Bunch of essay plans

NOTE: Some are not fully completed.

To what extent do the Republican party and Democrat party have similarities?

Economy à taxation

Traditional ideology	Similarities	Differences
Republicans: small government Democrats:	In the 2012 Party Platform, 56% of republicans opposed raising taxes on those who earned over $250,000 February 2014, Republicans proposed a tax reform, would also make up for any revenue losses from decreased income taxes with additional taxes and fees for investment managers, big banks, and the highest earners. 35 percent, just about the highest in the industrialized world. Republicans want to slash that rate down to 25 percent, while Obama proposed cutting it to 28 percent in a draft discussion on tax reform in 2012	Want a full repeal of the death tax (also known as the federal estate tax, under which a tax is applied to the transfer of the deceased’s estate at the time of their death). February 2013, Republicans proposed a tax reform, included just three income tax brackets, 10 percent, 20 percent, and 35 percent, which would reduce income tax rates overall July 2014, Obama proposed tax reforms that were rejected by Republicans Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky- ‘The tax hike it includes is going to dampen any boost businesses might otherwise get to help our economy’

Economy à welfare

Economy à minimum wage

Ideology	Similarities	Differences
Republicans believe that wages should be based on skill, education, and the law of supply and demand	Romney - “I…part company with many of the conservatives in my party on the issue of the minimum wage. I think we ought to raise it,” Romney has said. “Because frankly, our party is all about more jobs and better pay.” While he does not believe in a large increase such as the one being proposed at this time, he believes in raising the minimum wage to account for inflation on a regular basis.	In President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union address, he called to increase the minimum wage. In response to this, Senator Tom Harkin and Representative George Miller have introduced the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. This act would raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25 to $10.10 over the course of the next two years – Republican controlled house voted unanimously against it Rubio and Paul Ryan have spoken out against it

Health care

Ideology	Similarities	Differences
Rep believe that a health care system that is run by the government will reduce both the efficiency and the standard of care, as well as compromise the patient-physician relationship, and increase waiting periods within the health care system	Twelve Democrats sided with Republicans in approving the first Affordable Care Act-related legislation of the new Congress.	The Republican Party thought the expansion of Medicaid is unsustainable, and will harm the nation as a whole. The Affordable Care Act (increased Medicaid and made a website that would allow citizens to compare insurance providers) -  was so firmly opposed by the Republican Party that not a single Republican voted for the final version that Obama signed into law. The House voted Thursday to curb a provision in ObamaCare that some lawmakers say is hurting the job market, as the new Republican-controlled Congress moved quickly to challenge the administration on several fronts.  The House voted 252-172 for the ObamaCare bill, which tweaks the law's definition of full-time workers who must be offered employer-provided health care. The bill changes the full-time worker threshold from 30 hours weekly to a 40-hour minimum 16 day Shutdown over ACA October

Immigration

Ideology	Similarities	Differences
Republicans believe in warmly welcoming those who enter the country through legal methods, while devoting extra resources to keep out those who try to enter via illegal methods, as well as keeping track of those who enter and when they leave. The party believes that amnesty towards those who have broken immigration laws only encourages future immigrants to enter the country illegally rather than legally.	The plan, which is scheduled to be voted on by the House next week, is unlikely to get approval from the more moderate Senate – wishing to get Hispanic vote  over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent.	House Republicans on Friday 9/1/15 announced budget proposal that would fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees border checkpoints, but block the White House's recent executive action benefiting some illegal immigrants. NATIVISTS most against Obama’s executive order which granted 5million aliens chance to work.

Foreign Affairs – war on terror dominating

Ideology	Similarities	Differences
	US led air strike. Was  Some 350 US troops are stationed at the base, deep in ISIS territory, and officials have often presented attacks on ISIS near the area as “self-defense.” Each have condemned attacks in Paris and Australia	During an interview with Fox News, McCain criticised what he called President Barack Obama and his administration's "lack of strategy" concerning ISIS

Race/Affirmative action

Abortion

Ideology	Similarities	Differences
unborn child has a “fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed,	-          Republicans for planned parenthood -          Republicans for choice – Super PAC. Members include Senator Susan Collins Maine	Republicans support a constitutional amendment which will end abortion entirely. They oppose using public revenues to promote or carry out abortions, and also oppose any health care options that include the coverage of abortion.

