Comparing Electoral and Party Systems (US) Flashcards
(70 cards)
1
Q
Similarities between terms of office in the US and the UK:
A
- Both countries set term limits for elected offices.
- US 6 years for a senator - Max 5 years for an MP.
- In the US these are set into the constitution.
- UK can amend the term lengths of MPs through Acts of parliament - Parliament Act 1911 - reduces how long a parliament could last from 7 years to 5 years.
2
Q
What are the differences between term limits on the executive of the US and the UK?
A
- No term limit for a UK PM.
- 22 Amendment of the constitution means that a president can’t serve more than two full terms.
- No president has served for more than 8 years since 1945.
3
Q
What are the differences between election and election posts in the US?
A
- More elections and elected posts in the US.
- Both have national and local legislatures - list of elected officials and ballot initiatives is longer in the US.
- US uses primaries - not really used in the UK.
- US have a far greater array of elected officials - mayors, school board officials and agricultural commissioners.
4
Q
What are the differences between electoral systems in the US and the UK
A
- Both use a majoritarian system (FPTP).
- Greater variety in electoral systems in the UK - until 2020 European Parliament elections used AMS and N.Ireland used STV.
- Coalition the norm in devolved regions - not apparent in US government.
5
Q
What are the structural aspect of elections and electoral systems?
A
- Terms of office.
- Elections and elected posts.
- Electoral systems.
6
Q
What are the rational aspect of elections and electoral systems?
A
- Policies for natural supporters.
- The use of social media.
- Leaders personal qualities.
- Capturing swing states/marginal constituencies.
- Differences between the two systems.
7
Q
What are the role of core voters in US and UK elections?
A
- Parties in both countries appeal to core voters.
- Right appeals to concerns over immigration - Trump and wall, Johnson and his points based immigration system.
- Parties on left focus on social justice - labour 2019 promised to abolish Universal Credit - 2020 Democrats talked of an economy rigged against working families.
8
Q
What are the similarities between the ways in which parties in the US and UK use social media?
A
- Both countries use social media during campaigns.
- UK parties focus on gender specific ads.
- 2019 Labour ads on compensating Waspi women viewed 3 million times - exclusively by women aged 55 and over.
- Trump - focussing on social media to appeal to his core supporters - tweets on immigration.
9
Q
What are the similarities between the importance of a leaders personal qualities in UK and US politics?
A
- Both parties emphasise personal skills of their candidates.
- Trump, advertised as a deal maker.
- Johnson’s experience of Mayor of London was frequently used.
10
Q
What are the similarities between the importance of marginal states and seats in US and UK elections?
A
- In both it is important for determining final election outcomes.
- 2019, 39/61 constituencies visited by Trump were marginal.
- 2020, Biden made 40% of his campaign visits to Midwest Rust Belt States.
- Biden visited Pennsylvania 16 times - Trump visited 14 times.
11
Q
What are the differences between the electoral campaign systems in the US and the UK?
A
- USA - uses more personal attacks on their opponents. Trumps “lock her up” - to Clinton.
- More time spent in the US campaigning between elections - need to maintain control of the house.
- UK general election are the focal point for most electioneering - apart from Brexit and Scottish independence.
12
Q
What are the differences between the cultural aspects of UK and US elections?
A
- Personalities.
- Candidates selection.
- Voting behaviour.
13
Q
What are the differences between the importance of personalities in US and UK elections?
A
- US elections historically dominated by personalities - more individualist nature of US politics.
- UK it is more party focused.
- Seen in Trump and his slogans.
- Also sometimes seen in the UK - 1945 and Churchill.
- Thatcher and Blair.
- May - less successfully.
14
Q
What are the differences between TV debates in UK and US elections?
A
- More recent feature in the UK - 2010 really become important.
- First televised debate in the US happened in 1960.
- UK typically allows parties other than Labour and Conservatives to take part - last time a third party took place in a TV debate was Ross Perot in 1992.
15
Q
What are the differences between candidate selection in the US and the UK?
A
- US uses primaries - became fundamental to the process in the last 50 years.
- Candidate selection in the UK limited to party members - declining members.
- US has a broader legacy of increased political participation - link back to the early republic and town hall meetings.
16
Q
What cultural differences are highlighted by voting behaviour in the US and the UK?
A
- In both the youth vote favours more progressive parties.
- 2017, the gap between conservatives and labour was the largest in history - at 60% to 27%.
- Arguably in the US it’s not age but college education that’s becoming more important.
- Young white men more likely to vote republican.
- Religious vote - only really exists in the US.
- Race - ethnic minorities tend to vote for liberal parties - more pronounced in the US.
17
Q
What are the similarities between the two-party system in the US and the UK?
A
- Both parties cover a range of views - ( hard left and momentum in the Labour Party . Tea Party Republicans and Progressive democrats.
