REPUBLICAN V. DEMOCRATWHERE EACH SIDE STANDS ON THE ISSUES.

HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

• Created before the Civil War due to their long-time stance in favor of abolition of slavery.

• A small third-party.

• In 1860 they became an established party when nominee Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States.

• Adopted the elephant as their symbol based on a cartoon in Harpers Weekly that depicted the new party as an elephant.

HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY

• Trace its’ roots back to Thomas Jefferson

• Opposed the Federalist Party & their nationalist views

• Adopted the donkey as their symbol because Andrew Jackson’s nickname due to his popular position of “let the people rule.”

• The Democratic National Committee was officially created in 1848.

• During the Civil War, a rift grew between those who supported slavery & those who opposed it, which led to the creation of a new Democratic party, the one we now know today.

3RD PARTIES

• Term used for any and all political parties in the U.S. other than the two major parties.• Independents

• Libertarians

• Green Party

• Tea Party

• Will win minor places in the government, such as State Reps or Senators, US Reps or Senators, Governors, etc…, but a 3rd

party, except for Abraham Lincoln, has never won the Presidency.

REPUBLICANS V. DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS

Traditionally strong in states Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas California, Massachusetts, New York

Symbol Elephant Donkey

Color Red Blue

Membership 30.7 million (as of 2012) 43.1 million (as of 2012)

Famous Presidents Lincoln, Reagan, Bush, Nixon FDR, JFK, Clinton, Carter, Obama

Seats in Senate 54 / 100 44 / 100

Seats in House of Reps 245/ 435 188 / 435

Governorships 31/ 50 18 /50

2016 Presidential Candidates Donald Trump & Ted Cruz Hillary Clinton & Bernie Sanders

ISSUE #1 - TAXES

REPUBLICANS

• Cutting taxes for everyone helps the economy

• Favor a “flat tax,” which is the same tax rate regardless of income

• Trickle-down

• Oppose raising taxes

DEMOCRATS• Increase taxes on the

wealthy to pay for public programs & services

• Progressive taxes, which makes high income earners be taxed at a higher rate

• Not opposed to raising taxes

ISSUE #2 – MILITARY

REPUBLICANS

• Increase military spending

• Cut veteran’s benefits

• Don’t be constrained by other nations, NATO, or the UN.

DEMOCRATS

• Cut military spending

• Expand veteran’s benefits

• Cooperate with other nations, support NATO & the UN.

ISSUE #3 – HEALTHCARE

REPUBLICANS

• Government should limit its role in health care

• Citizens can choose or refuse to purchase health insurance

DEMOCRATS

• Government should provide universal access to healthcare

ISSUE #4 – DEATH PENALTY

REPUBLICANS

• A necessary and effective deterrent.

• The only appropriate penalty for certain crimes.

DEMOCRATS

• Does not prevent crime.

• Unevenly enforced, focusing on poor minority criminals.

ISSUE #5 – RACE RELATIONS

REPUBLICANS

• People & businesses can be trusted not to discriminate.

DEMOCRATS

• Strong anti-discrimination laws are needed.

ISSUE #6 – NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

REPUBLICANS

• Strong environmental laws harm the economy and increase the costs of goods & services

DEMOCRATS

• We need to protect the environment as it is our responsibility to take care of our home.

ISSUE #7 – GUN CONTROL

REPUBLICANS

• 2nd Amendment clearly states “the right to bear arms.”

• Responsible citizens should be able to purchase weapons as they choose.

• Prohibiting this right is unconstitutional.

DEMOCRATS

• Necessary and guns should be restricted.

ISSUE #8 – GAY RIGHTS

REPUBLICANS• Marriage is a sacred trust

between a man & a woman.

• A Constitutional amendment should define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

• States should make the laws and put it up to a popular vote – the people choose on what they want.

DEMOCRATS• Gay rights and marriage are civil

rights that are shared by all people.

• Federal government should not stop anyone from marrying whomever they wish to.

• Laws should be passed giving LGBT people equal rights as everyone else.

ISSUE #9 - ABORTION

REPUBLICANS

• Pro-Life

• Should be illegal and/or restricted by the government.

• Possible Restrictions: Each state gets to choose on popular vote.

• Some see it as okay if: case of rape or it would be harmful to mother.

DEMOCRATS

• Pro-Choice

• Should be the woman’s right and legal.

ISSUE #10 – MINIMUM WAGE

REPUBLICANS

• Believe that raising the minimum wage is harmful for:

• 1. Businesses will increase the costs of goods & services,

• 2. Businesses may have to lay employees off increasing unemployment rate,

• 3. Businesses may replace people with computers.

DEMOCRATS

• Believe that increasing the minimum wage is helpful:

• 1. Help low-income workers and families,

ISSUE #11 – GOVERNMENT REGULATION

REPUBLICANS

• Government regulations hinder free market capitalism and job growth

DEMOCRATS

• Government regulations are needed to protect consumers

ISSUE #12 – IMMIGRATION

REPUBLICANS• Generally against amnesty

for any undocumented immigrants.

• Oppose Pres. Obama’s executive orders that put a moratorium on deporting certain workers.

• Fund stronger enforcement actions at the border.

DEMOCRATS

• Greater support for offering a pathway to citizenship to certain undocumented immigrants, such as those without a criminal record, who have lived in the US for 5+ years

SIMPLY PUT…

• Republicans tend to favor limited government with few government programs.

• Democrats tend to favor bigger government that is more involved in society.

• What are you? Republican or Democrat?