edexcel US politics democracy

impeding or delaying legislation by making long speeches until a deadline is passed

-voting rights

-affirmative action

-immigration reform

-political representation

-demonstration and civil resistance

-legal methods

-voter registration drives

immigration has implications in the areas of fariness, national identity, economic opportunity and - especially since 9/11 - homeland security

a policy of favouring historically disadvantaged members of the community

many civil rights advocates believe ‘giving rights to people’ cannot guarantee minory rights and representation, this woud merely give the appearance of rights and equality

introduce racial advantage through such policies as busing, quotas and affirmative action

preferential hiring practices for minority groups => diversify

both patronising to minorities and unfair to majorities

‘to take affirmative action to ensure applicants are treated during employment without regard to their race, creed, colour or national origin’

What happened:

This was one of the first challenges to Affirmative Actions. Bakke was seeking admission to medical school and was twice rejected. Bakke said that due to racial quotas at the school as 16/100 were reserved for minority students.

Decision:

The S.C ruled that AA was constitutional and race could be used as one of the several factors but racial quotas could not be considered

What happened:

university of Michigan

150 points to get an offer (grades, LSAT, sports etc.)

blanket 20 points given to anyone from an unrepresented background

Decision:

6-3

unconstitutional because it was a blanket + 20 pts all applicants

what happened:

University of Michigan law school

Gruther - GPA 3.8

161 LSAT

rejects from law school and challenged

Deicison

5-4

not unconstitutional because individual cases were considered one by one. More than just race

What happened:

1/2 cases in 2007 over education

school (capacity, area, race)

-all schools had to have over 15% African American students but under 50%

-Meredith said the school rejected her son on the basis of race

Decision:

5-4

unconstitutional

strict scrutiny (individual considerations narrow outlook on applicants) has not applied

What happened:

Abigail Fisher- top 12% of her class

Texas University take the top 10% (automatically) but everyone else race can be considered

Lower court - they uphold the admission process

Decision:

7-1 (kagan)

S.C sends back down and asks them to consider strict scrutiny

What happened:

Lower court keeps their decision the same.

s.c uphold the decison of the lower court (supporting the admission policy) as strict scrutiny had been met

upheld each time, but scope of affirmative action got narrower

section 4 voting rights

2006, congress re-authorised the Voting Rights Act’s key provisions for another 25 years, including section 4 which included the preclearance formula used to determine which states & localities must have any major charges in their voting laws or practices approved in advance at federal court

updates voting procedures and require states to turn over the task of redrawing congressional districts to independent commissions, thus potentially eliminating the distortion of gerrymandering.

when voting turnout increases, democrats have the upper hand

Texas announved that voter idenitification law that had been blocked would go into immediate effect and that the state’s restrictive ways would no longer need federal government’s approval

Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia have high proportion of black voters

among the black community had risen sharply since 1980 (1 in every 13 AA lost their right to vote because of past conviction)

support state voting restriction

1984 - 21 black american members of congress - all in House of representative

2021 - 117th congress 26% were minority ethnic groups/ the number of black americans increased from 56 to 63

-Shirley Chisholm 1972 became the first major party black American candidate for the presidency when she competed in that year’s democratic primaries

-Jesse Jackson 1984 became the first black American to win a major-party

electoral college

a state based election to choose a party’s candidate for the presidency. It shows support for candidates among ordinary voters

a state based series of meetings to choose a party’s candidate for the presidency. They attract unrepresentative & low turnouts

-states that hold caucuses are usually geographically large but thinly populated

‘‘test voters’’

fundraise and books.

low turnout leads to..

extreme conservative vote

extreme liberal vote

candidates who won

announce their VP

Iowa, North Dakota and Nevada

2016

Republican had 10 caucuses

Democrats had 14 states caucuses

semi-closed primaries

open primaries

closed primaries

registered voted and unregistered party can vote

anyone can vote

only registered to party can vote

1. select the presidential and vice presidential candidates for the party

2. Decide the policy platform

3. To act as publicity for the candidate

Delegates vote to decide who is the presidential nominee. The rules of each party require that a candidate gains over 50 per cent of delegates. If no candidate achieves this, a brokered convention takes place requiring more rounds of voting

e.g Biden had the support of 2,687 delegates, easily exceeding the 1,991 needed to secure the nomination

Delegates debate and vote to determine the policy of the party (and therefore the candidate) for the presidential election. The convention takes place over several days, allowing for detailed policy debate.

e.g.

