plan.
The Main Street Partnership being less conservative is significant because this means that the Republicans are less united, therefore it may be harder for them to get enough votes to pass conservative legislation.
What is the ideology of the Democrats?
FISCALLY LIBERAL
High taxes to pay for welfare spending - in 2009, Democratic President Barack Obama signed into law a 156% increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco.
High public spending to help those in need – all 58 Democratic Senators voted in favour of Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010.
Large Government to intervene to help those in need - Obamacare which increased the role of the federal government in welfare services.
Market regulations to prevent corruption - Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren championed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to oversee and regulate mortgages, credit cards and student loans.
The Democrats being fiscally liberal is significant because means that they are more likely to disagree with the Republicans on fiscal issues, which can cause gridlock and make the federal government ineffective, such as during the 2013 Government Shutdown.
SOCIALLY
Social liberal - believe in and support: Abortion - Nancy Pelosi, Democratic House Minority Leader, has a 100% approval rating by Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services.
Gay marriage - President Obama said that the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which legalised gay marriage, was a “victory for America”.
Stem cell research – In 2009, President Obama signed an executive order allowing federal taxpayer money to fund stem cell research.
The Democrats being socially liberal is significant because this appeals to young, non-white and urban voters, therefore these voters have formed the core vote of the Democratic party in several key elections, such as the election of Obama in 2008 and 2012.
BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS
A congressional caucus with 18 members, who identify as fiscally responsible and centrist and promote national defence.
They are accused of being “Democrats in Name Only” (DINOs).
They introduced the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 which created new budgeting rules requiring most new spending to be offset by cuts made elsewhere or revenue added elsewhere.
Senator Ben Nelson was a BDD and only signed the PPACA (2010) once it had been amended to give states the right to prevent insurance from covering abortions.
The Blue Dog Democrats being less liberal is significant because this means that the Democrats are less united, therefore it may be harder for them to get enough votes to pass liberal legislation.
How are parties organised in the US?
50 STATE PARTIES
Parties are a collection of 50 state parties rather than one centralised national party.
Party candidates stand on their own views which differ from candidate to candidate and state to state.
The Tea Party Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz has much more conservative policies than the moderate Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski.
In May 2014, the Nevada state convention voted to remove opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion from the Nevada Republican Party Platform, even though the 2012 Republican National Party Platform was firmly opposed to both.
The state branches can tailor their message to their electorate, whom they have more knowledge and experience of than their national organisation, therefore it may be easier to engage the electorate.
NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The only form of permanent party structure at the national level.
The members elect a chair, sometimes recommended by an incumbent president, for example, Trump recommended the current RNC leader Ronna McDaniel after the 2016 elections - usually former officials and don’t get much public attention.
The committee is responsible for raising money, coordinating election strategy and organising the national party convention.
The DNC is made up of the chair and vice of each state party and an additional 200 members, whom are all admitted to the convention as super-delegates.
RNC made up of chair of each state party and 2 committee members from each.
PARTY LEADERS
The influence of party leaders is arguably minimal.
This is shown by weak party discipline in Congress and lower levels of party voting.
In 2015, most House Democrats voted against Obama’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) and several Senate Reps to block further action against Iran in 2020.
The party conventions have lost significance because of primaries.
Parties have no organised mass membership, so it may be harder for parties to organise their activists to campaign or to vote.
Important decisions can be taken by those who are lower down in the party’s organisation, therefore they may not have as much knowledge or experience as those higher up in the party, meaning that they might make decisions that cause problems for the party in the future.
Republican party factions
MODERATE REPUBLICANS
Fiscally conservative but socially moderate – Main Street Partnership.
There are currently 47 members and they are often labelled as “Republicans in Name Only” by the Tea Party Movement.
Susan Collins is a moderate Republican - aligns with the Democrats on many social issues – voted against repealing ACA in 2017 and only Rep to against undoing an Obama coal mining rule that reduced mining waste – but remains fiscally conservative – voted in favour of Bush tax cuts in 2003 and the 2017 Rep tax plan.
