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Exploring Party Governance Differences in America: An Analysis of Republican and Democrat Policies

This paper investigates the behavior and governance differences between the two major political parties in America—Republicans and Democrats—throughout history. It examines whether parties significantly vary once in power, the relevance of party unity in Congress, and the impact of state-level governance on party positions. Key topics include party-line votes on controversial issues, the party-policy connection in economic and social matters, and the influence of state ideologies on party control. Unanswered questions regarding party ideology and public opinion are also discussed.

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Exploring Party Governance Differences in America: An Analysis of Republican and Democrat Policies

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  1. A Dime’s Worth of Difference? Party Governance in America

  2. I. The questions of party governance • Do parties behave differently once in government? • In a two-party system, are the two parties really all that different? • Since American parties are weak, do their members even follow party lines?

  3. Party Unity Votes, 1879-2010

  4. II. Do parties matter? The Party-Policy Connection in Congress • Roll-call votes = Behavioral measure of ideology (actions instead of words) • Limited to 109th/110th Congresses (2005-2006 and 2007-2008) • Controversial issues only (split is between 40-60 and 60-40) • High party unity on these votes (party line)

  5. A. Foreign Policy: Republicans hard-line, skeptical of international cooperation

  6. B. Economic Policy: Republicans pro-business, anti-tax, anti-union

  7. C. Incompatible Values: Republicans against Gay Rights, Abortion, Drugs, Multiculturalism

  8. D. Social Welfare: Republicans willing to limit or privatize

  9. E. Environment: Republicans less willing to trade growth/profits for protection

  10. F. Civil Liberties Issues: Party split over which liberties are sacrosanct

  11. F. Civil Liberties Issues: Party split over which liberties are sacrosanct

  12. G. Summary: General differences between parties in Congress In Congress… • Republicansfavor trade (except Cuba) and military expansion, oppose international courts and environmental treaties • Republicansoppose abortion, gay rights, government social welfare programs, services to nonresidents, services to non-English speaking • Republicansfavor business and higher-income workers over lower-income workers or environmental protection, and oppose taxes and unions • Republicans seek to expand gun rights and property rights but not speech rights or 4th Amendment rights • Democrats are opposite on each of these dimensions

  13. H. Caveat: Party Unity Varies By Representative (Weak Party Discipline) • Example: Republican Senators from Maine… • Surprise: Despite reputation for unity, Republican scores were lower than Democrat scores in 2010!

  14. III. Parties at the State Level • Traditional finding: State party control has little effect on state policy • Possible explanation: State parties adapt to voters in the state and move to the center once elected. • Result: Policy tends to follow ideology of state voters rather than which party controls government • Examples: Pro-life Democrats in PA, pro-choice Republicans in NY • Possible exception: Highly competitive states (single-party states give ruling party no incentive to implement policy)

  15. Findings • State ideology determines state party positions • Republicans in liberal states more liberal than Democrats in conservative states!

  16. B. Social Welfare Spending: Democrats favor -- when threatened

  17. IV. Unanswered Questions – Next lecture and Abramowitz • To what extent does ideology predict party positions? • To what extent are divisions between party elites mirrored in the general public? • How do states’ political cultures and ideologies differ?

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