6. Political Parties

• Two parties dominate the USA: Democrats and the Republicans:

  • Traditionally, each party has been broad-based and diverse: 'big tent' or 'catch all' parties
  • Over the past 20 years, the parties have become narrower, more ideological and increasingly distinct from each other. This phenomenon is termed hyper-partisanship
  • US parties are much less centralised than those in the UK. Local state parties remain very important. Primaries also weaken the power of national parties
  • Remains significant divisions and factions within each of the two main parties
• Ideology and Values:


  Both parties share a number of common beliefs:

  • A strong attachment to capitalism and the free market
  • Commitment to a republican system of government
  • A preference for partisan for the majoritarian electoral system. Both would suffer from any change to a more proportional voting system, which would encourage the rise of third parties and independents
  • A belief that America should maintain a powerful presence in the world and remain the pre-eminent global power
• Value Differences 


  Economy/state

  • Republicans have a stronger emphasis on individual freedom, especially in economics. Traditionally keen on 'small government', lower taxes and states' rights, though this has diminished somewhat since 2000
  • Although Democrats wish to retain capitalism and wealth differentials, a greater acceptance of government help to aid the poorest, more supportive of a larger, active, federal government
• Values Differences 


  Covid 19:

  • Republicans were hesitant to impose compulsory mask-wearing or state-wide lockdowns, citing concerns over individual liberty and the economic impact. Some harboured suspicions about the vaccines. Trump, did not publicise his vaccinations.
  • Democrats were more willing to impose state-wide lockdowns and mask wearing to aid public health and collective duty. Strongly opposed anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists. Biden published pictures of him receiving the vaccine to encourage Americans to follow.
• Values Differences

  religion:

  • Republicans believe that religion/faith should have a greater public role and presence
  • Democrats are not anti-religion, desiring to retain a clear separation between church and state
• Values Differences 


  Civil Rights:

  • Republicans have a clear commitment to upholding rights of gun owners
  • Democrats place strong emphasis on the rights of minorities under the Equal Protection Clause (Fourteenth Amendment)
• Policy differences 


  Taxes:

  • Republicans: keen to keep as low as possible and support cutting the taxes of the wealthy as a way of generating jobs and stimulating the economy e.g. 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduced corporate tax rate.
  • Democrats: less willing to cut taxes for the wealthy and keener to put money in the pockets or ordinary Americans e.g. in 2010 Obama cut payroll taxes by 2% while receiving an inheritance tax on estates worth over $5 million
• Policy differences

  Gun Control:

  • Republicans - very reluctant to introduce or support tougher gun laws, though willing to consider minor changes such as banning 'bump stocks'. Strong ties to the NRA and back 'open carry'
  • Democrat - more supportive of gun control measures such as tighter background check. President Clinton supported the Assault Weapon Ban passed by Congress in 1994, expired in 2004 and not renewed
• Policy differences

  LGBTQ rights:

  • Republicans - Generally hostile to expansion of gay rights and same-sex marriage. Some Republican states have tried to pass 'bathroom bills'. Some moderate Republicans are more sympathetic
  • Democrat - Generally supportive, reflecting a socially liberal approach. Biden reversed a trump era ban on transgender Americans serving in the armed forces
• Policy differences

  Healthcare:

  • Republicans - Oppose the extension of publicity funded managed healthcare. Strongly opposed to Obamacare. Largely see healthcare as an individual responsibility for working people
  • Democrats - Many support a greater provision of state healthcare. Obamacare/Affordable Care Act seen as major step towards reducing the number of working Americans without health insurance. Many favour 'public medical insurance'
• Policy differences


  Immigration:

  • Republicans are keen to restrict immigration, especially from Mexico and Latin America. Trump strongly supported a border wall
  • Democrats favour immigration reform and making citizenship possible for existing illegal immigrants such as the 'Dreamers'
• Policy differences 


  Abortion:

