Contents
Many people have questions about who is really behind the political decisions being made in the United States. This blog will attempt to provide some answers.
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The Two-Party System
In the United States, the two-party system is the most prevalent form of government. The two-party system is defined as “a system where two major political parties dominate voting in an election.” The two-party system has been in place since the founding of the nation. The first two parties were the Federalists and the Anti-federalists.
The Republican Party
The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP (“Grand Old Party”), is one of the two major political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. The party is named after republicanism, a major ideology of the American Revolution. Founded by anti-slavery activists in 1854, it fought the expansion of slavery into new territories and promoted economic reform.
Today, the GOP is a conservative party that supports smaller government and individual responsibility. Its platform includes opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and gun control; support for lower taxes and smaller government; and a strong national defense. The Republican Party is currently the largest party in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Democratic Party
The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, the other being its rival, the Republican Party. The Democrats’ dominant worldview was once social conservatism and economic liberalism while populism was its leading characteristic. In the First Party System, from 1792 to 1824, the Federalist Party was dominant; in the Second Party System, from 1828 to 1854, it was the Whig Party. The modern Democratic Party emerged in the 1830s with support from city dwellers and farmers in the rural South as well as Northeastern cities. It relied heavily onSquare Deal domestic policies designed to produce prosperity while building a strong national defense. Following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal of the 1930s, it built a solid voting bloc of city workers and farmers as well as welcoming African Americans into its ranks; both groups favored social welfare spending. After 1948 it used civil rights legislation to win votes from newly enfranchised racial minorities and women. It appealed to Join or Die ” unity voters” opposed after Alexander Hamilton to factionalism within parties as exemplified by Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr; these voters were drawn mainly from white Protestants who supported many of its values but desired a purer form of those values than what they saw within their own parties (the Democratic Party and Republican Party).
In the 21st century, the party has espoused a more liberal platform positioning itself apart from rivals on economic issues such as trade agreements, deregulation and Wall Street reform. On foreign policy both dovetail into American exceptionalism , Promotion of democracy abroad , and support for NATO although disagreeing with some members like Turkey on specific involvements like Syria. The party also rejects most forms of gun control .
The Role of Interest Groups
In the United States, interest groups play a significant role in politics. Interest groups are organized collections of people who share a common goal or interest. These groups try to influence the government to make policies that will benefit their members. Some interest groups are very large and have a lot of power, while others are smaller and have less influence.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
The AARP is a major political force in the United States. With nearly 38 million members, the AARP is one of the largest interest groups in the country. The organization lobbies on behalf of its members on a variety of issues, including healthcare, social security, and taxation.
The AARP was founded in 1958 by Ethel Andress and Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. The organization originally focused on improving the quality of life for older Americans. Over time, however, the AARP has increasingly become involved in political advocacy. In recent years, the group has been particularly active on issues such as healthcare reform and Social Security reform.
While the AARP is nonpartisan, it has been accused of favoring Democrats over Republicans. In particular, the group has been critical of Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare and make cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The AARP has also been a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates for office.
The National Rifle Association (NRA)
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for gun rights. Founded in 1871, the group has over five million members and is one of the most influential interest groups in the United States.
The NRA’s political stronghold is built on its ability to raise large amounts of money and mobilize voters. The organization spends millions of dollars every year on elections, and has been a major force in Defeat gun control legislation. While the NRA claims to represent all gun owners, its policies are often criticized as being too extreme and out of step with public opinion.
The Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is one of the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the United States. They are known for their focus on protection of public lands, winning landmark environmental laws, and working to ensure a clean and healthy environment for all people.
The Sierra Club was founded in 1892 by renowned conservationist John Muir, and today they have over 3 million members and supporters. The Sierra Club’s work is focused on seven key areas: transitioning to clean energy, promoting environmentally friendly transportation, protecting our wild places, improving environmental health, growing the climate movement, building an inclusive outdoors movement, and advancing environmental justice.
One of the most notable recent accomplishments of the Sierra Club was their role in the 2015 Clean Power Plan – America’s first-ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants. The Clean Power Plan was a major victory in the fight against climate change, and the Sierra Club worked tirelessly to make sure it became a reality.
The Sierra Club is just one of many interest groups that plays a role in American politics today. If you’re interested in learning more about who is behind USA politics today, be sure to check out our other articles on the subject!
The Role of the Media
The media plays a significant role in politics today. The media shapes public opinion and can influence the decisions made by political leaders. The media also has the power to hold politicians accountable for their actions. In this article, we’ll explore the role of the media in politics and how it affects the political landscape.
Fox News
Fox News is a 24-hour American cable news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of 21st Century Fox. Launched on October 7, 1996, the network currently maintains offices in New York City and Los Angeles. Rupert Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of 21st Century Fox, first proposed the concept for Fox News in 1995. According to former Federal Communications Commission chairman Richard Wiley, Murdoch had initially suggested launching a “Fair and Balanced” news network that would counter what he perceived as the liberal bias of CNN.
CNN
CNN, originally Cable News Network, is an American news-based pay television channel owned by WarnerMedia News & Sports, a division of AT&T’s WarnerMedia. It was founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner as a 24-hour cable news channel. Upon its launch, CNN was the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage, and was the first all-news television channel in the United States.
While the news channel has numerous affiliates, CNN primarily broadcasts from WarnerMedia’s headquarters at 30 Hudson Yards in New York City, with studios in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Its network centers on live international news coverage and analysis; it also has documentary programming departments. A relatively small amount of their schedule is devoted to opinion programming.
