comparing parties DO

Question 1

party decline US vs UK: candidate selection

Answer 1

-in the US, presidential candidates are chosen largely by ordinary voters in presidential primaries e.g. republicans lost control with a hostile takeover from Trump
-in the UK the leader is selected by party members. MPs are but on ballot papers by party/party leaders, and voters largely cast their vote depending on which party the MP represents

Question 2

party decline US vs UK: communication with voters

Answer 2

-US = politicians mainly communicate through TV and conducting their own opinion polls which means the role of the party is cut out
-in the UK its similar as MPs largely communicate through social media etc

Question 3

party decline US vs UK: organisation and finance

Answer 3

-US = candidates rely on individual donations rather than party ones
-e.g. in 2016 trump raised more money independently that he would have received from the party
-UK = the party primarily funds the candidate

Question 4

party decline US vs UK: elections

Answer 4

-UK = elections are party focused
-most voters have little knowledge about the MP
-candidates run on issues from the manifesto e.g. 2019 - most tory candidates campaigned for brexit
-US = elections are more candidate/issue focused. candidates must first win support in primaries and are keen to build their ‘brands’ on key issues

Question 5

are parties in the UK or US more united?

Answer 5

-UK = centralised power e.g. leadership has great influence over party policy, and most MPs follow the mandate theory
-US = power is decentralised - each level of organisation runs its own campaign and forms its own party platform