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political parties Flashcards

1
Q

what is the PPERA?

A

2000 political parties, elections and referendums act
all political parties must register with the electoral commission, provide regular returns of their income and expenditure
spend £30,000 per constituency
declare all large donations over £7,500

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2
Q

what happened to Leave.EU in 2018?

A

issued a fine for breaking laws, it was fined £70,000 for breaches of electoral law

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3
Q

what was the PPEA?

A

in 2009, Political parties and elections act
strengthened PPERA by increase the powers of the electoral commission
placed further requirements on parties and donors to clarify the source of donation

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4
Q

what are the ways of political donations in the UK?

A

membership subscriptions
individual donors
state funding

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5
Q

what is membership subscriptions?

A

agreed to be the fairest and most transparent method of funding.
large numbers paying small amounts ensures that no single donor gets undue influence
however, party memberships are not be themselves large enough to sustain the level of finance required to run national campaigns

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6
Q

how do individual donors help with campaign finance?

A

all main parties have relied on generous individuals, such as Bernie Ecclestone and Lord Sainsbury helped Labour under Blair.
Under Corbyn, relied on trade union
conservatives - raised more than £5 million in the first week of 2019 election campaign

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7
Q

what was the cash for honours scandal?

A

March 2006
The complaint was brought by the Scottish National party MP Angus McNeil after it emerged that four wealthy businessmen, who had lent the Labour party a total of £5m, were nominated by Tony Blair for peerages. All four of the peerages were later blocked by the House of Lords appointments commission

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8
Q

how does state funding help campaign finance?

A

parties can receive public funds, £2 million annually, which are available to parties with at least 2 sitting members in the HoC
also receive short and Cranborne money. this is paid to the opposition parties to help with the administrative work in providing effective scrutiny of the government.

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9
Q

when the conservative party established?

A

1834

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10
Q

what are the main strands of conservatism?

A

one-nation conservatism
Butskellite pragrmatism and consensus
traditional values
thatcherism

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11
Q

what is one-nation conservatism?

A

associated with Benjamin Disraeli, unite the nation by moderate social reforms and patriotism.
state protecting the vulnerable through public services without penalising the rich with high income tax rates or seeking to dismantle free-marker capitalism

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12
Q

what is butskellite pragmatism and consensus?

A

establishment of the welfare state, conservative party shifted further to the centre and accepted the bulk of Labour’s social reforms.
pro-European and the conservatives were keen to join the EEC.

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13
Q

what is traditional values?

A

reflects the conservative party’s ongoing insistence on supporting the traditional nuclear family and the institution of marriage, maintaining a firm line on immigration policy.
John Major’s ‘Back to Basics’ - however, many conservative MP affairs were being released creating media attention
passing of section 28, banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools
May’s promise to create hostile environment for illegal immigrants.

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14
Q

what is Thatcherism?

A

1980s, Thatcher saw herself as a crusade to promote individual freedom.
reduce the power of trade unions, emphasise self-help and personal responsibility
privatisation
1984-85 miners’ strikes saw Thatcher’s government break the power of NUM, she ended the strike that lasted 363 days
confident assertive foreign policy, overseeing the Falkland island victory in 1982
sowed the seeds for Tory Euroscepticism.

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15
Q

what are the conservatives current policies and principles?

A

extra funding for the NHS
additional police offers and tougher sentencing for criminals
not to raise the rate of income tax
Get Brexit done
maintain triple lock on pensions

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16
Q

what are the main strands of Labour?

A

economic socialism
trade unionism
globalist internationalism
new labour/third war socialism

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17
Q

when was the Labour party established?

A

1900
adopted Labour party name in 1906

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18
Q

what is economic socialism?

A

core strands of socialism, postwar Attlee government, setting up Welfare state, took into state ownership of core industries.
nationalisation of coal mining, steel, iron, aerospce.
Corbyn’s 2017 and 2019 manifesto pledge some nationalisation
Corbyn’s election shift to more left-wing position

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19
Q

what is trade unionism?

A

Labour has historic ties to trade union movements
unions have looked towards Labour to protect and advance the rights of workers
trade unions have also supplied the bulk of Labour’s funding
influence of unions waned in 1980s through deindustrialisation and a shift in the economy away from manufacturing to the less unionised service sector.

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20
Q

what is globalist internationalism?

A

commitment to peace and disarmament, resisting fascism and racism worldwide.
opposed to nuclear weapons and advocating for unilateral nuclear disarmament.
socialist view nationalism as a pretext for preserving the capitalist status quo and distracting the masses from revolutionary consciousness.
strand weakened with Blair’s relationship with Bush and his support for ‘war on terror’.

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21
Q

what is new labour/third way socialism?

