US Democracy And Participation Flashcards

Question

Provisions of social welfare:

Answer 1

Democrats favour government provision of social welfare – argue that the economic system provides a structure that does not promote the interests of everyone so government should intervene (eg. higher benefits, social programmes) -Republicans emphasise personal responsibility – have accepted the need for some welfare provision but have been more likely to restrict its use -2010 Affordable Care Act – aimed at 46 million Americans who did not have health insurance – passed by a Democrat Congress but all Republicans in Senate/House voted against it (Trump got rid of it) -Republicans push for cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which provided $45 bn in food assistance to 43 million in 2016 – Democrats have strongly opposed these cuts (McGovern, ranking member of House Agriculture Committee, argued that it keeps 5 million kids out of poverty)

Answer 2

The 2 main parties in the US are weak in the sense that: - Lack a strong leadership that can create party unity - Tend to have a great diversity of views and policies -Has led to the creation of factions – some of which overlap between the 2 parties.

Answer 3

Created in 1985 after another loss to Reagan in a presidential election – argued that a more moderate approach was needed to gain electoral success While it was dissolved in 2011, moderates represent the dominant force in the Party (many members of Congress hold moderate views and recent Democratic presidential candidates all reflect the moderate wing) Moderate Democrats identify with centrism and compromise – typically take middle-ground on areas of the economy and welfare More willing than others to end/reduce government sponsored initiatives – support welfare reforms and tax cuts Moral issues – areas where they may accept limitations to civil liberties to an extent greater than liberal Democrats would (eg. abortion)

Answer 4

- Represent the more radical, left-wing elements of the party -More determined in using the federal government to achieve social justice (eg. welfare, taxing wealthy, etc.) -Support more government intervention in the economy and less intervention in deploying US military abroad - The faction most critical of the Republican PartyoGenerally supported Obama while at times feeling frustrated by him - More liberal elements of the party pushed Obama to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership – Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly criticised Obama on issues including TPP, which she attacked for strengthening a system rigged to favour corporations over workers

Answer 5

Dying breed Conservative on moral issues such as guns/religion but disagree with the Republican Party’s conservative views on trade and tax 2015 – 47 House Democrats voted in favour of a Republican led measure to have additional screening of Iraqi/Syrian refuges, despite Obama’s opposition Some progressives view Hilary Clinton as one (Huffington Post called her a moderate Republican running under the Democratic party)

Answer 6

- Support traditional norms and values as part of the religious right – focus on morality according to their religious beliefs - Generally have a negative view of illegal immigration and oppose gay/abortion rights - Tend to support the official conservative Republican platform on the foreign affairs and economy - Have grown to be a dominant force in the Party - Rise is social conservatism can be seen in Congress – 2016, only a few Republicans voted for the gay rights legislative amendment

Answer 7

Drive a conservative economic agendaoAdvocate a smaller government with a laissez-faire economic policy Support reduction in most tax rates and abolition of inheritance taxoCut in federal expenditure Can be seen in the rising influence of the Republicans’ Freedom Caucus – have replaced Tea Party as main right-wing faction and pushed a ‘no compromise’ attitude Reused to support Obama’s economic packages or seek compromise in any way Prevented moderate and even conservative Republican plans to compromise on legislative deals 2017 – Freedom Caucus sent Trump a list of 228 regulations it wanted removed (environmental, nutrition, corporation, etc.) -

Answer 8

Sometimes referred to as RINOs (Republicans in name only) Support traditional conservative economic policies – low taxes / small gov Typically more socially liberal than social conservatives – support gay rights/abortion Will accept higher taxes / more gov programmes in order to support greater social harmony Have gained positions of power in the party – Bush horrified conservatives with major increases in gov expenditure and push for more liberal immigration reform Senator Susan Collins – one of only 3 Republicans to support Obama’s 2009 stimulus package, tried to broker a deal over Obama’s plans to increase minimumwage, supports gay rights RINO faction is more willing to compromise with Democrats in policy

Answer 9

Most polarised – black voters strongly supporting Democrats – emerged in the 1960s when Democrat President Johnson created the Civil Rights Act/Voting Rights Act Democratic Party had since championed racial minority causes oFor many black people Republican Party is a toxic brand that has slowed the fight for equality 90% voted Democrats in 2018 midterms Also, minorities are likely to be poorer than white people and thus more likely to vote Democrat

Answer 10

Hispanic vote is more volatile – 2004 – Republican Bush secured 44% of their vote but generally they supported the Democratic Party because of its stronger stance for equality However, many Hispanic voters are social conservatives – support Republican views on gay marriage/abortion Others vote Republican because Hispanics who fled Castro’s communist government and appreciate the party’s hard-line approach to relations with Cuba 2016 election – 65% voted Democrat

Answer 11

More evenly split – although most always select the Republican Party Even when the Democratic candidate takes the White House, they don’t get the majority of the white vote

Answer 12

Typically strong supporters of the Democratic Party Usually strongly liberal, sympathising with the less fortunate and with minorities Despite issues with Israel and Palestine, Jews are far more likely to say that Muslims in the US are more discriminated against compared to the general population 2016 election – 71% of Jews voted Democrat However, they make up only 2% of the population

Answer 13

- Stronger support for Republican Party - Particularly Evangelicals who identify with the social conservatism of the party (eg. Ted Cruz strongly opposes gay marriage

Answer 14

Each group is reasonably split between the 2 parties Long standing pattern – most men support Republican and women support Democrats Women have a marginal preference for the Democrats because they’ve done more tofight for women’s rights (Kavanaugh – 2018 midterm results)

Answer 15

The less educated the voter, the more likely they are to vote Republican - Counterintuitive given that lower income groups tend to vote Democrat- However, many people with relatively high incomes do not have degrees - “I love the poorly educated” – Trump 2016 - Some argue that education tends to produce more socially liberal values - Alternatively, liberals value education more, so being liberal leads to education, not the other way around