The Democrats & The Republicans

MembershipIdentification  Membership is voluntary, based on party identification  No dues  Most states require citizens to identify a political party that shares their views on issues or role of gov’t ◦ However, large number of Americans choose not to join a party, registering as independents  Factors that influence party identification: ◦ Ideology ◦ Education ◦ Income ◦ Occupation ◦ Race or ethnicity ◦ Gender ◦ Religion ◦ Family tradition ◦ Region of the country ◦ Marital status

 Similarities: ◦ Neither questions validity of capitalist economic system ◦ Tend to be centrist ◦ Build bases of support on coalitions ◦ Party platforms can affect voter support

 Republicans tend to be ◦ More likely to  Spend on defense  Use vouchers for private schools  Give government aid to parochial schools  Grant tax relief to everyone, including the wealthy and corporations ◦ Less likely to  Spend money on social-welfare programs  Government-run health programs  Regulate firearms

 Democrats tend to be… ◦ Less likely to  Spend on defense  Use vouchers, or other public funds to let students attend private schools ◦ More likely to  Spend money to advance social-welfare programs  Use government money for public education  Spend money on government run health programs  Grant tax relief to targeted groups such as the lower and middle classes ◦ Against  Private ownership of assault weapons  Broader regulations on ownership of firearms

Republican CoalitionDemocratic Coalition  Disaffected conservative “Bluedog” Democrats  Veterans’ groups  Religious conservatives  Pro-lifers  Opponents of gay rights  Missile-defense supporters  Opponents of affirmative action  Cuban Americans  Supports of development of natural resources on public lands  Disaffected moderate Republicans  Pro-choicers  African Americans  Labor unions  Intellectuals  People with lower incomes  City dwellers  Non-Cuban Latinos  Feminists  Jewish people  environmentalists

 Occurs when coalitions making up the 2 parties fall apart  Are very rare & usually occur after a major traumatic event (economic depression, war)  Signaled by a critical election – when new party comes to dominate politics ◦ Last one occurred in 1932  Occur over time, are a show of permanence

 Trend today  Usually result of party members becoming disaffected as a result of a policy position taken by the party  Disaffected voters ◦ Usually don’t join a party ◦ Vote for the candidate rather than the party he/she belongs to  Since the 1960s ◦ Democratic Party Membership has declined  But has increased again since 2006 mid-term elections, Obama’s presidency ◦ Self-identified independents has increased ◦ Republican Party membership has remained constant  Today: ◦ The 2 parties are nearly equal in membership

 Poll taken in 2006 asked people to classify themselves as liberal, moderate, or conservative ◦ Plurality considered themselves moderate, about 1/3 considered themselves conservative ◦ Responses when asked what it meant to be  “Liberal”  Accepting change  Supporting programs that increase spending  Favoring social programs  Believing in rights of all people  “Conservative”  Resistant to change  Thrifty  Traditional  Narrow-minded

 Future is uncertain – recent decades they have been in decline ◦ Third-party challenges – have taken votes from major candidates, lessening their ability to win a majority ◦ Loss of support by party loyalists – increase in number of independent voters ◦ Increase in split-ticket voting – more voters are splitting their vote among candidates from more than 1 party ◦ Lack of perceived differences between the parties – voters often believe there are no major differences in the parties or their candidates ◦ Party reforms – changes w/in parties themselves to create greater diversity & openness have allowed for greater conflict w/in some parties ◦ Methods of campaigning – new technologies allow candidates to become more independent of parties & more directly involved w/ the voters