Democratic Party
Key ideas and principles are broadly liberal, envisaging a larger role for the state than
the Republicans
This progressive approach on social issues can be first seen with the support of most
of the party, though not its conservative southern wing, for desegregation and civil
rights
They have also proved far more ready to embrace modern cultural trends such as
environmentalism, LGBTQ+ rights and female reproductive rights.
Lastly, Democrats tend to favour more interventionist policies by government
especially in areas such as healthcare and reducing poverty
Govt provision of social welfare
Modern liberalism has also strongly influenced the Democrats in their thinking about the enabling
state and social welfare.
This was demonstrated by President Johnson’s Great Society policies of the 1960s which saw a
‘war on poverty’, in which the federal govt expanded its role to include responsibility for
education, health, housing and the environment.
Successive Democrat presidents have attempted to build upon his legacy.
Obama succeeded where the Clinton administration failed in passing healthcare legislation with
the ACA (2010). Democrats have also supported increased rights for illegal immigrants and their
children, and greater gun control, although this is difficult to achieve because of the 2 nd
amendment.
Progressive attitudes on social and moral issues, including crime
The party is informed by modern liberalism and the idea of equality of opportunity
for every individual in society
In recent years the party has used the term “progressive” – which should be
understood as advocating change and reform
The Democrats were instigators of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act,
which sought to end legal segregation and give black Americans full civil and political
rights
In dealing with crime, Democrats favour a mixture of punishment and rehabilitation
in dealing with criminals. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, the Democrats
called for a Justice in Policing Act to address what is perceived as institutional racism
that they argued exists within many of the police department across America.
Democrats have long argued to rectify racial dimensions of crime, as this quote from
their 2016 platform demonstrates: “We understand the disproportionate effects of
crime, violence and incarceration on communities of colour.”
Democrats are strong supporters of a pro-choice position over abortion and oppose any attempts
to weaken access to it, such as the ‘heartbeat bills’ that have been proposed by several
Republican-controlled states such as Alabama. Democrat commitment to the pro-choice policy
was made clear in their 2016 platform.
The pro-choice stance has come to dominate Democrat lawmakers. Pro-life
democrats are few in Congress today. One of the few remaining leading pro-life
Democrats, Dan Lipinski from Illinois lost his primary race in 2020.
Key ideas and principles are broadly liberal, envisaging a larger role for the state than
the Republicans
This progressive approach on social issues can be first seen with the support of most
of the party, though not its conservative southern wing, for desegregation and civil
rights
They have also proved far more ready to embrace modern cultural trends such as
environmentalism, LGBTQ+ rights and female reproductive rights.
Lastly, Democrats tend to favour more interventionist policies by government
especially in areas such as healthcare and reducing poverty
Govt provision of social welfare
Modern liberalism has also strongly influenced the Democrats in their thinking about the enabling
state and social welfare.
This was demonstrated by President Johnson’s Great Society policies of the 1960s which saw a
‘war on poverty’, in which the federal govt expanded its role to include responsibility for
education, health, housing and the environment.
Successive Democrat presidents have attempted to build upon his legacy.
Obama succeeded where the Clinton administration failed in passing healthcare legislation with
the ACA (2010). Democrats have also supported increased rights for illegal immigrants and their
children, and greater gun control, although this is difficult to achieve because of the 2 nd
amendment.
Progressive attitudes on social and moral issues, including crime
The party is informed by modern liberalism and the idea of equality of opportunity
for every individual in society
In recent years the party has used the term “progressive” – which should be
understood as advocating change and reform
The Democrats were instigators of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act,
which sought to end legal segregation and give black Americans full civil and political
rights
In dealing with crime, Democrats favour a mixture of punishment and rehabilitation
in dealing with criminals. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, the Democrats
called for a Justice in Policing Act to address what is perceived as institutional racism
that they argued exists within many of the police department across America.
Democrats have long argued to rectify racial dimensions of crime, as this quote from
their 2016 platform demonstrates: “We understand the disproportionate effects of
crime, violence and incarceration on communities of colour.”
Democrats are strong supporters of a pro-choice position over abortion and oppose any attempts
to weaken access to it, such as the ‘heartbeat bills’ that have been proposed by several
Republican-controlled states such as Alabama. Democrat commitment to the pro-choice policy
was made clear in their 2016 platform.
The pro-choice stance has come to dominate Democrat lawmakers. Pro-life
democrats are few in Congress today. One of the few remaining leading pro-life
Democrats, Dan Lipinski from Illinois lost his primary race in 2020.
