Transcript U.S. Political Parties

U.S. Political Parties
Democrats vs. Republicans
Ms. Dennis & Mr. Patten
PIG Spring 2014
U.S. Political Parties:
Beginnings
What is a political party?
– Organization of people who share similar ideas about the
way the country should be governed
Political Party Systems
• 3 Political Party Systems in the World
1.) One Party System: Political party and the government
are the SAME
• Only 1 party, so no competing ideas
• Party membership based on lineage, wealth, military
power, religious power
• Example: China (Communist Party)
Political Party Systems
2.) Multi-Party System: Three or more parties compete for
control of the government
– Common in Europe, Israel, Japan
– Advantage: provides voters with many different choices and ideas
– Disadvantage: difficult for one party to get majority of votes, which
leads to a Coalition:
EXAMPLE – Italy (50 different govts. since WWII)
Daisy Alliance
500,000 votes
Sunflower Alliance
450,000 votes
Coalition
Italian Communist
200,000 votes
Political Party Systems
3. Two-Party System: Two parties compete with each other to
run the government.
– Party system of U.S.: Democrats and Republicans
– Advantages: Continuity
– Disadvantages: Minority parties (third parties) receive
little attention – focus is on two main parties
U.S. Political Parties:
Characteristics
• Democratic Party
– Tends to Attract
Working people (blue
collar)
Liberals
Catholics
Minorities
Union Members
People in favor of
govt. involvement in
social policies
U.S. Political Parties:
Characteristics
• Republican Party
– Tends to attract
Businesspeople
(white collar)
Protestants
Conservatives
Non-minorities
Non-union supporters
People against
govt.involvement in
social policies
Democrats:
The Issues
• Abortion:
– Pro Choice
– Favors contraceptive education to prevent
necessity of abortion
Republicans:
The Issues
• Abortion: Pro-life; Anti-Choice
– Prefers funding go towards marriage education and
abstinence only campaigns
– Have tried several times to pass statutes that would
allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses
Democrats:
The Issues
• The Economy and Taxes:
– In favor of large government and progressive tax
system in which wealthy pay a larger share than
the poor
– Willing to raise taxes if needed to balance the
budget
– Laws needed to protect American businesses from
international competition
Democrats:
The Issues
• Environment:
– Support stronger environmental laws and
protection of nature
– Push for cleaner air and water
– Support funding for preservation
Republicans:
The Issues
• Environment:
– Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy
production and have generally opposed looking for more
environment-friendly power alternatives
– Pushed for oil drilling in ANWR, the building of more
nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal, and
have submitted proposals that would weaken the Clean Air
Act
Democrats:
The Issues
• Gay Rights:
– Should be protected from workplace discrimination and
hate crimes
– Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional
families
• Gun Control:
– Strong advocates for gun control
– Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault
Weapons Ban
Republicans:
The Issues
• Gun Control:
– Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more
easily, and with fewer safety precautions
– Opposes any new gun-control laws
– Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons
Republicans:
The Issues
• Gay Rights:
– Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law
– “We do not believe sexual preference should be given
special legal protection or standing in law”
– Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as
union between man and woman
– Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage
Democrats:
The Issues
• Health Care:
– Push for more Heath Care funding (Medicare, Children’s
Health Insurance Program)
– In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality,
affordable health care. (100% government funded)
– Support the Affordable Care Act
Republicans:
The Issues
• Health Care:
– Believes health care should work within the free market
system where competition will lower the costs of
healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)
– Against President Obama’s Affordable Care Act
Democrats:
The Issues
• Foreign Policy:
– Generally much more supportive of international agencies
than are Republicans – support NATO and the UN
handling international affairs
– Generally want to avoid U.S. involvement in international
affairs
– Tend to believe in diplomacy and slow to go to war
Republicans:
The Issues
• Foreign Policy:
– Have brushed aside international organizations in
favor of unilateral policy of preemption
– The previous Bush Doctrine supported preemptive
invasion when necessary to protect the security of the
U.S.
– Argue that the use of American military force is
essential for keeping the world safe for Democracy
Democrats:
The Issues
• Education:
– More funding for struggling schools is necessary
– Tax money should not be used on religious schools
Republicans:
The Issues
• Education:
– Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving
students more educational options, including religious
schooling, a competitive market will be created
• Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain
students
Democrats:
The Issues
• Welfare/Social Security:
– Fundamental right of Americans – government should
provide a broad safety net (healthcare, education, welfare,
food stamps) for the poor
– Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they
are more able to work steady jobs
– Support funding for job training so recipients will be more
competitive in the job market
– Best way to protect is to maintain federal government
control – protect those that are in need
– Largely oppose privatizing social security
Republicans:
The Issues
• Social Security: Favor privatization of social security
– Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that
would have gone into Social Security into other types of
accounts. Accounts will give the opportunity to play the
stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away
Federal responsibility)
Democrats:
The Issues
• Worker’s Rights:
– Favor labor unions and workers rights
• Includes right to organize free from harassment and the
right to challenge employers for disability and
discrimination cases.
– Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage
and worker benefits
Republicans:
The Issues
• Workers’ Rights:
– Favor the rights of businesses to maximize profits
– Favors workers and management working together to do
what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences
(against Labor Unions)
– Believes Labor Unions restrict production of businesses;
sees it as a regulation of business
Democrats:
The Issues
• Crime and Punishment:
– Focus on rehabilitation sentences rather than long prison
sentences for criminals
– Usually against the death penalty
– Focus on the rights of the accused
Democrats:
The Issues
• Crime and Punishment:
– Focus on prison sentences as a deterrent to crime
– Usually support the death penalty
– Usually for stiffer penalties for convicted criminals
Republicans:
The Issues
• Welfare:
– Generally believe the United States should lessen the safety
net provided for the poor
• Believe private businesses and non profit charities can provide the
same services
– Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those
receiving government assistance