A Level Politics – US Political Parties- The key values, ideologies, traditions and policies of the Democrats and Republicans

A Level Politics – US Political Parties- The key values, ideologies,
traditions and policies of the Democrats and Republicans
This guide summarizes the key ideological differences between the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States. Note that these are broad generalizations, and individual politicians within each party may hold differing views on specific issues.
I. Historical Context:

• Unlike UK parties with clear historical ideologies, US parties were traditionally broader coalitions. The New Deal Coalition (1930s-1960s) exemplifies this, encompassing diverse groups under the Democratic banner (labor unions, minorities, Southern segregationists, etc.).
• The relatively non-ideological nature of US parties in the mid-20th century is illustrated by Dwight D. Eisenhower's candidacy, courted by both Democrats and Republicans.
• Today, the parties are far more ideologically distinct and polarized.

II. The Democratic Party:
Core Values & Policies:

• Government's Role: Believes in a larger role for government in addressing social and economic inequality. Larger government programs are seen as tools for enabling individual freedom and enterprise.
• Economy: Supports higher taxes on the wealthy to fund social welfare programs. Opposes tax cuts benefiting corporations at the expense of American jobs.
• Healthcare: Advocates for universal, affordable healthcare for all Americans.
• Civil Rights: Strongly supports civil rights for minorities, including LGBTQ+ Americans.
• Abortion: Generally pro-choice.
• Religion: Supports separation of church and state, while acknowledging the personal faith of many Democrats.
• Gun Control: Favors stricter gun control measures.
• Supreme Court: Prefers judges with a "living Constitution" approach, believing the Constitution should adapt to modern circumstances.
• Immigration: Supports humane immigration reform, including DACA and the DREAM Act.
• Policing: Advocates for police reform in response to issues like the George Floyd murder.
• Foreign Policy: Favors international cooperation and engagement on issues like climate change and nuclear proliferation.
• Environment: Believes in the urgency of addressing climate change through initiatives like the Green New Deal.

III. The Republican Party:
Core Values & Policies:

• Government's Role: Favors limited government intervention in the economy and social issues, believing poverty is best addressed through individual initiative and job creation. Suspicion of large government programs.
• Economy: Supports lower taxes across the board, believing in "trickle-down" economics.
• Healthcare: Generally favors market-based healthcare with personal choice and ability to pay playing a significant role; however, supports existing Medicare for older Americans and the disabled.
• Civil Rights: Believes civil rights progress has largely been sufficient, opposing measures like affirmative action.
• Abortion: Generally pro-life, seeking greater restrictions on abortion access and potentially overturning Roe v. Wade.
• Religion: Believes religion should have a role in public life, supporting issues like prayer in schools.
• Gun Control: Strongly opposes gun control measures, emphasizing the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Close ties to the NRA.
• Supreme Court: Prefers judges with an "originalist" approach, interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning.
• Immigration: Favors stricter immigration enforcement, including border walls and deportations. Skeptical of amnesty programs.
• Foreign Policy: Historically more "hawkish," but recent trends (particularly under Trump) show a shift towards isolationism and an "America First" approach. Increased skepticism towards international organizations.
• Environment: More skeptical of the science behind climate change and the need for drastic measures to transition away from fossil fuels, especially domestically-sourced ones.​

IV. Key Differences Summarized:

Issue	Democrats	Republicans
Government Role	Larger, more active role	Smaller, limited role
Taxes	Higher taxes on the wealthy	Lower taxes across the board
Healthcare	Universal, affordable healthcare	Market-based system, individual choice
Abortion	Pro-choice	Pro-life
Gun Control	Stricter regulations	Strong opposition to regulations
Immigration	Humane reform, paths to citizenship	Stricter enforcement, border security
Environment	Strong action on climate change	More skepticism of climate change action

To learn more about A Level Politics Click Here