Exam (elaborations)
Essay Plans - Government and Politics of the US
- Institution
- AQA
9 markers & 25 markers essay plans for topics listed in AQA Government and Politics A-level Paper 2
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Political Parties – RevisionExplain and analyze 3 coalitions within (R) & (D). (9)
P – (R) TEA party faction.
Ex – reaction to econ downturn and bailout of US banks, avg supporter, MC, southerner, protestant.
Ev – prominent candidates, Bachmann, Senator Rand Paul, influencing voting bloc, disrupt tax rises.
An – face crisis, candidates defeat 2012, Todd Akin ‘legitimate rape’ however, whilst 49 (H) 6 (S)
P – (R) neoliberalists.
Ex – back supply-side economics, large reductions in gov spending, allied to a free trade think tank.
Ev – every candidate 2012, paid lip service, Gingrich’s contract, 1994 Midterms = fiscal cons.
An – Trump’s trade wars with China & Europe against these ideas but the group remains dominant.
P – (R) religious rights.
Ex – anti-abortion, oppose same-sex, social security in the hands of faith-based initiatives.
Ev – relevant faction picks like Mike Huckabee 2008, Bush coveted this group in 2000.
An – Christian Coalition under Reed hurt Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, influential, back Trump.
P – (D) the left.
Ex – unions and progressives, significant opposition to economic liberalism and social conservatism.
Ev – 2012, worked on ‘people’s budget.’ Many house members, most high profile was Nancy Pelosi.
An – struggle to win elections, general mistrust of ‘socialist’ politics, sig, through Sanders in 2016.
P – (D) the centrists.
Ex – spawned ‘new (D)’ label, pushed them to center, especially on free marker policies.
Ev – most influential, Democratic Leadership Council, associated w/ both Clintons, Al Gore & Obama.
An – 1995-2006, lost control of congress, still helpful to (D) election machine, dominance Biden.
P – (D) DINOs.
Ex – cons wing (D) party, based on the remnants of the southern vote, (R) in nature, (D) in name.
Ev – Nelson oppose Obamacare, Stupak introduced provisions to prevent federal funds for abortion.
An – dwindling number, as many move to natural home of (R) but some remain like Joe Manchin.
Explain and analyze 3 ways to describe/not describe US as a two-party system. (9)
P – FPTP makes it difficult for 3rd parties.
Ex – majoritarian electoral system, smaller parties struggle with lacking resources & support.
Ev – 1968, all presidential elections 2 major parties get 80%+ of the vote, all House seats (D) or (R).
An – criticized, 1990s and 2000s, parties similar, just ‘one party’, but rest of time is two-party.
P – ‘big tent’ nature of 2 main parties.
, Political Parties – Revision
Ex – attract diverse range, marginalizes smaller parties, prevent them support, home in major.
Ev – ND under FDR lab unions, WC , farm organisations, liberals, southern (D), AA, & immigrants.
An – due to 3rd party, Green Party, Nader forced (D) into more environmentally friendly policies.
P – primaries give outsiders a chance.
Ex – voters have a wide choice within the main parties, offers opportunities for outsider candidates.
Ev – Trump for the (R), Nixon as the ‘comeback’ kid, Sanders seen as an outsider.
An – notable 3rd candidate, Perot, Reform Party, 19% of popular vote, highest for any 3rd party.
Explain and analyze 3 ways minor parties can/cannot be influential. (9)
P – FPTP makes it difficult for 3rd parties.
Ex – majoritarian electoral system, smaller parties struggle with lacking resources & support.
Ev – 1968, all presidential elections 2 major parties get 80%+ of the vote, all House seats (D) or (R).
An – still important, 1968 and 2000, 5/9 elections influenced by 3rd, struggle, 2016 vote 5%.
P – Ballot Access Laws.
Ex – difficult to get on ballot, each state, different requirements for candidates, harshest Oklahoma.
Ev – Howie Hawkins from Green Party failed to get on the ballot in no fewer than 30 states.
An – some managed, Gary Johnson, Libertarian party, managed to get on the ballot in all 50 states.
P – matching funds.
Ex – qualify for funds if gain 5% of the vote in previous elections, many parties do not achieve this.
Ev – George Wallace 1968, least known, and tried but struggle due to lack of funding.
An – some do, but then, major clothes steal, Perot’s ‘balanced budgets’ taken by both.
Explain and analyse 3 ways structural theory could be used to study party finance. (9)
P – state funding.
Ex – UK, registration by state, candidates 1 free mailshot, US, registration by parties.
Ev – UK charities, Nat. Voter Registration Drive by Bite the Ballot, (D) party ran ’50-state strategy’.
An – in US ‘matched funding’ is not taken by candidates as they will be outspent, McCain in 2008.
P – campaign expenditure.
Ex – UK parties less expenditure v US, based around different laws and landmark cases.
Ev – UK, max £30,000, total party £19 mill, 2020 US where total spending estimated over $14 bill.
An – rules in US, like BCRA & Citizens Utd, to govern ‘hard’ money but few regulate ‘soft money’.
P – party funding.
Ex – UK limitations of large contributions, pre-elections, US, less so and donors can get around it.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller manalahmed. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53340 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now