- Two parties are ideologically distinct.
- Both have internal party rebellions - a reflection of the broad spectrum of ideas. ( Sanders presenting the more progressive view of the Democrats) (Corbyn v Starmer).
- Both parties are in favour of retaining the current political system - the main parties benefit from the electoral system.
18
Q
What are the differences between the two-party system in the US and the UK?
A
- Issues that divides parties in both countries are different.
- Conservatives 2019 split over brexit - republicns divided on how far to expand federal gov.
- Conservatives more socially progressive than the republicans.
- In favour of NHS - Republicans don’t like socialised health care.
- Democrats more moderate than labour ( not true for Starmer).
- UK parties have long been more ideologically distinct - fairly recent for US parties.
- Party unity in US legislature is becoming higher - only two house democrats broke party ranks in Trumps impeachment trial.
- Dominance of a national party weaker in the US - partly due to its size.
19
Q
How can cultural theory be applied to the two-party system?
A
- Both countries historically have had a two party system.
- Conservative and labour in the UK.
- Two parties in the US except when there was a brief suspension in 1850.
20
Q
How can rational theory be used to explain the two-party system in the US and the UK?
A
- Two party dominance leads to the main parties wanting to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters.
- Means that for both, votes for third parties can feel like a wasted vote - more so in the US.
21
Q
How can cultural theory be applied to third parties in the US and the UK?
A
- Third parties more prominent in the UK - lib dems can trace back origins to the beginning of parliamentary gov.
- Nationalists parties like Sinn Fein date back to the 19th century.
- Two largest third parties in the US are largely recent ( Libertarians (1971) and Greens (1980s).
- UK distinct cultures in devolved regions has led to the emergence of nationalist parties.
- US so culturally diverse that a national party would be unworkable.
- Independence - important for devolved bodies.
- Not in the US - outcome of American Civil War stopped considerations of secession from the union.
22
Q
How can structural theory be used to explain differences in party dominance between the UK and the US?
A
- FPTP used for most elections in both countries - US has a far more stricter two-party system.
- Hard for third parties to get on the ticket in the US.
- Lack of a national election system leads to handicaps for small parties - many states have high thresholds.
- Requirements in the UK are far lower - need a £500 deposit and ten signatures.
- Third parties find it hard to appear on TV debates in the US - last one was Ross Perot 1992.
23
Q
What was the third candidate filing fee in Oklahoma in 2020?
A
- $35,000
24
Q
What are the requirements needed for a third party candidate to appear at a TV debate?
A
- Candidate needs to pool an average of at least 15% in five designated polls.
- Third parties need the visibility that TV debates provide.
25
What are the rational theory comparisons of party dominance in the US and the UK?
- Primaries in the US incentivise candidates to run under a 'mega-party' level.
- Emphasis on personalities and individual platforms.
- Primary system attracts a wide range of candidates.
-US parties can be seen to be made up of huge numbers of independent political operatives, each with their own donor base and campaign team.
- No primaries in the UK means that candidates are more dependent on parties
- Makes rational sense to vote for the two main parties in both systems - more so in the US where every state is essentially a two party contests.
- In the UK however tactical voting can benefit third parties - greater number of third parties in office.
26
Give an example of a party defection:
- 2020 New Jersey congressman Jeff Van Drew quit the Democrats for the Republicans.
27
What was the combined vote share of Trump and Biden in 2020?
- 98% - not third parties won a single state.
28
Why are third parties more significant in the UK than the US when considering the balance of power?
- Third parties in the UK have held the balance of power - 2010-15 coalition.
- May's confidence and supply agreement with the DUP - leads to an extra £1 billion funding for Northern Ireland.
- No parallel in the US - congress has always been held by one of the two main parties.
- Also no equivalent to national elections in the US.
29
Why are third parties more significant in the UK than the US when considering representation?
- Devolved assemblies with STV and AMS means that the main parties struggle to dominate.
- STV has inbuilt power sharing.
- No state government in the US deviates from the norm of two-party control.
- Libertarian and green parties only hold control in the lowest rungs of government - district boards and town councils.
- UK third parties do well in local council elections.
- Closest thing to a coalition in the US is a co-optation of policies - Ross Perot pledging to eliminate the federal budget deficit was adopted by both parties.
- 2019, Democrats adopted the Green Party's New Deal - leads to Howie Hawkins receiving just 0.2% of the vote.
30
Why are third parties more significant in the UK than the US at securing votes?
- Little incentive for candidates in the US to run outside of the two party system.
- Third parties and independents in the US only really act as spoilers.
(2000 Ralph Nader one enough left leaning votes in Florida spoiling the chances of Democrat Al Gore).
- Reform spoiling seats for the conservatives.
31
Argument that third parties are important in the US:
- 2020, Sanders and Angus King ran as independents - however both have close connections to the Democrat party.