Moderate Republicans are significant because they can sometimes achieve bi-partisan cooperation, which can reduce gridlock BUT they also make the Republicans less united, therefore it may be harder for them to get enough votes to pass conservative legislation.
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS
Socially and fiscally conservative – Republican Study Committee – a congressional caucus which has a membership of 138 Representatives – largest ideological caucus.
Backed by the Tea Party Movement - most fiscally conservative who call for lower taxes, reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit through decreased government spending, small-government principles and opposes government-sponsored universal healthcare.
Ted Cruz, Senator for Texas since 2013, was an unknown candidate with low financial backing, but was able to win his seat using Tea Party support.
He was one of the main architects of the 2013 Government Shutdown.
Form the majority of the Reps and therefore influential in leg agenda.
LIBERTARIAN REPUBLICANS
Liberty Caucus currently has 8 members in the HofR.
Fiscally very conservative but believe the government should stay out of peoples’ personal lives.
Justin Amash is the leader of the Liberty Caucus - supports the repeal of the Defence of Marriage Act of 1996 which allowed states to refuse to recognise same-sex marriages and proposed the Amash-Conyers Amendment 2013 which could have ended the blanket collection of phone record under the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.
Sen Rand Paul is a Libertarian Republican - one of just two Republican Senators to vote against extending three provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act in 2011 and sponsored the REDEEM Act of 2013 which could have sealed records of nonviolent offenders.
They arguably best uphold the Founding Fathers’ principles of limited federal government - could be argued to have the greatest constitutional legitimacy.
What are the internal divisions within the Democrats?
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Fiscal policy influenced by the New Deal - higher taxes to fund welfare – and social policy influenced by the “Great Society” - civil rights and same-sex marriage.
Progressive Caucus – represents the most left-leaning, progressive faction of the Ds.
94 members – 2nd largest ideological caucus.
Elizabeth Warren, Senator for Massachusetts since 2013, is a Progressive Democrat.
She championed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to oversee and regulate mortgages, credit cards and student loans.
Nancy Pelosi, Democratic House Minority Leader, is a Liberal Democrat.
She has 100% approval ratings by Planned Parenthood, the Hispanic Federation and the Human Rights Campaign.
She played a key part in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 but wanted it to go further.
Liberal Democrats are significant because they speak up for the rights of minorities
CENTRIST DEMOCRATS
Fiscally moderate and socially liberal, but willing to compromise.
New Democrat coalition - 93 members – 3rd largest ideological caucus.
Bill Clinton was a New Democrat - signed the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 which abolished a programme that gave financial assistance to poor single mothers and introduced the “Don’t ask don’t tell” policy of 1994 which allowed homosexuals to serve in the military.
Centrist Democrats are significant because they help the Democrats to be more of a “big tent”, “catch all” party, which is essential necessary for election success in order to appeal to more voters.
CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS
Blue Dog Coalition - congressional caucus with 18 members, who identify as fiscally responsible and centrist and promote national defence.
They are accused of being “Democrats in Name Only” (DINOs).
They introduced the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 which created new budgeting rules requiring most new spending to be offset by cuts made elsewhere or revenue added elsewhere.
Senator Ben Nelson was a BDD and only signed the PPACA (2010) once it had been amended to give states the right to prevent insurance from covering abortions.
Conservative Democrats are significant because they can sometimes achieve bi-partisan cooperation, which can reduce gridlock.
How are parties internally united?
FEWER DIVISIONS
The Blue Dog coalition had 26 members in 2011 vs 18 now and the Main Street Partnership decreased from dominating Republican Party in the 1990s to having only 46 Representative members in the 113th Congress and then changed from a caucus to partnership in 2019, after members decided to dissolve it.
PARTY VOTING
In the first term of the 113th Congress (2013-2014), the House Republicans voted with their party on average 92% of the time, and Senate Democrats voted with their party on average 94% of the time.
Rejection of Merick Garland in 2016 - reluctance to allow the Democrat president to have any nomination heard.
Eugene Scalia voted to be Sec of Labour in 2019 by party-line vote in Senate with all Reps voting YES and all Dems other than 2 who didn’t vote voting NO.
DEFECTIONS
Defections (switching parties) make parties more internally united because those who previously caused lack of unity in a party are no longer a part of that party.
