Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Political Parties
- Major Parties and Ideology
- Democrats e.g. Barack Obama
- Conservative Democrats
- Liberal Democrats
- Liberal = seeks to
change political,
economic and social
status quo in favour of
those slightly more
disadvantaged
- Republicans e.g. George Bush
- Compassionate
Conservatives e.g. Bush
Jr
- South tends to be more republican
- Conservative = seeks to
defend the political,
economic and social
status quo
- Polarisation of American Politics
- The break of the Solid South
- Yellow Dog Democrats. In
1960 elections 99 of 106
HR's were democrats
- In the 10 consequent
elections they lost south
to Republicans. in 1994
the republicans had 64
seats in HR
- Significant amount of conservative
democrats moved to republicans
- 50/50 Nation = 2000 election both major
parties ended up with around 49% of the
popular vote, leading to red and blue states
- Two Party System
- Defines as two parties
who regularly win more
than 80% of the vote.
- Reasons for: FPTP System makes it
difficult for 3rd parties, the two parties
encompass a wide range of ideology,
major parties becomes more
responsive in primary elections
- Reasons against: The US has a 50 party system because
state parties are very different. One Party System; Mark
Shields "two republican parties separated by the issue of
abortion"
- Third Parties
- E.g. Reform
Party,
Libertarian
Party and
Green Party.
All had
candidates on
all ballots in
50 states in
2000
- 2000 election
Nader possibly
impacted Gore
"stealing his
votes" helping
Bush win
- Difficulties: FPTP, Do not qualify for matching funds to run in election (except Wallace, Anderson and
Perot), Ballot access laws are different in every state, lack of resources and media coverage, allegations
of extremism and co-optation.
- Tea Party Movement
- Believe: strict adherence to constitution,
limited government, reducing size and
scope of fed govt, reducing govt spending
and nation debt and budget deficit.
- 2010 it was very popular 28 HRs
- Less popular today but very
influential in watering down
the ACA with abortion
- Theories of Party Renewal/Decline
- Party Decline (Broder): Parties have lost control over candidate selection, lost
communication with voters. voting has become candidate centred and there
has been the emergence of movements.
- Party Renewal: Theories of party decline are exaggerated, Increased party
involvement in presidential nominations, nationalisation of campaigns, increased
partisanship in congress