- Both caucus with the Democrats.
- By contrast 6 independent candidates were elected in the 2024 general election.
32
Similarities between views on taxation between the conservatives and republicans:
- Both argue for lower taxes for businesses and individuals.
- 2018 - Trump cut income and corporate tac.
-Thatcher reduced the top rate of income tax from 83% to 40%.
- Lizz Truss and her tax cuts.
- Both parties agree that lower taxes promote innovation and productivity - believe that wealth will trickle down.
33
Similarities between view on the armed forces between the conservatives and republicans:
- Trump's first term military budget increased military spending by $100 billion.
- Conservatives strongly committed to the general of trident nuclear submarine programme.
( arguably labour are also focussing on increasing armed force spending).
34
What are the similarities between views on a strong nation state between republicans and conservatives:
- Trump and his 'America First' platform.
- Eurosceptic nature of conservatives - 'bring back control'.
- Both wary of international bodies - conservatives and the EU - Republicans with the UN and WHO.
35
What are the similarities between the importance of individual freedom between the conservatives and republicans?
- Reagan and Thatcher promising to roll back the state.
- However both the conservatives and republicans have expanded the state in interests of national security - Patriot Act (Bush and 9/11) and the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act (2019).
36
Examples of both the conservatives and republicans abandoning fiscal prudence in times of crisis:
- Covid-19 saw both Trump and Johnson pass emergency measure of government support to keep businesses afloat.
37
What are the similarities between the economic approach of the Democrats and Labour:
- Both want to reduce the wealth gap.
- 2019, Labour pledged a 45% income tax on £80,000 a year.
- 2020 Democrats - "we will make sure the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes".
38
What are the similarities between the Democrats and Labours approach to public services:
- Both committed to improving public services.
- Blairs administration - "education, education, education."
- Obama and Affordable Care Act.
39
What are the similarities between the Democrat and Labour approach to international cooperation?
- Both enthusiastic towards global bodies.
- Majority of Labour was pro-EU.
- Obama rejected Bush's axis of evil terminology and worked for better relation with countries traditionally less well disposed towards the US.
40
What are the similarities between the democrats and labour parties approach to multiculturalism?
- Both are positive about benefits of multiculturalism.
- Each draws electoral support from minority groups - Democrats and African Americans.
- Since the 1960s Democrats have bee strong supporters of the civil rights movement .
- Labour passed the original race relations act (1965).
( More illegal immigrants were deported under Obama than under Bush).
41
How are conservatives and republicans different when considering social differences?
- Republicans more conservative on social issues. ( more pro-life and gun rights than the conservatives ).
- David Cameron brought in same sex marriage.
- The evangelical 'religious right' still holds considerable sway on Republicans.
42
How are the conservatives and republicans different when considering their approach to the military?
- Something of an anti-government streak amongst Republicans.
- Republicans had an anti-vax stance during covid-19.
- Conservatives on the other hand more focussed on challenging international, primarily EU, interference in British affairs.
43
What are the differences between the Labour parties and Democrats approach to health care?
- Some democrats oppose socialist healthcare.
- Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren promote 'Medicare for All'.
- In the UK both labour and conservatives look to protect the NHS.
- Leave campaigns battle bus promise to spend and additional £350 million a week on the NHS which would have been given to the EU.
44
What are the differences between party unity in the US and the UK?
- US parties are moving closer together.
- UK parties are becoming increasingly divided.
45
Evidence of growing party unity in the US:
- Since the 1980s both parties have become more ideologically homogenous and geographically segregated .
- Few democrats from the deep south - exception is Bernie Thompson.
46
Evidence of growing party divisions in the UK:
- Labour and Conservatives have been subject to leadership challenges.
- Corbyn lost a no confidence vote among his own MPs by 172-40 - 21 of his shadow ministers resigned.
- Corbyn survives because he wins the following leadership election.
47
Evidence of divisions within the Democrat party:
- There are candidates in the Democrats who favour a more progressive party platform - writing off student loan debts and introducing a single-state-run healthcare system.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - represents the most progressive wing of the party - endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.
- Factions within the Democrats with the moderate progressives and the blue dog caucus.
48
What factions are there within the Republican Party?
- Libertarians like Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
- Moderates like Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins.
- Inability of Republicans in Congress to agree on an alternative to Trumpcare.
- Party divisions field by the primary system which encourages intra-party competition.
49
What divisions are there within the Labour Party?
- Argument that UK parties have more historic divisions.
- Labour was divided over unilateral nuclear disarmament.
- 1960 Hugh Gaitskell implored delegates to reject the policy of unilateralism and to 'fight and fight and fight for this party we love'.
50
What internal divisions are there among the conservatives?
- Conservative spilt over Europe.
- Thatcher - divisions over the wets and dries.
- John Major - faced with strong internal division - 'back me or rack me'
51
Factions within the Republican Party:
- Freedom Caucus.