In 2001, the moderate Senator Jim Jeffords defected from the Republican Party to become a political independent, which allowed the Republicans to be more united by becoming more conservative overall.
In 2018, Bobby Bright ran for the House as a Republican after being a Dem Rep from 2009-2011.
How aren’t parties internally united?
INTERNAL COALITIONS
America’s size and diversity means parties are made up of 50 state parties.
This means it will always be hard for representatives from different states to agree all the time and always be united.
For example, the Tea Party Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz has much more conservative policies than the moderate Republican Ohio Representative John Boehner due to the different voter ideologies in their states, therefore it was very hard for them to agree during the 2013 Government Shutdown negotiations.
ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS
Candidates attack each other’s policies in the primaries.
In the 2012 Republican primary TV debates, Newt Gingrich criticised Mitt Romney’s healthcare reforms as Governor of Massachusetts, therefore this gave the impression that the party lacked unity about healthcare policies.
In the 2014 midterms, Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes emphasised her opposition to President Obama’s energy policies, which showed that the Democrats lacked unity about energy policies.
State parties can ignore their national party platform during elections, which gives the impression that the party lacks unity between states:
In May 2014, the Nevada state convention voted to remove opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion from the Nevada Republican Party Platform, even though the 2012 Republican National Party Platform was firmly opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion.
DIVISIONS
How are parties in renewal?
EXAGGERATION
Theories of party decline exaggerated – The death of the Republican Party was reported following the Watergate affair and Nixon’s resignation; its candidate was back in the WH in just over six years.
The death of the Democrat Party was reported following the leftward shift of the party in the 60s, 70s and 80s, but the party was resurrected by the New Democrat model of the Clinton-Gore ticket in 1992.
NATIONALISATION
Nationalisation of Campaigns - Party renewal has been seen in moves towards the nationalising of electoral campaigns. This is especially true of the Republican Party in the midterm elections of 1994 and 2002.
In 1994, the Republicans campaigned around a ten-point policy programme called the Contract with America. This national policy document was supported by nearly all Republican House candidates in the election.
It promised that, under a Republican-controlled Congress, votes would be held within the first 100 days of such a Congress on ten policy issues of interest to conservative voters, such as a constitutional amendment for providing a balanced budget and congressional term limits.
PARTY VOTING
In the first term of the 113th Congress (2013-2014), the House Republicans voted with their party on average 92% of the time, and Senate Democrats voted with their party on average 94% of the time.
Rejection of Merick Garland in 2016 - reluctance to allow the Democrat president to have any nomination heard.
Eugene Scalia voted to be Sec of Labour in 2019 by party-line vote in Senate with all Reps voting YES and all Dems other than 2 who didn’t vote voting NO.
Parties more important.
How are parties in decline?
ELECTION INFLUENCE
Until the late 1960s candidates were selected by ‘party bosses’ in ‘smoke filled rooms’ – now the candidates are selected by ordinary voters in primaries and caucuses.
National Conventions are now used to confirm rather than elect a candidate
The new process allows outsiders such as Obama and Bill Clinton, who did not champion traditional party values, to demise the core function of parties with manifestation decline, thus creating party decline.
The loss of this power enables rogue candidates such as Donald Trump, who was not supported by the Republican party for majority of his campaign in 2017, to win the presidency.
SPLIT-TICKET VOTING
Split ticket voting is where voters choose candidates from different parties for different offices at a single election.
In the 2012 elections in West Virginia, Obama only received 35% of the vote, however the Democratic senator Joe Manchin gained 61% of the vote.
Split ticket voting is significant because it may cause divided government.
Divided government leads to gridlock – 2013 Government Shutdown caused by the two parties being unable to agree on Obama’s budget.
Makes government inefficient at getting legislation through congress.
Voters care less about party but more about issues.
PARTY VOTING
Parties have little control over voting in Congress.
When Obama stated his position on an issue, only 32% of Congressmen voted with his position in 2011, which decreased to 20% in 2012.
In June 2015, most House Democrats voted against Obama’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) and only 40 House Democrats voted in favour, therefore it lost by 302 to 126.