  • Republicans are strongly pro-life and anti-abortion; keen to defund organisations such as Planned Parenthood, Republican states have passed tighter abortion laws - tied with religious right.
  • Democrats are increasingly pro-choice, though 63 House Democrats did back the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Pro life democrats are a rapidly dwindling group among congressional democrats. linked with feminist and progressive movements
• Policy difference


  Climate change:

  • Republicans - Strong commitment to fossil fuels found in USA, often citing energy security as the justification. Many are sceptical of the scale or even the existence of climate change and global warming
  • Democrats - commitment to alternative energy source such as wind power and favours tougher environmental laws. More likely to see climate change as both real and requiring urgent action.
• Changes since 1960s 


  Both have become more polarised due to:

  • Democrats (LBJ) supported civil rights in 60s - alienated white southern democrats
  • Republicans became more conservative under Reagan and religious right
  • Impact of Culture wars, between progressive and traditional values
  • seen with Clintons near-impeachment by republicans
  • Trump seen with the claims of 'stolen election' and Capitol riots
  • Evidence of polarisation can be seen by voting on party lines in congress
• Evidence for party decline:

  • split ticket voting until 1980s
  • Rise of primaries -reduced the control of the 'party machine' in candidate selectin
  • Party leaders and presidents struggling to persuade legislators
  • Growth of candidate centred campaigning
  • Rise of pressure groups as an alternative focus for participation
• Evidence for Party renewal

  • Decline in split-ticket voting in recent years
  • Democrats have unelected super-delegates at their national convention
  • growing partisanship in congressional votes
  • more coherent policy platforms among both parties
  • Strong influence of many pressure groups on particular parties
• Factions within Parties

  Republicans:

  • Freedom Caucus - very conservative, especially fiscally
  • Tuesday Group - 50 more moderate republican congressmen/women
  • Christian Conservatives - traditional, religious right
• Factions within Parties

  Democrats:

  • Blue Dogs (fiscally conservative)
  • Congressional Progressive Caucus (most progressive and left-leaning among democrats)
  • New Democrats (centrist, third way, moderate democrats)
• Factions within Parties


  significance:

  • can make it harder for leadership to get a measure through congress e.g. Trumpcare in 2018. Factions generally matter less in opposition
  • They reflect the diversity of the USA and 'big tent' parties
  • Factions often highlight the different political traditions of America's regions, hence most conservative Democrats will come from South/midwest, moderate republicans are more north-eastern
  • The fluctuating fortunes of various factions can reflect the overall direction of the party and recent polarisation. Blue dog Numbers have declined
• Party Organisation

  US parties are much more decentralised and loosely organised than UK counterparts. State parties continue to play an important role, reflecting the federal make up of USA.

  • This has led some to refer to a 100-party rather than a two party system
  • US parties play little role in selection due to primaries
  • Primaries can see certain candidates being endorsed and publicly supported by leading politicians
  • There are no official leaders; instead there are party leaders in the Senate and House and the president
  • chairs of national bodies are not that influential
• Third Parties and Independents

  • There are no strong parties in US politics
  • established third parties include the Greens and the Libertarians
  • in the 117th Congress there were no independents in the House
  • The last independent candidate to be significant was 1992
  • George Wallace in 1968 was the last independent/third party candidate to win any Electoral College
• Why do third parties and independents do poorly in US elections?

  Reason include:

  • majoritarian system
  • lack of media coverage
  • big tent nature of two main parties
  • primary system enables voters to have a wide choice within the main parties and offers opportunities
  • cost of US elections
  • Often portrayed as extremists
  • ballot access laws are strict
• Significance of third-party and independent candidates

  • Although lacking presence in elected posts, not third party and independent candidates are irrelevant in US politics
  • In close races they can indirectly determine the final outcome of the contest
  • If policies gain in popularity these policies are often taken up by the main parties - Ross Perot's promise to bring down the deficit and work towards a balanced budget