1. American political parties
A brief overview
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

2. A brief overview of American political parties
Two major parties, but a few large third parties
Parties are organized at state level
D & R parties have changed over US history despite having kept the same name
D & R parties harbor a whole spectrum of different opinions
The two main parties are election/affiliation parties and not parties made up of many active members
Americans have no qualms about publicizing their party affiliation
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

3. LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

4. LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf
ISSUES
DEMOCRATIC PARTY (2012)
REPUBLICAN PARTY (2012)
Abortion
A constitutional right
Limitation (more or less stringent)
Campaign financing
Capping of private financing
No capping, extension to private corporations
Same-sex marriage
For legalization
Against legalization
Health Care (Obamacare)
In favor of some form of universal health care
For personal responsibility in this matter
Taxation
Progressive income tax
Proportional income tax
Immigration
Open attitude towards legal immigrants
Need to restrain immigration
Capital punishment
Opposed
In favor
Drugs
Liberalization of legal restraints for users
Against
Gun control
For
Foreign policy
Non interventionist
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

5. Democratic Party website Republican Party website
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

6. LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

7. LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

8. 2016 Presidential election. Results by state
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

9. 2016 Presidential election. Results by county
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

10. Percent of members of the House of Representatives from each party by state, 2015
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

11. US governors, 2016
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

12. D R Popular vote for Pdt 48.5% 46.4% Electoral votes (270) 232 306D R
Popular vote for Pdt
48.5%
46.4%
Electoral votes (270)
232
306
Senate (seats) 48 52
House of Rep (seats) (218)
194
241
Governors 16
+1IND (Alaska) 33
2016 Elections

13. How its politics changed over time
The Democratic Party
How its politics changed over time
With the New Deal, became the party of social reform and the “common person” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Yet remained split geographically over racial issues between North & West (more “liberal”= ag segregation) and South (more conservative= defending segregation) until the early-mid 1960s
Between the 1960s and the 1990s overall a left-of-center party (in the European sense)
Since the 1990s: broader scope, including more conservative and free- market ideas
Today: supporting government intervention, unions, consumer protection, environmental protection, energy transition, universal health care, women’s and reproductive rights.
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

14. The Democratic Party Who supports it today?
Ethnic Americans: African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans. Slight majority of Arab Americans.
Religion: Jews and Muslims. (The religious marker is not as important as before when Catholics and Southern Protestants were Democrats)
Social groups: Unionized labor (but segment on the wane= less numerous), low income/low education (but often do not vote), academics. Slight majority of professionals (= professions libérales)
Demographic groups: a slight majority of women (although not in all elections) and younger voters.
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

15. Demographic groups: Older Americans.
The Republican Party
Who supports it today?
Racial/Ethnic groups: overwhelmingly white but gaining among Blacks, some Latinos + Asians.
Religion: Evangelical Protestants. (the religious marker is not as important as before when NE Protestants were Republican)
Social groups: Armed forces, higher incomes, business (especially small business).
Demographic groups: Older Americans.
A geographical change since the 1960s towards the South and the West
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

16. The Republican Party Its politics today
Defining a standard Republican view is difficult (more so than the Democratic Party).
Under the influence of conservative and populist factions such as the Tea Parties, the Christian Right, etc.
Free markets and individual achievement are the primary factors behind economic prosperity: less government intervention.
So primacy of family and individual values, and morality (most of the time associated with religion) = social conservatism (authoritarian) ie laws should uphold moral values.
In order to achieve that: laissez-faire economics, fiscal conservatism (less taxes + fixed rate income tax), and the elimination of government run welfare programs in favor of private sector nonprofits and encouraging personal responsibility (“government is the problem not the solution” Ronald Reagan)
Against judicial activism, Limitation of the power of federal authorities vs state authorities.
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf

17. What you should know about American parties
Differences with European parties (State level / spectrum of opinions / Two-party system)
Who the groups backing the two main parties are.
What the main differences between the Democratic party and the Republican party in terms of policy choices are.
LEA 2 Cours de civilisation américaine J. Kempf