US Parties and Interest Groups Flashcards
Key differences between party systems
centre ground is further to right in US
politcal distance between parties fluctuates and is now mostly moving apart
titles and policies of a US party do not immediatley relate to an ideology
What are factions
sub groups representing different ideological or issue based wings
What is the progressive faction of the Democrats
Bernie Saunders, Elizabeth Warren, AOC
bigger role for federal gov and achieve social justice
oppose foreign military action
represented by Congressional Progressive Caucus
45% of House deomcrats are in the CPC
(equivalent to Momentum in UK)
What is the moderate faction of the Democrats
Joe Biden. Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi
originally Democratic Leadership council but now represented by New Democrat coalition
centre ground need to win back white middle class voters after Reagen
willingness to compromise on healthcare and welfare
(equivalent to Progressive Britain)
What is the conservative faction of the Democrats
Marie G. Perez, 10 in House
Blue Dog caucus
sought out by republicans for bipartidanship however has taken a hit since 2010s going from 27 seats in the House in 2018 to 11 in 20204
(equivalent to Blue Labour)
What is the moderate faction of the Republicans
Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowiski
support traditional economic policies but more socially liberal - Collins co sponsored bills to codify gay marriage
tolerate higher taxes or more gov programs
organised by the Main Street Caucus
sometimes referred to republican in name only as willing to comrpimise with democrats e.g 2009 with Obamas stimulus package budget
What is the fiscal conservative faction of the Republicans
Andy Harris, Andy Biggs, Anna Paulina
focus on the economy wanting limited gov and laissez faire economy
support tax reductions and cut of gov expenditure
surge under Obama and Obamacare
organised by the House Freedom Caucus with a no comprimise attitude
What is the social conservatism faction of the Republicans
Mike Pence, Josh Hawley
support traditional norms and values as part of the wider religious roght
response to civil righst revolution in 1960s
negative view on illegal immigration, gay right and aborition rights
dominant force due to rise in white evangelical voters
What is trend with gender votes in the US
2024 53% of men voted for Harris and 45% of women voted for trump
usually most men support the republicans and most women support democrat
men may tend to be more conservative and women liberal as they support the Equal Rights Amendment etc.
gender dynamics are most prominent when a female candidate runs however Trump secure greate votes amongst white women both times so perhaps this is not a diriving factor
What is the trend with race in the US elections
democrats have a strong support from Africans americans after the New Deal which disadvantaged minorities
Obama effect saw a record 96% support among african americans
hispanic vote is more volatile with Bush getting 44% and Trum 46% in 2024 perhoas due to many being Roman Catholic and Cuban refugees from Castro communist regime
White voters are more evenly split 42-57 in 2024
What is the trend with religion in elections
Christians typically support republican party 2024 - 63% of Protestant - due to socially conservative stances and republican politicans being christian Pence ‘a Christian, conservative and republican in that order’
majorty of jewish voters voted deomcrats - 79% for Harris
What is the trend with education level in elections
less formally educated voters vote republican - Trump ‘we won the poorly educated’
education tends to sway people away from more reactionary views such as immigration
people with liberal persausions tend to value higher education
College and Postgrad - 56 and 59 for dem and 42 and 39 for rep
What are the different types of interest groups
Policy - influence a whole policy area e.g AIPAC and think tanks
professional - represent the economic interests of its members e.g AMA
single interest - advocate policy surrounding a limited specific issue e.g NRA
Why are interest groups more significant in the US
- consitiutionally protected by 1st amendment and sometimes find their rights in the constitution to achieve their goal e.g NRA anf ACLU
- many access points - appeal to Congress, president or supreme court
- elections are frequent - can fund campagins
- politicians easier to influence - party whips hold less power and separation of powers means rebellion is easier
What are resources of interest groups
Membership - inform voters on election, grassroots lobbying - e.g AFL 12.5m and Sierra Club 3.5m
Money - NRA $337 budget and donated 5.7% to Repubicans in 2020-22
Contacts - Brownstein, Kyatt et al
expertise - policy and legal - AMA - medical professionals, Greenpeace - expertise in environmental issues
What are methods used by interest groups
Publicity campaigns - NRA - 2022 midterms - Defeat Warlock over gun control, Emma Gonzales Parkland shooting 2018
grassroots activity - Occupy wall st 2010 reaction to 2008 crash, March for our lives 2018 about gun control
court methods - Obergfell vs Hodges 2015 (same sex couples), McGeary vs ACLU - 10 commandments in Kentucy court house
lobbying - ILA is lobbying arm of the NRA, CITIBANK
electioneering - maximise tunout among certain voters - using ranking e.g League of Conservation and the dirty dozen, Emily’s List and abortion rights
Interest groups threaten democracy
inequality of representation - professional lobbyist are rich and can use this to gain power - leads to revolving door
restriciting the elected government - not elected to power by the public - AACP opposed Trump reappealing Obamacare even though this was an electoral promise voted for
undemocratic methods - laws are passed democratically and are rule of law - illegal activty by groups like Extinction rebellion undermine these principles
Interest groups enhance democracy
oppurtunity to participate - public influencing gov frequently and educate the public on politics
checks on gov - ACLU and NAACP defend consitiution rights and use checks and balances to constrain gov and inform policy makers
representation - proffessional groups represent specific occupations and give a wide range of opinions (pluralist)