The democratic platform was a 90-page document containing a range of policy aspirations across all main policy areas

Republicans chose not to write a new platform used the same one.

Conventions mark the start of the campaign and are a key part of the process. The winning candidate can sell their message to the public, often through attacks on the other party, stage-managed speeches by other politicians and endorsement by celebrities. The choice of state is also important: party conventions are often held in swing states.

e.g.

2020 conventions produced no ‘bounce’ for either candidate

Biden’s support 1% ^

Trump’s support 3% ^

4. To reunite the party

5. To rally party activist

conventions can be very important for parties after the divisive primary process. The battle between candidates from the same party can be put aside. Losing candidates often give speeches endorsing the winner. This can create positive publicity and help win the election

e.g.

dividing parties = losing parties

Ted Cruz - ‘‘vote with your conscience’ rather than ‘vote for Trump’

Conventions are attended and watched by party activists who are crucial in helping a candidate win. They organise events, contact voters and raise funds. A good convention will address these people as well as the general public, to thank and enthuse them.

the meeting held every four years by each of the two major parties to select presidential and vice presidential candidates and agree the party platform

formal: significant

(formality)

-picking the president

-picking the V.P

-announcing policy platform

Informal: significant

-Heal the party

-Provides a bounce ‘‘opinion polls’’

-enthuse the party faithful →campaign for you

-enthuse ordinary people

pick someone who ‘‘balances the ticket’’

e.g.

2008

Barack obama is…

inexperienced (4 years in senate)

young

liberal

black

Joe Biden is…

experienced (20+ years in senate + chair of foreign affairs committee)

older

more centrist

white

the name for the body of electors who elect the US president

50 states = no. of senators (2) + no. of HoR (538)

(no. of senators protects smaller states)

count votes

‘‘1st tuesday after the 1st monday’’ in November

(time frame: 2nd November - 8th November)

FPTP → winner takes all (270 to win)

e.g. Maine and Nebraska (2 ECV for the overall winner. Rest are decided in each individual district)

Nebraska

ECV : 5

HoR = 3 = districs

Senators = 2

-smaller states are represented well

-clear winner

-if no majority = congress

HoR choose the president

Senate choose V.P

only failed twice in 1800 and 1824 where the electoral collee failed to come up with a winner

-tyranny of majority

-can win without popular votes

Trump had 3mill less in 2016

Bush had 5m less in 2000

Hillary Clinton won popular vote but not electoral college

-faithless electors

11 in 2016

somebody currently holding an office or position

-fundraising advantage

-base of support (from the party) and donors (biden outperformed Trump - has established links with donors)

-status (name recognition) instant recognition (obama →primary →a book)

-Risk aversion

-Success/ what they’ve achieved

foreign (afghanistan withdrawal)

domestic (obamacare, stimulus package)

-experience

-no primary

George SR faces a challenge from pat Buchanan →damaged goods

somebody who believes in using government power to change and improve society

-campaign finance laws

-TV

-opinion polls

-New technology to target voters (direct mailing, social media)

-Increased ideological cohesion

polarisation

appointments = gorsuch

abortion/gun rights = ideological lines

-Systems to recruit & train

social and moral issues:

racial equality, abortion, LGBT rights

economic policy:

government intervention, taxation, minimum wage,

Social welfare:

welfare benefits, healthcare, food stamps

-influence ideological direction of a party

-affect unity (and effectiveness) of a party

-president’s policy goals. (biden → Joe Manchin)

-exist as voter groups, which may influence election results, especially in primaries (more radical/ more important)

liberals/progressives

moderates

conservatives

economics policy: free college education for all

social policy: LGBTQ+ rights, environmental issues

Moral issues: Social and Racial justice, opposing death penalty and mandatory prison sentences

Associated Caucuses: Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) just under 100 members in the 116th congress (2019-21)

Key members: Bernie Sanders, AOC

economic policy:

a federal (public option) for healthcare, tax reforms for the middle class, college more affordable

Social policy:

cautious about wholesale reform of the police, measures to reduce climate change

Moral issues:

biden pardoning marijuana low levels crimes, Biden support for abortion, fair and humane immigration reform