Gun control

Ideology	Similarities	Differences
Both believe in right to bear arms		Democrats believe in stronger background checks

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE REPUBLICANS A DIVIDED PARTY?

Immigration

United	Divided
-          All staunchly oppose Obama’s immigration bill. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, said Mr Obama's unilateral actions ignored the American people	-          Mr McConnell has ruled out triggering a government shutdown by refusing to vote for funds to keep federal departments working. But Mr Cruz and others on the Right have kept open the possibility of a shutdown, saying Republicans should "use any and all means necessary" to oppose the plan. -

Health care

United

Divided

Most Republicans are anti-Obama Care, as seen by not a single Republican voting for the version of the ACA that Obama signed

While most fiscal and social conservatives oppose any changes to ObamaCare, insisting that the entire law should be repealed, other moderate Republicans say the party should eliminate the more damaging parts of the law, such as the requirement that some businesses provide healthcare to all employees working at least 30 hours a week. GOP leaders have promised to hold a vote on repealing ObamaCare, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R- Ky.) has acknowledged the bill would be a dead letter Nativists

Party leadership

United	Divided
-          In the end they chose Bohneor anyway	-          two dozen of his own members refused to support Boehner – House leader- reelection as House speaker in a televised vote à Fiscal conservatives and TEA party two factions particularly against him. Thought he was too moderate. 2 years ago it was just 1 dozen According to the poll, 53 percent want neither McConnel as Senate leader or Boehner would prefer to see new party leadership.

Tax

United	Divided
- Want to establish tax reform	-Don’t know when to pursue tax reform – should they do half now, leaving rest to 2016 or push through all now?

Welfare

United

Divided

-          Republican policy on welfare is identical to the conservative view, as can be seen through the force they have exerted in pushing through large welfare cuts since 2012, causing welfare spending to contract from $571 billion to $541 billion. In July 2014, the Republicans also pressured Congress to cut food stamp spending by 1% in a bipartisan compromise in order to pass agriculture legislation. Whilst the spending cut was not as high as Republicans wished for, the cut was still significant considering 1 in 7 Americans require food stamps

-

Abortion

United	Divided
Republicans support a constitutional amendment which will end abortion entirely. They oppose using public revenues to promote or carry out abortions, and also oppose any health care options that include the coverage of abortion	-          Republicans for planned parenthood Republicans for choice – Super PAC. Members include Senator Susan Collins Maine

ARE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIVIDED?

United	Divided
·         The number of Blue Dog Democrats is in serious decline, with just 14 members, after the 2012 elections.	·

TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT TRUE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RESURGENCE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF US PARTIES IN RECENT YEARS?

Increased importance	Less important
Evidence of partisanship and the increasing polarisation of the parties in recent years. With the media’s focus on the deeply partisan approach by both parties to key issues such as the economy, it is clear that parties are still dominant in the USA. There is clear evidence of adversarial and partisan politics in the USA with the Republicans being largely ideologically conservative while their Democratic counterparts have adopted a more liberally progressive agenda.	·         The media allows for more candidate-centred politics that focuses on individual media personalities. Similarly, the rise of new media and social networking sites has provided a vehicle through which individual candidates can reach out to the electorate or raise funds directly.
Parties still play an important role in funding and organising electoral campaigns, despite the decline in soft money, that is centred on both the Democratic and Republican National Committees.	·         Campaign finance reforms such as the 2002 BCRA have placed limits on party fundraising and expenditure while Supreme Court decisions such as the Citizens United case have increased the power of pressure groups to fund the campaigns of individual candidates.
Congressional elections have become increasingly focused on parties and dominated by national issues such as the 1994 Contract with America (a nationally-agreed manifesto, established in the run-up to the 1994 midterms, that committed Republican Party members to vote on a series of conservative issues such as cutting taxes and balancing the budget) and. the Democrats’ ‘6 for ‘06’ commitments and the most recent Republican Pledge to America, in 2010.  (list of proposed legislation republican party hoped to impose in 112th congress)	·         Primaries are by their nature deeply divisive and encourage rifts to form between individuals and factions within the party.
·         The introduction of unpledged superdelegates and party control over the timetabling and nomination procedures has allowed them to try to recapture the presidential nomination process. I.E. frontloading	·         The increasing use of primaries in selecting candidates has meant candidates are more concerned with direct appeals to the electorate and the party leadership is given less power to choose candidates and shape the direction of the party.
·	·         Pressure groups have replaced parties in communicating with the electorate, mobilising voters and developing policy.