8 Republicans voted in favour (against Trump) of resolution to stop unapproved action in Iran in 2020.
Why are the two main parties now more ideologically distinct & internally united than in the past?
REPUBLICANS FURTHER RIGHT
Republican Study Committee - a congressional caucus which has a membership of 138 Representatives – largest ideological caucus – as opposed to the Main Street Partnership (47) and Liberty Caucus (8).
Backed by the Tea Party Movement - most fiscally conservative who call for lower taxes, reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit through decreased government spending, small-government principles and opposes government-sponsored universal healthcare.
The Tea Party movement has also pushed the Republicans further to the right.
Ted Cruz, Senator for Texas since 2013, was an unknown candidate with low financial backing, but was able to win his seat using Tea Party support. He was one of the main architects of the 2013 Government Shutdown.
DEMOCRATS FURTHER LEFT
Progressive Caucus – represents the most left-leaning, progressive faction of the Ds.
94 members – 2nd largest ideological caucus – as opposed to the New Democrat Coalition (93) and Blue Dog Coalition (18).
Elizabeth Warren, Senator for Massachusetts since 2013, is a Progressive Democrat.
She championed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to oversee and regulate mortgages, credit cards and student loans.
INTERNALLY UNITED
Fewer divisions - The Blue Dog coalition had 26 members in 2011 vs 18 now and the Main Street Partnership decreased from dominating Republican Party in the 1990s to having only 46 Representative members in the 113th Congress and then changed from a caucus to partnership in 2019, after members decided to dissolve it.
Increase in party voting - in the first term of the 113th Congress (2013-2014), the House Republicans voted with their party on average 92% of the time, and Senate Democrats voted with their party on average 94% of the time.
Rejection of Merick Garland in 2016 - reluctance to allow the Democrat president to have any nomination heard.
Eugene Scalia voted to be Sec of Labour in 2019 by party-line vote in Senate with all Reps voting YES and all Dems other than 2 who didn’t vote voting NO.
Why are the two main parties now more ideologically similar & internally divided than in the past?
REPUBLICAN DIVISIONS
DEMOCRAT DIVISIONS
POLICY SIMILARITIES
Similarities in military policy: Democrats and Republicans generally believe in high spending on the military - President Obama’s military spending in 2011 was similar to Bush’s military spending in 2008.
Democrats and Republicans generally believe in interventionism - President Bush intervened in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 and Obama in Syria in 2012.
Similarities in economic policy: Blue Dog Democrats introduced the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 which created new budgeting rules requiring - Republicans were in favour of this - Senator Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican, was one of only three Republicans to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and she voted against the 2003 Bush Tax Cuts.
Similarities in social policy: Senator Ben Nelson, a Blue Dog Democrat, only signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 once it had been amended to give states the right to prevent insurance from covering the costs of abortions.
Senator Mark Kirk, a moderate Republican, co-sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act 2009 that would have made it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation when hiring.
Why are third parties/independents significant?
RAISE ISSUES
Third parties raise and educate the public on issues that might otherwise be ignored.
The Prohibition Party Platform included women’s suffrage and equal pay for women since 1872, whereas the Democrats and Republicans didn’t include these until 1916.
The Green Party, including 2000 presidential candidate Ralph Nader, brings attention to issues involving the environment.
In 1992 and 1996, Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot brought attention to the budget deficit.
AFFECT RESULT
Third party candidates can split the vote of the Republicans or the Democrats, therefore could influence the outcome of the election.
In 1992, George H.W. Bush could have potentially beaten Bill Clinton if Ross Perot (Independent) hadn’t split the conservative vote.
In 2000, Al Gore could have potentially beaten George W. Bush if Ralph Nader (Green) hadn’t split the liberal vote.
This can harm the long-term interests of the third party or independent candidates in the long term - for example, due to Ralph Nader (Green) splitting the liberal vote in 2000, meaning George W. Bush could win the election, environmental issues had less priority under the Bush administration than they could potentially have had under an Al Gore administration.
INDEPENDENT SENATORS
Independent Senators can have an impact on close votes.
