internal party unity

Question 1

how does candidate selection differ the the US from the UK

Answer 1

US = Primaries allow voters to control who gets a place on the ballot loyalty to the state can outweigh party loyalty
UK = The Party controls candidate selection for constituency seats, encouraging them to remain loyal to the party for their careers

Question 2

what are two factions within the democratic party and how do they differ from each other

Answer 2

Congressional Progressive Caucus
- liberal
- critical theory
- affirmative action
- lgbtq
- gaza

Blue Dogs -
- moderate
- israel

Question 3

what are three factions within the republican party and how do they differ from each other

Answer 3

Tuesday Group - moderate
Freedom Caucus - fiscal conservatives
Study Committee - social conservatives

Question 4

how are factions identified in the UK

Answer 4

eras and ideologies
Conservative
- Thatcherites
- European Research Group

Labour
- Anti-Corbyn
- Momentum - purged by Starmer

Question 5

how has hyper partisanship influenced party unity

Answer 5

• Separation of powers means that party leaders have less control over their members, leading to more factionalism and less party unity.
• Members of Congress vote based on their constituents’ interests rather than party lines.

Question 6

how has party whips influenced party unity in the UK

Answer 6

• More centralised
• Party leaders and whips control career progression; easier to exercise party discipline effectively.

Question 7

STRUCTURAL UK

Answer 7

• Factionalism in centralised parties (Labour, Liberal Democrats)
• internal competition (Blair vs. Corbyn).

Question 8

CULTURAL UK

Answer 8

• Conservative Party divided over Brexit
• Labour split over Corbyn’s leadership.

Question 9

RATIONAL UK

Answer 9

• Factions help balance parties
• new parties struggle to succeed = politicians work within major parties

Question 10

STRUCTURAL US

Answer 10

• State-based politics and weak central structures drive factionalism
• wealthy donors influence.

Question 11

CULTURAL US

Answer 11

• Democrats divided over civil rights
• Republicans split between conservatives and social liberals.

Question 12

RATIONAL US

Answer 12

• Factions balance parties;
• third-party runs rarely succeed, so politicians stay within major parties (e.g., Trump, Sanders)