PRESSURE GROUPS

How and why do PG influence the Supreme Court?

How	Why
Providing support in test cases Provide lawyers and financial aid -          I.E. Windsor Vs Doma case was funded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – case struck down part of the 1996 Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), under which the federal government was barred from providing benefits (such as tax concessions) to same-sex couples who had been able to marry in the limited number of states or countries that came to permit it -          The case built on the constitutional right to engage in gay relationships that had been established in Lawrence v Texas (2003)	SC has power of Judicial review Judicial review is power of SC to declare acts of congress or actions of the executive / state governments unconstitutional and thereby null and void. It therefore acts as a guarantor of civil rights and liberties. Pressure groups want to influence the Supreme Court to interpret legislation in their favour, so that the rights that they want to give citizens, are given.
Influencing judicial appointments They create profiles on possible appointments, checking their past record to see if they have voted in line with the issue of the pressure group advocates. They then campaign publically on their most favoured justice. As it is the senate that confirm appointments, they lobby senators to try and ensure they vote in favour of the preferred candidate. I.E: Coalition for Constitutional Values was broadcasting adverts to try and get Sonia Sottomayor appointed  a coalition for constitutional values = of organizations and advocates working together to ensure that our federal courts work to the benefit of all Americans in keeping with the core constitutional values of liberty, equality and justice for all.	Judicial Philosophies The outcome of court cases = very much dependent on the views and experiences of the justices. The more right wing ones, more likely to be anti-abortion etc. Sonia Sotomayor in this case, is of Hispanic origin and has more progressive views. Important that pressure groups manage to influence SC appointments so that
Amicus Curiae Briefs (friends of the court) These are dossiers created by PG’s to be read by the judges of test cases. They explain the view of the Pressure Group. I.E: 2012 Blackhorse vs Pro-football case – National Congress of American Indians wrote an Amicus Curiae Bried explaining why the ‘Washington Redskins’ name and logo was offensive to Native Americans.	Wider views So that the judiciary can make a more well informed decision on certain issues. They will be able to take into account more opinions and thereby better represent the views of the public in their rulings.
Writing in journals and published law books Leading lawyers, some funded by pressure groups, others simply members of pressure groups, have written in respected law journals in support of the issue their pressure group advocates. I.E. The NRA has written profusely in law books	SC justice views evolve SC justices often read law journals, and future ones will be reading them as part of their study. With views of lawyers, their own opinions will be shaped.

How and why do PG influence Senate

How	Why
Lobbying Pressure Groups try to convince congressmen to have their same philosophy ad vote I their same way. They therefore hire progressional lobbyist groups to do so. In 2014, $2.41 billion was spent on lobbying. I.E. Facebook, Google, Apple and other technology firms are attempting to lobby congress through the Electronic Frontier Foundation in order to get senate to pass the Freedom Act which would limit the US’ NSA surveillance and limit bulk email collection	Senate has ability to pass legislation So crucial because this effects the everyday lives of every American. Legislation revolves around all and any sort of issue.
Endorsement – Super PAC Greater funds that a candidate allows them to increase their publicity through advertising, which usually equates in greater votes. As of January 11, 2015, 1,287 groups organized as Super PACs have total independent expenditures of $344,172,141 in the 2014 cycle	PG’s try to endorse candidates so that they get elected into Senate. I.E. Agriculture Super PACs donated $43640 to Senator Marco Rubio
Publishing Voting Records Emily’s List – a pro choice pressure group publishes voting list of who they recommend you should vote. – i.e. Ann Kirk Patrick, House of Arizona.	To ensure that right candidate with similar views gets elected Senate confirms judicial and federal appointments so this is particularly important
Forming Iron Triangles and through Revolving Door Syndrome Iron triangles – involves a three-sided relationship between a congressional comittee, a federal dept  and a particular interest group or industry. In forging these strong ties they create a wall of resistance to change that the White House may be unable to breach. I.E. ·         Environmentalist group the Sierra club had formed strong links with Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which caused suspension of keystone pipeline bill that would have enabled increased oil supply from US oil reserves	Ratify treaties and pass legislation