Due to so many votes in the Senate needing 60 votes to file a motion of cloture to break a filibuster, parties often need all the votes they can get.
In 2010, the Democrats needed Bernie Sanders (Independent) for the 60th vote in favour of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and he would only do this once the bill was amended to include $10 billion for community health centres.
Votes for third parties in the senate are also increasing – 6.6% in 2016.
Why aren’t third parties/independents significant?
ELECTORAL DISADVANTAGES
The FPTP system disadvantages third party candidates because they often have spread out support, therefore cannot win the plurality of the vote needed in a state to gain its Electoral College votes.
In 1992, Ross Perot gained 18.9% of the popular vote, but this was spread out, therefore he couldn’t win the plurality of the vote in any states meaning he didn’t win any Electoral College votes.
Also, it is hard for third parties to achieve wide scale ballot access due to the time, money and energy needed.
Laws in each state regulate how third-party candidates can qualify. Some like Tennessee are straightforward, requiring just 25 signatures on a petition.
Others like New York and California are more demanding - New York need a certain number of signatures in each county - California the signatures required is equal to 1% of the electorate in the state.
In 1980, John Anderson spent around $3 million collecting the 1.2 million nationwide
signatures he needed to get on the ballot in all 50 states.
MEDIA
Third party candidates lack name recognition so are overlooked by the media therefore they struggle to gain the public’s attention – news programs often don’t think they’re worth the coverage.
Third party candidates are rarely invited to TV debates - Ross Perot was invited to the TV debated in 1992 but not in 1996 and consequently got 18.9% of the popular vote in 1992 but only 8% in 1996.
In 2000, new debate rules required candidates to be on enough state ballots to potentially win the election and have 15% support in the polls – In 2000 only Bush and Gore allowed - Nader excluded.
POLICY
Co-optation: Major parties see the opinion polls, if the third party had larger than expected support a policy may be taken to woo over their support.
Nixon launched his ‘Southern Strategy’ to win over Wallace support in 1972.
Clinton and the Congressional Republicans adopted Perot’s key policy to deal with the Federal Budget deficit - by 2000 the deficit was tackled, and the Reform Party’s (Perot’s) support was had fallen from 19% to 0.4%,
The “catch-all” ideological nature of the two “big tent” parties and the strong party identification of most voters leads to the lack of “issue space” for third parties to occupy unless they are “extreme”.
Why does the US have a 2-party system?
ELECTION RESULTS
In the 11 elections since 1968, D and R account for over 80% of the popular vote every time - In 7 of these, account for over 95%.
1968 was the last time the two majors failed to win every EC vote
Only two Senators are independent (Sanders, Vermont; Lieberman, Connecticut) – and in reality, they are both Democrat, allowed free reign by all but GOP
Every President since 1853 has been D or R – 40 straight elections over 156 years.
ELECTORAL ADVANTAGES
The FPTP system advantages main parties as they have concentrated support, therefore can get the plurality of the vote in many states and districts.
The main parties have name recognition; therefore, it is easier for them to get donations and get their message across to the electorate.
It is easier for main parties to get public financing (matching funds) than third parties.
Increased finance means ballot access is easier for main parties than third parties.
Main party candidates are invited to TV debates.
Main parties are “big tents” with “catch-all” policies, therefore appeal to more voters, whereas third parties cover specific issues.
PARTISANSHIP
Partisanship towards the two main parties is high, meaning few members of the electorate are willing to become partisan towards third parties.
The exit polls strongly suggest that partisanship was one of the most important influences on voting behaviour in 2016.
89% of Dems voted for Clinton and 90% of Reps voted for Trump.
These figures are 3% lower than in 2012 – smaller drop than expected.
While many Democrats and Republicans were vocally critical of their party’s
While third party candidates did increase their vote share from 2012 by 2%, the majority of independent voter ended up voting for either Clinton or Trump.
Every state that elected a Republican Senator also voted for Trump, while every state that elected a Democratic Senator also voted for Clinton.
Why doesn’t the US have a 2-party system?
50 PARTY SYSTEM
THIRD PARTIES RAISE ISSUES
EFFECT OF THIRD PARTIES