A

Blair’s intentions to modernise and update Labour and move it to centre ground of electability following its left launch in the 1980s under Michael Foot.
emphasis on triangulation, Labour on centre ground, accepting many of the Thatcherite economic policies, but retaining Labour’s social values, justice and fairness for all.
more money to NHS and education, eliminating child poverty

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22
Q

what are the current policies and principles of Labour?

A

hold a second referendum for Brexit, renegotiate Brexit deal
raise the minimum wage to £10
increase the health budget
bring forward net-zero target on carbon emissions within the 2030s.
renationalise
abolish private schools charitable status

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23
Q

when were the Liberal Democrats established?

A

Liberal party 1859
officially since 1988 Liberal democrats, they were the conservatives main rival until the 1920s.

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24
Q

what are the strands in Liberal democrats?

A

free trade,
religious toleration,
self-help,
ethical foreign policy
supporters - christian nonconformists, skilled working class and industrialists.

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25
Q

what happened to the Liberal democrats supporters?

A

labour attracted the working class voters
conservatives attracted the middle class by playing on their fears of socialism and revolution
by the 1930s, Liberal party was relegated to third-party status

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26
Q

how was the Liberal Democrat party formed in 1988?

A

merger of the Liberal party and SDP.
Social Democratic party was founded in 1981 by centrist labour politicians.
SDP was wary of Labour’s commitment to uniilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the EEC, two finally merged in 1988.

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27
Q

what are the key policies and principles of the Liberal Democrats?

A

stop the Brexit process completely
defend the HRA, resist any attempt to withdraw from the ECHR and oppose any laws that unnecessarily erode civil liberties.
put an end to wasted votes introduce PR through STV for electing MPs and local councillors
16-17years the vote
scrap plans to bring voter identification
reform the HoL with proper democratic mandate
net-zero by 2045
reinstate maintenance grants for the poorest students

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28
Q

what is the local level structure and policy making for conservatives?

A

Local conservative associations sometimes with ward branches below them.
LCA play a key role in organising the grassroots of the party and in planning local campaigning and selecting candidates.

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29
Q

what is the local level structure and policy making for Labour?

A

each constituency has a constituency labour party, CLP
many have council ward level Branch labour parties BLP
CLP takes the lead in local and national election campaign

30
Q

what is the local level structure and policy making for Lib Dems?

A

local branches but are also organised along federal lines with separate parties for England, Wales and Scotland.
local branches take the main role in running constituency level campaigns and can also submit motions to conference for debate

31
Q

what is the national level structure and policy making for conservatives?

A

national HQ is CCHQ, day to day running of the party is undertaken by the board of the conservative party, made up of representatives from each section of the party.
3/18 members are from the grassroots party, overseen by the Annual Convention
Conservative Policy Forum set up in 1998 to enable more grassroots participation
writing of the manifesto to the leaders and trust advisers

32
Q

what is the national level structure and policy making for Labour?

A

Labour’s national base in Victoria Street London, day to day running undertaken by the NEC National Executive committee.
NEC enforces discipline, expel members for breaking party rules. final say over selection of parliamentary candidates. NEC made up of 40 members.
Elections to NEC are highly factionalised
the annual conference was the sovereign policy making body, but its role has been diminished

33
Q

what is the national level structure and policy making for Lib Dems?

A

party has national HQ in London. the federal board is national governing body
compromises of 35 voting members
the process largely replicates the party’s federal structure. motions debated and passed at conference become official national party policy. policies that affect the whole of the UK are voted on by the Liberal Democrat federal conference.

34
Q

what are the stages of the candidate selection?

A

1st - hopefuls must get on the party’s central list of approved candidates after training
2nd - once on the party central list, must apply to get shortlisted as the prospective parliamentary candidate by local branches
3rd - then get adopted following a vote of the local party members

35
Q

how have the main parties increased their diversity of candidates?

A

Labour - all-women shortlists
conservatives - occasionally used open primaries and priority lists central party may impose a candidate shortlist on the local party, conservatives accused in Bridgend in 2017, Labour’s NEC was accused of fast-tracking longlist of favoured candidates to have candidates ready for snap elections.

36
Q

how do conservatives choose their party leaders?

A

selection by MPs - MPs vote in a series of ballots to narrow down candidates to 2 names.
election by party members - party members make the final pick on OMOV basis. 2019 Johnson won a clear victory

37
Q

how does Labour choose their party leader?

A

selection by MPS - candidates must secure backing of at least 10% of Labour MPs, also 5% constituency parties or at least 3 affiliates
election by party members - party members and registered supporters vote on OMOV basis using the AV system to make final choice. 2020 Keir Starmer won over 50% in the first round, therefore no need for second

38
Q

How does Liberal Democrats choose their party leader?

