Political parties

Question 1

What is meant by ideology in the context of US political parties?

Answer 1

• Ideology refers to a set of beliefs and values guiding a party’s policies and positions.
• Democrats lean liberal/progressive (e.g. social justice, regulation)
• Republicans lean conservative (e.g. limited gov, low taxes).

Question 2

What is factionalism in US parties?

Answer 2

Factionalism is internal division within a party based on ideology or interests.

Question 3

examples of factions in US political parties

Answer 3

• Democrats: Progressives vs. Moderates.
• Republicans: MAGA populists vs. establishment conservatives.

Question 4

What is meant by party decline?

Answer 4

• Theory that US parties are weakening due to candidate-centred campaigns, media influence, and rise of primaries.
• Voters less loyal to parties.

Question 5

What is party renewal?

Answer 5

• Counter-theory suggesting parties have regained influence through fundraising, party branding, and ideological clarity (e.g. polarisation).

Question 6

How are US parties organised?

Answer 6

• US parties are decentralised.
• National committees (e.g. RNC, DNC) oversee party strategy.
• State/local parties handle candidate recruitment and grassroots efforts.

Question 7

What are the core ideologies and values of the Democratic Party?

Answer 7

• Liberalism/progressivism
• support for civil rights
• expanded healthcare
• minority protections.

Question 8

What are the core ideologies and values of the Republican Party?

Answer 8

• Conservatism
• limited government
• low taxes
• strong national defence
• traditional values.

Question 9

How have ideological changes made the parties more polarised?

Answer 9

• Since 1980s
• Dems have become more progressive
• Reps more conservative.
• Few moderates remain (e.g. Blue Dog Dems, Rockefeller Reps have faded).

Question 10

What are examples of Democratic factions?

Answer 10

• Progressives (e.g. Bernie Sanders, AOC) push for Medicare for All
• Green New Deal. Moderates (e.g. Joe Biden, Hakeem Jeffries) prefer pragmatic reforms.

Question 11

What are examples of Republican factions?

Answer 11

• Trump/MAGA wing vs. traditional conservatives

Question 12

what are the arguments for party decline?

Answer 12

• The parties have lost control over presidential candidate selection
• Candidate have their own direct line of communication to ‘their voters’
• Funding and fundraising meant that candidates no longer needed parties

Question 13

What are the arguments for ‘party renewal’

Answer 13

• Strong partisanship in Congress (e.g. near-total party-line votes on major bills like Obamacare).
• National conventions still unify and brand the party.
• Party fundraising infrastructure still dominates.

Question 14

How weak are US political parties compared to UK parties?

Answer 14

• can’t control candidate selection (primaries)
• no party whips in same way
• low discipline.

Question 15

Why do third parties struggle in the US?

Answer 15

• FPTP electoral system
• lack of media coverage
• no access to debates
• Voters fear ‘wasting’ votes.

Question 16

What are examples of significant third parties?

Answer 16

• Libertarian Party
• Green Party
• Reform Party (Perot in 1992).

Question 17

Example of third party being significant

Answer 17

• Ross Perot (1992) won 19%, arguably split the GOP vote.

Question 18

what evidence shows two-party dominance in the USA?

Answer 18

• Since 1850s, every president has been either Democrat or Republican.
• 98%+ of Congress seats held by two parties.
• Electoral College, FPTP, media bias all reinforce it.