US Politics Revision Notes
AQA A Level Politics
,US Parties.........................................................................3
Origins, Values and structures of the main parties......................................................................3
Ideologies and party factions...................................................................................................... 5
The 2 party system + third parties.............................................................................................. 7
US Interest Groups............................................................9
Methods of interest groups.......................................................................................................... 9
Election funding......................................................................................................................... 10
Are pressure groups becoming too powerful?............................................................................12
Civil Rights + Liberties.....................................................13
Key issues and events............................................................................................................... 13
Affirmative action...................................................................................................................... 14
Protection of civil rights............................................................................................................. 15
Pressure groups and civil rights.................................................................................................15
Elections and Referendums..............................................16
Presidential elections................................................................................................................. 16
Campaign finance...................................................................................................................... 18
Direct democracy...................................................................................................................... 18
Split ticket voting....................................................................................................................... 19
High abstention levels............................................................................................................... 19
, US Parties
ORIGINS, VALUES AND STRUCTURES OF THE MAIN PARTIES
• Slavery - Dems were initially the party of the South, pro-slavery. GOP formed in
1954 as the anti-slavery party of the North
• The economy - The Great Depression was the GOP’s version of what happened with
the Dems post Civil War. Had one president until 1970s because of their free market
economic approach; Dems gained popularity after FDR and the New Deal
• Civil Rights - Dems are pro civil rights and pro affirmative action, led to them losing
the ‘solid south’ which they once had
• Role of federal government - Democrats tend to prefer bigger government. Re-
publicans smaller government
Focus area Liberal (i.e. left) Democrats Conservative (i.e. right) Republicans
Abortion Strongly pro-choice Strongly pro-life
Against (i.e. ban race-based prefer-
Affirmative Action For (i.e. maintain race-based preferences)
ences)
Pursue this and other domestic oil
ANWR Drilling Prevent the Alaska drilling
sources
Free market economics with low taxes
High taxation on rich businesses and busi-
Business for the rich so that trickle down eco-
nessmen in order to redistribute incomes
nomics can work
Crime Protect the rights of the accused first and Provide maximum punishment and
foremost protect the rights of the victim first
and foremost
Against the death penalty, violates 8th For death penalty, it is clearly set out
Death Penalty
amendment in the constitution
Defence Spending Decrease or maintain Increase
Embryonic Stem Don't use federal funding for the re-
Use federal funding for the research
Cell Research search
Big government which enables individual Limited government intervention as it
Government Size
freedom and enterprise is wasteful and inefficient
Ban all gun ownership by civilians, espe-
Gun Control Protect gun ownership
cially handguns and assault rifles
Health Care Affordable healthcare should be provided Healthcare should mainly be people’s
AQA A Level Politics
,US Parties.........................................................................3
Origins, Values and structures of the main parties......................................................................3
Ideologies and party factions...................................................................................................... 5
The 2 party system + third parties.............................................................................................. 7
US Interest Groups............................................................9
Methods of interest groups.......................................................................................................... 9
Election funding......................................................................................................................... 10
Are pressure groups becoming too powerful?............................................................................12
Civil Rights + Liberties.....................................................13
Key issues and events............................................................................................................... 13
Affirmative action...................................................................................................................... 14
Protection of civil rights............................................................................................................. 15
Pressure groups and civil rights.................................................................................................15
Elections and Referendums..............................................16
Presidential elections................................................................................................................. 16
Campaign finance...................................................................................................................... 18
Direct democracy...................................................................................................................... 18
Split ticket voting....................................................................................................................... 19
High abstention levels............................................................................................................... 19
, US Parties
ORIGINS, VALUES AND STRUCTURES OF THE MAIN PARTIES
• Slavery - Dems were initially the party of the South, pro-slavery. GOP formed in
1954 as the anti-slavery party of the North
• The economy - The Great Depression was the GOP’s version of what happened with
the Dems post Civil War. Had one president until 1970s because of their free market
economic approach; Dems gained popularity after FDR and the New Deal
• Civil Rights - Dems are pro civil rights and pro affirmative action, led to them losing
the ‘solid south’ which they once had
• Role of federal government - Democrats tend to prefer bigger government. Re-
publicans smaller government
Focus area Liberal (i.e. left) Democrats Conservative (i.e. right) Republicans
Abortion Strongly pro-choice Strongly pro-life
Against (i.e. ban race-based prefer-
Affirmative Action For (i.e. maintain race-based preferences)
ences)
Pursue this and other domestic oil
ANWR Drilling Prevent the Alaska drilling
sources
Free market economics with low taxes
High taxation on rich businesses and busi-
Business for the rich so that trickle down eco-
nessmen in order to redistribute incomes
nomics can work
Crime Protect the rights of the accused first and Provide maximum punishment and
foremost protect the rights of the victim first
and foremost
Against the death penalty, violates 8th For death penalty, it is clearly set out
Death Penalty
amendment in the constitution
Defence Spending Decrease or maintain Increase
Embryonic Stem Don't use federal funding for the re-
Use federal funding for the research
Cell Research search
Big government which enables individual Limited government intervention as it
Government Size
freedom and enterprise is wasteful and inefficient
Ban all gun ownership by civilians, espe-
Gun Control Protect gun ownership
cially handguns and assault rifles
Health Care Affordable healthcare should be provided Healthcare should mainly be people’s