A

selection by MPs - candidates must gain support from at least 10% of other Lib Dems MPs and be supported by at least 200 members from more than 20 local parties
election by party members - party members vote on OMOV basis using the AV system to make final choice.

39
Q

what is the relationship between parties and media?

A

tv is governed by strict rules on impartiality, parties and candidates cannot by airtime for political adverts in the same way as in the US.
papers often claim credit for poll success. however, national newspaper circulation has decreased
media war now conducted via social media.
spent heavily on Facebook and youtube ads

40
Q

what other factors affect parties and electoral outcomes?

A

relevance and attractiveness of main policies
leadership
committed and energised group of activists
strength and situation of the opposition
party unity
electoral system

41
Q

how does relevance and attractiveness affect party outcomes?

A

Get Brexit done resonated with voters in a way that Labour’s Brexit policy did not

42
Q

how does leadership affect party outcomes?

A

strong personality and good communications skills help. Corbyn seen as the underdog and did better than expected

43
Q

how does a committed and energised group of activists affect party outcomes?

A

parties need local campaigners to hand out leaflets and coordinate the campaign in the constituencies

44
Q

how does the strength and situation of the opposition affect party outcomes?

A

2019, Johnson was an experienced campaigner. Lib Dem Jo Swindon, a less assured candidate made a huge unsuccessful gamble in campaigning for a clear stop brexit approach.

45
Q

how does party unity affect party outcome? UK

A

large disarray under May, Johnson largely resolved this by removing the whip from 21 rebel MPs.
Labour remained heavily factionaised and dogged by accusation of anti-Semitism

46
Q

how does the electoral system affect party outcome?

A

impact and distortions should not be ignored. Lib Dems are disadvantaged, 2019 won 11% of the vote only 2% of seats whereas the conservatives won 43% of the vote and 56% of the seats

47
Q

how do third parties play a significant role in the UK?

A

there are a lot more in the UK, often play a part in political agenda setting, such as seen with the 2010 coalition of the conservatives and Lib Dems
SNP, Plaid Cymru, Green party, DUP, UUP, SDLP UKIP

48
Q

what happened to UKIP in 2015 in the general election results?

A

won 3.8 million votes, only 1 MP
the green party won 1.1 million votes only 1 MP
clear favouritism towards the two main parties

49
Q

is the UK a multiparty sytem?

A

2019, 87% of the seats were held by the two largest parties sharing 76% of the vote.
however, 2010 coalition
look at devolved bodies and local elections clearly the third parties have more seats
seen with the 2019 council election, 1,100 independents close to the total of Lib Dems
HoL no party has a majority in the chamber due to the cross benchers

50
Q

what are the key values, policies and principles of the Democratic party?

A

large gov’t
higher taxes on the wealthy
civil rights for minorities
pro-choice
gun control
diverse multicultural multi-religion
focus on environmental impacts, climate change
sensible reforms on immigration

51
Q

what are the key values, policies and principles for the Republican party?

A

limited federal gov’t, more state involvement
pro-life
lower taxes
individualism for healthcare
pro-gun
prayers in public school
sc judges favouring originalist and strict constructionist views of the constitution
US has become to diverse
immigration tightly controlled

52
Q

what are the key features of a political party in the US?

A

lack of a clear leader
largely state based, relatively weak central bodies, more decentralised structure 100 parties
associated organisations and interest groups play a significant role
lack of party discipline

53
Q

why do parties in the US not have a clear party leader?

A

this is due to separation of powers and the federal framework of the US.
the president is not the formal party leader, they set the political agenda not lack direct control over congress
members of congress views align with the president, but there is much compromise and negotiation
lack party discipline

54
Q

why do parties have a weak central base and are decentralised in the US?

A

100 parties in 50 states rather than just 2.
state parties have a degree of autonomy and independence
state parties organise the primaries and have their own structures, but have minimal role in candidate selection

55
Q

name national organisation that are the in US and what do they do?

A

DNC,Democratic National Committee and RNC, Republic National Committee
main roles are to organise the national convention that formally nominates the presidential candidate and draws up the party platform

56
Q

what are the four Hill committees and what is their role?

A

made up of the
DCCC
NRCC
DSCC
NRSC
aim to get members of their party elected to congress.
run their own campaigns, attacking opponents, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was endorsed and won against a incumbent

57
Q

how to associated groups affect parties in the US?

A

DSA - works to secure the victory of very progressive democrats in primaries, 2018 endorsed two candidates Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib to the House.
therefore should not ignore the influence of state structures and associated groups. Steve King loss his primary, had a track record of racist comments, Mitch McConnell ostracised him.

58
Q

how has geography changed political parties in the US?

