Us democracy and participation (Parties) Flashcards
why is there no clear party leaderhip in the US
- 2 party nature means that paries are Broad-based coalitions makign it hard for leadership to emerge
- seperation of powers: the legisture on a federal level and state level are sperated as well as the executive branch, this means that its had for a leader in any particular area to exerize power over anothern unlike in the UK where a PM can weild the sord of parliemtry soveignty
- Fluidity and change- there are reular elction cyles 2 years in the house and 4 years for the president, this means leadership may often change.
- primaries- leadership in terms of a presidencial candidate is redesided every 4 years by the elctorate
who are somewhat considered the democrtc party leadership
- president : Biden
- minority speaker nancy pelosy -house
- majority leader Chuck Schumer -senate
who are somewhat considered the republican party leadership
- Trump
- miajority speaker Kevin Mcathy -house
- minority leader Mitch McConnell -senate
what are the key idead of the democrt party
- more modern liberal and left wing
1. progressive attitude / socially liberal attitude towards social and moral issues as well as criem
2. grater governemt ntervetion in the economy
3. greater social welfair
what are the key idead of the Republican party
- more traditionally Liberal and conservtive
1. conservtiev on socialmoral issues and tough on criem
2. resgtricted gov intervention in the economy ( but protecting american jobs and trade)
3. personal resoncabillity above social welfair
give soem exaples of significant republican policy
- Tax cuts and jobs act 2017
1. lowered income tax for almost all tax brackets - ( less gov intervention + individual liberty) - Repeal teh AHA - AHCA
1. ( limits individual liberty / controle of finces + too much gov intervention in society and econ) - Second Amendment Rights
1. conservtive view, indervidual liberty - strikter imigration policy
1. ( protection from persived terrorist threts and protection of jobs
1. trumps travel ban 2017 - tough crime
1. Mandatory Minimum Sentences ( 1986 ) introduced for the first tiem
give soem exaples of significant democrat policy
- Affordable Care Act (ACA)
1. social protection + gov intervention in econ - inflation reduction
2. climate change tacking and switching to green energy - The Green New Deal, a proposal supported by many Democrats, seeks to address climate change while simultaneously promoting job creation and economic growth through investments in renewable energy (preposed
- Bipartisan Safer Communities Act 2022
1. social pprtetion - imigration (softer)
1. Democrats have advocated for the passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children (Dreamers). - Criminal Justice Reform:
1. Democrats have supported efforts to reduce mandatory minimum sentence
2. advokate for getting rid of maditory minimum setencing - economic
1. American (covid) Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Signed into law in March 2021, the ARPA was a significant economic relief package aimed at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 - costing $1.9 trillion - keynsian
what is the main way that the parteis have chnged over tiem and why is this
- the republican party used to be more progressive and assosiated with civla right s
- meanwhiel the democrats were seen as the white supremasists
**the switch **
* democrat preidents cleanign their image during the cival rigth movemnt
1. Democratic President Harry S. Truman issued executive orders and took steps to advance civil rights, and Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These actions helped solidify the Democratic Party’s support among African Americans and other minority groups
* republican Southern Strategy to capitalise off of the change
1. In the 1960s and 1970s, Republican strategists, seeking to capitalize on white backlash against civil rights advancements, employed a “Southern Strategy.” This strategy aimed to appeal to disaffected Southern white voters who opposed racial integration
2. Nixon and Reagan Era: Republican Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan pursued policies that appealed to conservative white voters, such as advocating for states’ rights and opposing affirmative action. These policies, along with rhetoric focused on law and order, appealed to some voters who felt threatened by societal changes brought about by the civil rights movement.
* Party Realignment:
1. Over time, the Democratic Party became increasingly aligned with progressive values and social justice causes. This shift attracted more support from minority groups who sought equal rights and social reforms. Meanwhile, the Republican Party embraced conservative ideologies, which appealed to some white voters who had concerns about the pace and extent of social change.
what is a party system
A party system refers to the structure and dynamics of political parties within a particular country
whats teh main wya parties have become more significant over tiem + expalin and examples and countre
- greter polarisatiin of the parties and partizanship
why:
examples:
1. 1993 ruth bader gins burge appointment confirmation vote was 96/3 in favour vs 2018 brett cavenau 50/48 ( party lines )
2. American (covid) Rescue Plan Act 2021, ( a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package) both party lines in house and senate vs in th reif package after the great depression ( the emergency banking act) that passed 365-33 in the house and 73- 7 in teh senate
3. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: In December 2017
4. 1st Impeachment of President Donald Trump ( exept one when he was clearly guilty) ( mitt romney)
5. AHA in senate
countre examples:
* repeal AHA - 3 republicns joining to block it in the senate
* Mc-cain feignold act was passed with cross party support
* Bi parizan safer comunities 65-33 vote in senate
what are broad faction of the democrtec party and causes within each wing
-
liberal (pogresive)
1. Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus socilly modern liberl groups
2. pogressive wing: AOC, Bernie Sanders,
3. exemplified by 2009 stimulus package and 2010 health care reform -
moderate
1. New Democrat Coalition: moderate and pragmatic Democrats who emphasize economic growth, innovation though capitlaism
2. members of the moderte wign are considered hillary, biden etc. -
conservtive
1. Blue Dog Coalition: The Blue Dog Coalition is a caucus of moderate and fiscally conservative Democrats who focus on fiscal responsibility, national security, and bipartisanship. They often represent more conservative-leaning districts.
2. joe manhcin
3. Dianne Feinstein – opposes death penalty and supports environment but against gov takeover of healthcare
4. white working class union tradition potentially in (especially Catholics), e.g. unions support Keystone pipeline. ‘Rust Belt’ – Trump voters in 2016?
what are broad faction of the republican party and causes within each wing
- moderate
1. the tusday group
2. lisa murkowski - not in tusday group tho - she has taken more moderate positions on topics such as abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate change - social conservtives
1. Republican Study Committee ( 150 members
2. house Freedom Caucus
3. mitt romney ( morman)
4. Ted Cruz: Senator Ted Cruz from Texas has been vocal about his socially conservative views on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and religious freedom.
5. Ted Cruz 21 hour filibuster in opposition to Obamacare - fiscal conservtives
1. house Freedom Caucus
2. Mitch McConnell
big government’ conservatism of George W. Bush
which dirrection does all US policts lean
- republican / conservative
where is ted cruise senator
- texis
where is mitt romney sentor
- Utah