How and why do PG influence House

How	Why
Lobbying Pressure Groups try to convince congressmen to have their same philosophy ad vote I their same way. They therefore hire progressional lobbyist groups to do so. In 2014, $2.41 billion was spent on lobbying. I.E. Facebook, Google, Apple and other technology firms are attempting to lobby congress through the Electronic Frontier Foundation in order to get senate to pass the Freedom Act which would limit the US’ NSA surveillance and limit bulk email collection	House has ability to pass legislation So crucial because this effects the everyday lives of every American. Legislation revolves around all and any sort of issue.
Endorsement – Super PAC Greater funds that a candidate allows them to increase their publicity through advertising, which usually equates in greater votes. As of January 11, 2015, 1,287 groups organized as Super PACs have total independent expenditures of $344,172,141 in the 2014 cycle	PG’s try to endorse candidates so that they get elected into Senate. I.E. Newly elected representative Alma Adams received most money from EMILY’s list - $17,001
Publishing Voting Records Emily’s List – a pro choice pressure group publishes voting list of who they recommend you should vote. – i.e. Ann Kirk Patrick, House of Arizona.	To ensure that right candidate with similar views gets elected House initiates money bills so particularly important
Forming Iron Triangles and through Revolving Door Syndrome Iron triangles – involves a three-sided relationship between a congressional comittee, a federal dept  and a particular interest group or industry. In forging these strong ties they create a wall of resistance to change that the White House may be unable to breach. I.E. ·         Environmentalist group the Sierra club had formed strong links with House Natural resources committee and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which caused suspension of keystone pipeline bill that would have enabled increased oil supply from US oil reserves	House can impeach and elect President in case of dead-locked Electoral College

How and why do PG influence Executive?

How	Why
Endorsement – Super PAC Google Inc. - $801,770 to Obama in 2012 presidential election race	President Sets Policy Agenda In January State of Union Speech, allows President to outline agenda to congress. Any access gained to congress can lead to state of union address
Protesting – direct action I.E. anti abortion groups, anti-capitalist movements such as ‘occupy wallstreet’.	President Appoints SC judges SC is highest court in land. They carry out judicial review, declaring legislation unconstitutional
SOMETHING	Presidents can issue executive orders -  means that the President holds the power to force through legislation without Congress consent  currently this is a power which is often in headlines I.e. immigration
Forming Iron Triangles and through Revolving Door Syndrome Iron triangles – involves a three-sided relationship between a congressional comittee, a federal dept  and a particular interest group or industry. In forging these strong ties they create a wall of resistance to change that the White House may be unable to breach. I.E. ·         Environmentalist group the Sierra club had formed strong links with House Natural resources committee and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which caused suspension of keystone pipeline bill that would have enabled increased oil supply from US oil reserves	Executive is limited by the resources of its federal bodies.

How far is it true to claim that pressure group activity in the USA is both ‘undemocratic and elitist’?

Undemocratic =

Elitists = suggests that a small group of pressure groups disproportionately influence the decision makers of the USA. As More comprehensive screening of gun buyers is supported by 91 percent of U.S. voters, including 88 percent of gun-owning households, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted March 27-April 1. The politics, however, just didn’t work for gun-control advocates, Congress voted against background checks in 2013

Undemocratic and elitist	Not undemocratic or elitist
(1) Wealthiest pressure groups do best	(1) Regulation exists
(2) Iron Triangle	(2) Winners and losers
(3) Revolving Door Syndrome	(3) Encourage political participation
(4) Competing Elites cancel each other out	(4)
(5)