parties

• what is the democrat's approach to social and moral issues?

  more progressive, more supportive of abortion and same sex marriage
• what is the republican's approach to social and moral issues?

  more conservative, a good proportion of the party believes in the sanctity of life - called the obergefell ruling a 'judicial putsch'
• what is a 'broad church' 


  a party with a broad ideological commitment.
• what are the three democratic factions?

  liberals, moderates, conservatives
• what are the three republican factions?

  social conservatives, moderates, fiscal conservatives
• when was the freedom caucus formed?

  2015
• what is an example of the power of a party faction?

  freedom caucus forcing John Boehner to resign in 2015
• what is the liberal faction within the democrats?

  • more left-leaning members of the party
  • aim for government intervention to achieve social justice
  • support policies such as the more socialist policies proposed by Bernie Sanders in 2016
• what is the conservative faction within the democrats?

  • socially conservative but more fiscally liberal members of the party
  • are known sometimes as blue dogs but there are decreasing numbers of these
• what is the moderate faction within the democrats?

  • willing to compromise on welfare and fiscal policy up to a point
  • are often supported by minority groups or blue collar workers
  • accept capitalism and current market order
• what is the social conservative faction of the republicans?

  • traditional views of social and moral issues
  • generally anti-abortion ect.
  • emphasise law and order
  • includes member of the religious right
• what is the moderate faction of the republicans?

  • fiscally conservative but socially more liberal
  • sometimes known as republicans in the name only (RINOs)
• what is the fiscal conservative faction of the republicans?

  • favour of very limited gov intervention in the economy
  • argue for low tax and free trade
  • as seen in freedom caucus
• what are the arguments for parties being in decline?

  • presidential and vice-presidential candidates are largely chosen without the national party, having been selected through the increased front-loading of primaries
  • issue voting grown in importance - growth of interest groups + votes for 3rd parties
  • factions wield considerable power - not united behind one ideological view
  • party has little control over candidate - Trump not prefered party candidate
• what are the arguments for party renewal?

  • nationalised election campaigns = main parties only ones politically and financially capable of fighting an election
  • increased political polarisation more entrenched in ideologies of parties - making them more important
  • partisanship increasing
  • national parties still hold a nomination role especially within democrat's 'super-delegates'.
• what was the gender split between candidates in 2016

  Clinton = 54% of women, Trump = 42% of women

  Clinton = 41% of men, Trump = 53% of women
• what is voter tendency based on race?

  hispanic vote veered far more towards the democrats due to their support of affirmative action and immigration policies. Black voters consistently more inclined to vote democrat
• what is voter tendency based on gender?

  men more likely to support republicans, women more likely to support democrats - only marginal though
• what is voter tendency based on age?

  older the person is = more likely to vote republican
• what is voter tendency based on education?

  lower level of education vote republican. Split fairly narrow apart from post-graduates in 2016 who often hold more liberal outlook.
• what is voter tendency based on religion?

  those who affiliate with christianity = republican
• why is the US a two-party system?

  • FPTP encourages 2 party system
  • cooptation of 3rd party policies, when 3rd party has promotable policy quickly adopted by one of the major parties
  • 'broach church' ideology
  • electoral college encourages 2 horse race
  • federal nature of US
• in what ways is the US not a two party system?

  • argued neither democrats or republicans truly 'one party' due to factions
  • third parties increasing impact in politics - vote share tripled in 2016
  • some states solidly democrat or republican - making the situation on state-level essentially one party.
• what are the similarities between labour and the democrats?

  • both favour minimum wage and workers rights
  • higher gov intervention in economy and welfare
• what are the differences between labour and democrats?

  labour more left-wing - willing to increase taxes - something which democrats accept but rarely choose to advance
• what are the similarities between conservatives and republicans?

  • dislike of gov intervention
  • high levels of defense spending
• what are the differences between the conservatives and republicans?

  • conservatives more socially liberal - gay marriage + environment
  • republican party has a greater affiliation with religion.