A

the south has become heavily republican, while the East and West have become heavily Democratic
1976 presidential election was the last time a democrat won across the south and Texas
1988 last time a republican won California
the two parties have flipped geographically

59
Q

how has ideology changed in the parties in the US?

A

Republicans have become more conservatives, Goldwater and Nixon took advantage of the southern slip and decided on the southern strategy.
Democrats have become more liberal - signing of the civil rights act in 1960s. southern democrats have joined the republicans such as Thurmond
liberal or moderate republicans were defeated in primaries or switched to the democrats
however Georgia turned blue for the first time in the 2020 election

60
Q

how have the demographic changed in relation to the political parties in the US?

A

Republican voters - white, rural or small town, attend church, less likely to have a degress
Democrat voters - urban areas, diverse range of cultures, less likely to be religious, higher levels of formal education

61
Q

what do the political parties in the US think the other party is?

A

Democrat ads encourages supporters to view Republicans as racists, bigots and hostile to women rights.
Republicans encourage supporters to view Democrats as unpatriotic, subversive socialists, enemies of faith-based values, take away guns and defund the police

62
Q

is there party unity among the Republicans and Democrats? (yes)

A

there is growing hyperpartisanship between the two parties. highly polarised
united -
R follow party lines 91%, D follow 89% in 2018
increasingly cohesive, difficult to find pro-choice Republicans
few republicans have openly criticised Trump - party uniting around a controversial and unpredictable figure

63
Q

how has cohesiveness increased among the parties in the US?

A

parties are more united in how they vote
far less bipartisanship and major policies, Obamacare was passed with little support from the Republicans.
but there is bipartisanship with the First Step Act in 2018 and the CARES act in 2020
impeachment offers another example of cohesiveness. Nixon after Watergate scandal 7/17 R on the House Judiciary Committee broke party ranks, with Trump’s impeachment not one out of the 195 R sided with the Democrats

64
Q

is there party unity among the Republicans and Democrats (No)

A

bipartisan votes and party rebellions still occur. 8 R joined the Democrats in passing a bill in the senate that limited Trump’s power to order military action in Iran
house passed the CARES act
2021 - 10 R voted to impeach Trump
total party unity votes fell from 69% in 2017 to 50% in 2018
common ground around lowering prescription charges or criminal justice
party candidates do not have to agree with the entire party platform, can afford to be selective in their campaign pledges

65
Q

what are the main factions in the Democrat party?

A

Blue Dog coalition
Congressional progressive caucus
New Democrat coalition

66
Q

what are the main factions in the Republican party?

A

Tuesday Group
Tea Party movement
Republican study committee
Freedom caucus

67
Q

what are arguments that agree with party decline?

A

growth of primaries, choose candidate selection rather than party members
political campaigns are focused on the candidate itself rather than the party
rise in split ticketing
voter turnout has decreased
US parties remain broad

68
Q

what are arguments that agree with party renewal?

A

primaries reinforce that the candidate aligns themselves to the party platform
split ticketing has decreased, 2016 100% straight ticket voting
voter turnout increased in 2020 to 66%
increase of hyperpartisanship and polarisation in congress and among the wider public

69
Q

what are the weaknesses of the main political parties?

A

weak in terms of structure, such as a lack of party leader
campaigns and ads focus on candidate not the party
power within parties is dispersed not concentrated
federal nature and size of the US exacerbates power dispersed, state retain control, especially primaries
use of primaries rather than old-style machine politics makes parties weaker. as politicians do not want to upset powerful PGs and associated groups.
absence of effective sanctions over rebel legislators, Steve King, pressure can be applied by leadership.

70
Q

is the US a two-party dominant system?

A

there is no tradition of parties or independents in state legislators or congress
there has been no success of third parties winning office
there are two independent senators Bernie Sanders and Angus King but both affiliated with the Democrats
Ross Perot won 19% of the vote in 1992 but didn’t win any ECVs
George Wallace 1968 was the last to win any ECV to an independent (AIP)
2020, 98% of the vote to the 2 main parties
third parties are only recent and don’t last long

71
Q

what is the significance of third parties in the US?

A

Ralph Nader, spoiler effect, 2000 election, if he did not run, then Gore may have won rather than Bush.
third parties have policies that prove to be attractive, these are co-opted by the main parties - Ross Perot and a balanced budget
HOWEVER,
third parties fail to make any impact on the final outcome
FPTP major reason for two main parties as voting third parties seen as wasted votes
third parties lack a high-profile media presence, rarely participate in TV debates, due to the restrictions, 15% of the votes and on 5 organisation voting polls

72
Q

what third parties are there in the US?

A

Green party 1980s
Libertarians, 1971

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