- Liberty Caucus.
- Tuesday Group.
52
Factions within the conservative party:
- European Research group.
- Blue Collar conservatives.
- One-nation conservatives.
53
Factions within the Democrats:
- Congressional progressive caucus.
- New Democrat Coalition.
- Blue Dog Caucus.
54
What factions are there within the Labour Party?
- Campaign Group.
- Tribune Group.
- Labour first.
55
What are the similarities between campaign and party finance in the US and the UK?
- Elections in both countries cost money - social media ads, publicity, campaign staff.
- There is an assumption that to stand a strong chance of wining an election candidates need to match if not outspend their opponents.
- All parties welcome small donations - they are also aware of the need to recruit and retain generous individual donors.
56
What are the structural theory comparisons of campaign finance in the US and the UK?
- Campaign expenditure caps.
- State funding of campaigns.
- Pressure groups.
- Legal framework.
57
What are the similarities and differences over campaign expenditure in the UK and the US?
- UK there are tight regulations.
- National parties limited to £30,000 per constituency.
- Clear restrictions on funding from individuals - all donors over £7,5000 must be made public.
- Electoral Commission issues fines for breaking the rules - 2020 Plaid Cymru was fined £29,000
- In the US restrictions on campaign finance such as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) - diluted by the citizens untied ruling.
- Restrictions on hard money, but not on soft money.
- Campaign finance protected in the first amendment - seen as an expression of free speech.
58
What are the differences between the state funding of campaigns in the UK and the US?
- UK more is done by the government nationally to assists with elections.
- Eg the government is responsible for voter registration.
- In the US much party energy and money is absorbed in voter membership drives.
- Candidates in UK elections are legally enrolled to free postage of one piece of election literature.
- Matched funding in the US ultimately failed - candidates not willing to enforce voluntary caps on campaign expenditure.
59
What are the similarities between the influence that pressure groups have on campaign spending in the UK and the US?
- UK pressure groups are more tightly regulated.
- The gov regulator Charity commission ensure that charities do not spend money on campaigns for candidates.
- In the US pressure groups endorse candidates through PACs or associated 501/527
60
What are 501/527 groups?
- Independent political groups that exist to influence political issues.
- Many PACS and Super PACs are 527 groups.
- 501 groups are more limited in their political campaigning but offer a higher degree of of donor anonymity.
61
What are the similarities and differences between how the legal framework limits campaign spending in the US and UK?
- UK Communications Act 2003 - television airtime cannot be purchased for political ads.
- major parties are allocated free slots for party election broadcasts.
- No restrictions in the US - Super PACs can buy as much airtime as they want - estimate that $10.8 billion was spent on ads in 2020.
62
What laws are there restricting campaign finance in the UK?
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000).
Communications Act (2003).
Charity Act (2011)
63
What laws are there regulating campaign finance in the US?
- Federal election campaign act (1971).
- Bi-partisan campaign reform act (2002)
64
What landmark court cases are there on campaign finance in the US?
McConnell v Federal Election Commission (2003).
Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (2010).
65
What restrictions are there on campaign fundraising and expenditure in the UK?
- No limits on party funding outside election times.
- Limits on both national and candidate spending in the period before an election.
- Large Donors must have their names published.
- No scope for the purchase of airtime.
- All funding and expense must be regularly submitted the Electoral Commission.
66
What restrictions are there on campaign fundraising and expenditure in the US?
- Limits on direct donations to parties and candidates.
- No restrictions on self-funding.
- No limits on independent expenditure by Super PACs.
- Most political donations and donor identities must be declared to the federal election commission.
- However 501 groups can find ways of circumventing this - 'dark money'
67
What are the rational aspects of campaign finance?
- Interest groups and donors.
- Electoral battlegrounds.
68
What are the differences between interest groups and donors in UK and US elections?
- Spending in the US outweighs that in the UK.
- More opportunities for wealthy individuals and pressure groups to donate and become involved in political campaigning.
- Individuals donate vast amounts to the Conservative Party - Lubov Chernukhim paid £160,000 to play tennis with Johnson and Cameron.
- Labour funded by trade unions like Unite.
69
What are the differences between campaign spending on electoral battle grounds in the US and the UK?
- Both countries spending is disproportionately but rationally focused on electoral battlegrounds.
- Less easy in the UK where camping finance is more tightly controlled.
- Digital ads - made it easier to focus on local ads - targeting individual voters more effectively.
70
What are the cultural theory comparisons of campaign finance?
- Campaign finance has a more explicit place in US politics.
- 2020 - virtual reception with Biden cost between $1,000 to $20,000.
- US campaign finance influenced by the first amendment.
- In the UK there is a tradition of funding 0 mainly from trade unions for labour and private individuals for the conservatives.
- 'Cash for hours' scandal.