Associated cacuses:

New Democratic coalition, just over 100 members in the 116th congress (116th congress (2019-21) ) largest democrat grouping in congress

Key members:

Joe Biden, Clinton, Terri Sewell

economic policy:

concerned about the growth of the state and state deficit (neo-conservative) favouring balanced budget, many voted against obamacare

Social policy:

less supportive of gun rights but no official stance on social issues

Moral issues:

less supportive of LGBTQ rights and gun control

Associated caucuses:

Blue Dog coalition: just 26 members in the 116th congress (2019-21) smallest democrat grouping in congress

Key members:

senator joe manchin

congressman Jim cooper

Moderates (crossover with dems)

Social Conservatives (evangelical)

Libertarians (liberty)

Fiscal conservatives

a form of protestantism focused on teachings of the bible and converting people. (originalism of religion

economic policy: advocate a bigger role for the state within society and the economy, sympathetic towards higher public spending on education

social policy: less socially conservative than other factions of the Republican party, unwilling to repeal obamacare in its entirety

Moral issues: more sympathetic towards immigration

Associated caucuses: Tuesday group (founded 1994) with roughly 15-20 members. Tend to come from suburban seats. The smallest republican grouping in congress

Key members:

Senators susan collings, Lisa markouski, congressman John katho

Economic Policy:

keen to reduce gov spending in most areas, strongest advocates of ‘small government’ tax cuts, strong supporters of balanced budget and reducing budget deficit

Social policy:

keen to push back government regulation such as some environmental protection measures, keen to reappeal obamacare and health spending

Moral issues:

more socially liberal in certain areas such as soft drug

Associated caucuses:

Freedom caucus: 35-40 members in late 2019, do not publish official membership lists, usually represent strongly republican areas (south and midwest)

emerged out of the tea party movement

key members:

Rand paul

Andy biggs

economic policy:

may also be fiscal conservatives and vice versa, oppose general welfare provisions

social policy:

strong links with the ‘religious right’ and white conservative evangelical christianity, support prayer in public schools

Moral issues:

strong supporters of traditional heterosexual marriage and prolife stance on abortion

favour death penalty, robust policing and tough sentancing

2nd amendmnet defenders

against recreational drugs

Associated caucuses:

Republican study committee

under 150 members in late 2019, the largest ideological caucus in congress

key members:

senators Ted Cruz (texas)

macro rubio (florida)

former v.p. mike pence

economy

f: moderates with moderates

a: fisca conservatives and liberal democrats

social

f: all democrats with moderate conservative

a: fiscal conservatives + libertarians HATE obamacare

whereas bernie sanders wanted to extend it

idea of taking chunks which work from each brand

unwilling to change ideas

race

religion

gender

education

Black: low turnout, likely to be Dem, voting rights and affirmative action (2020= 87% biden and 12% trump)

Hispanic: low turnout, likely to be Dem, immigration policy for targets (2020= 65% biden and 32% trump)

White: 41% voted for biden, likely to be republican

Jewish: reliable democrat voters, traditionally more sympathetic with minorities

white evangelicals: tend to be reliable republican voters, with congressional members of the social conservatives supporting the views that these voters hold. (76% voted for Trump)

men: likely to be republican

women: in every election since 1980, have voted in higher proportions than men. More likely to support the Democratic party. 40-49% vote republican. 41% of women voted for Trump in 2016

below college-level education : more republican

college-level education and above: more democrat

non-elected groups, with their own interest or cause, that try to influence government policy

an interest group that tries to influence change over a very narrow policy area e.g. NRA

an interest group which represents the economic interests of its members - often these are professional associations e.g. The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Bar Association

an interest group that tries to influence a wide policy area.

e.g. The American Israali Public Affairs Committee (has greater breadth over the issues they are about)

money -

contributions to election campaigns, organise grassroots, hire expensive lobbyists e.g. NRA $5m on lobbyists, $700k on campaigns

membership-

big group = more effective, mobilise voters= big threat (short election cycle)

access-

to politicians

campaigning, lobbying, donate

friend of the court

the main policies of a party

1. number of access points: executive,congress,states,supreme court

2. rights are protected:

3. The supremem court

4. shorter election cycles

5. politicians are easier to persuade