US and Comparative Politics

Question 1

Main ideologies of the Democratic Party

Answer 1

Pro-choice on abortion
Expansion of free healthcare for all Americans
Civil rights of minorities should be extended so that every one feels included
A separation between church and state is both desirable
Gun regulations

Question 2

Main ideologies of the Republican Party

Answer 2

Anti-Gay rights or LGBTQ+ rights
More religion within schools
Pro-life on abortion
Free market economy-less government intervention
Against lowering taxes especially for the upper class
No restrictions for gun ownership

Question 3

Factions of the Democratic Party

Answer 3

Blue-Dog Democrats
Internet Left
Liberals/Progressives
Democratic Leadership

Question 4

Factions of the Republican Party

Answer 4

Neo-conservatives
Nativists
New Right - Fiscal conservatives and Social conservatives

Question 5

What is polarisation?

Answer 5

A term used to describe how each end of the political spectrum are becoming more extreme. Republicans more republican and Democrats more democratic. This is seen in the USA media as factions like RINOs and DINOs are on the decline and instead being drawn towards either side

Question 6

What are theories for comparisons between UK and US?

Answer 6

Structural- a process , e.g. the legislative process in Parliament
Rational- Individuals, Robert Nixon, Harry Truman, Tony Blair
Cultural-Ideas

Question 7

Party renewal in US

Answer 7

There is no overall party renewing shown by increased straight-ticket voting. There are some examples of organisational renewal when manifestos made by Democrats in 2006 or “superdelegates”. However, they are still in organisational decline as they have no party leaders and weak party whips

Question 8

Principles of US Constitution

Answer 8

Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Judicial Review
Individual Rights

Question 9

Characteristics of US Constitution

Answer 9

Codified Constitution
Entrenched
Rigid
Federal System
Judicially Interpreted
Republican System
Written Document

Question 10

Checks by the President on Congress

Answer 10

President can veto laws- Obama vetoes Keystone XL pipeline

Question 11

Checks by Congress on the President

Answer 11

A presidential veto can be overturned by a supermajority in both houses e.g. In 2016, Congress overturned Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), the only veto he had overturned

Question 12

Checks by President on the Judiciary

Answer 12

The president nominates all federal justices including, when there is a vacancy, to the Supreme Court e.g. Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch

Question 13

Checks by Congress on Judiciary

Answer 13

The senate approves president’s court appointments and can remove judges e.g. Thomas Porteous was impeached and removed from office for corruption

Question 14

Checks by Judiciary on the President

Answer 14

The courts can declare acts by president unconstitutional and therefore act them to be repealed e.g. In Hamdan v Rumsfield (2006), the Court ruled against special military commissions set up George W. Bush to try suspected members of the terrorist group Al Qaeda

Question 15

Checks by Judiciary on Congress

Answer 15

The courts can declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional, and therefor effectively require them to be repealed. In 2013, the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional in United States v Windsor, which marked a major advance for the legalization of same-sex marriage across the USA

Question 16

Structural theory of comparison between