MSNBC
MSNBC is an American basic cable and satellite television network that provides news coverage and political commentary from NBC News on current events. MSNBC is owned by the NBCUniversal News Group, a unit of the NBCUniversal Television Group division of NBCUniversal, all of which are owned by Comcast.
MSNBC and its website were founded in 1996 under a partnership between Microsoft and General Electric’s NBC unit, hence the network’s naming. Although they had the same name, MSNBC and MSNBC are separate companies; MSNBC is a news network while MSNBC is a cable channel.
The Role of Money in Politics
It is no secret that money plays a big role in politics. Just look at the amount of money that is raised by political candidates and campaigns. But where does this money come from? And what does it buy?
Super PACs
Super PACs are a type of political action committee that can accept unlimited donations from individuals, corporations, unions, and other groups. They can then use that money to support or oppose candidates for federal office.
Unlike traditional PACs, which are subject to certain restrictions on how much money they can raise and spend, super PACs are not subject to those same limitations. This allows them to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections.
While super PACs cannot give money directly to candidates or parties, they can engage in a wide range of political activities, such as running ads supporting or opposing candidates, mobilizing voters, and conducting research.
Super PACs first came into existence in 2010 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that a federal ban on unlimited corporate spending in elections was unconstitutional. This ruling paved the way for the creation of super PACs, which are often able to raise and spend more money than traditional PACs.
Since their inception, super PACs have had a significant impact on elections at the federal level. In the 2012 election cycle, super PACs spent more than $600 million on federal elections, with the vast majority of that money going towards supporting or opposing congressional candidates. In the 2016 election cycle, super PACs spent more than $1 billion on federal elections.
Super PACs are often criticized for their ability to accept unlimited amounts of money from individuals and groups with little transparency or accountability. Critics argue that this allows wealthy donors and special interests to have an outsized influence on elections and politicians.
Dark Money
Since the 2010 Citizens United ruling, there has been a surge of so-called “dark money” flowing into our political system. Dark money is defined as political spending where the donor is not disclosed. This allows special interests and wealthy donors to influence our elections without the public ever knowing who is behind the ads or what their motivations are.
In the 2016 election cycle, over $800 million in dark money was spent – that’s more than double the amount that was spent just four years earlier. And the trend is only accelerating.
Dark money groups often masquerade as “social welfare” organizations or “trade associations” in order to avoid disclosing their donors. They then use this anonymity to attack candidates without being held accountable for their actions.
Campaign finance reform is urgently needed in order to protect our democracy from the corrupting influence of dark money. We need to institute stricter disclosure requirements for all political spending, and we need to close the loopholes that allow special interests to funnel unlimited amounts of cash into our elections.
The Role of Religion in Politics
Religion has always played a significant role in American politics. Today, there are more than 1700 religious organizations that are actively involved in some aspect of political life in the United States. These organizations include the well-known Christian groups like the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish organizations.
The Catholic Church
The Catholic Church has been a significant force in politics since its inception. In the early days of the Church, popes and other leaders were often involved in political affairs, and the Church has always been influential in shaping public opinion. Today, the Catholic Church is one of the largest and most influential institutions in the United States, and its leaders often speak out on political issues.
The Catholic Church has always been concerned with promoting the common good, and this has led it to take positions on a wide range of political issues. The Church has been a strong advocate for social justice, support for the poor and vulnerable, and respect for human life. The Church also promotes religious freedom and dialogue between different faith communities.
In recent years, the Catholic Church has been increasingly vocal on issues such as immigration reform, climate change, economic inequality, and racial injustice. The Church’s leaders have frequently criticized politicians who they feel are not doing enough to address these problems.
The Catholic Church is not affiliated with any particular political party, but it does have a preference for certain policies that are in line with its values. For example, the Church supports universal health care and a livable wage for workers. The Church also opposes abortion and euthanasia.
The Catholic Church is a significant force in politics today, and its leaders often speak out on important issues. The Church’s positions on these issues are deeply influenced by its commitment to promoting the common good.
The Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. With more than 15 million members as of 2018, it is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, and the largest Baptist denomination in the world.
The word “Southern” in Southern Baptist Convention comes from its having been established in 1845 by Baptists in the Southern United States, who split with northern Baptists over the issue of slavery. After the American Civil War, another split occurred when most freed African-American men were not permitted to join local Baptist churches due to racial discrimination, so they formed their own churches. The SBC experienced a decline in membership during the 20th century; however, it has begun to grow since its low point in 1993. In 2017, about one third of its congregations were located in the Southern United States.
The SBC does not have a formal creed but affirms a statement of faith that is widely accepted among Evangelical Protestants. It opposes same-sex marriage and LGBT rights. The SBC has taken positions on political issues including support for school prayer and intelligent design. It also denies the authority of papal creeds such as the Nicene Creed and affirms Bible kneeling for communion.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is a Christian restorationist church that is considered by its members to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States, and has established congregations and built temples worldwide. The LDS Church declares itself to be the only true and living church upon the face of the earth.
The LDS Church has a strongly centralized structure with a strict hierarchy of leaders. The president of the LDS Church is considered a prophet, seer, and revelator who leads the church through divine inspiration. The first presidency, consisting of the president and his two counselors, is accepted by Latter-day Saints as the highest governing body of the church.
The LDS Church teaches that all humans are beloved spirit children of God and that we are here on earth to progress and become more like Him. Central to this effort is obedience to Jesus Christ’s restored gospel, which includes faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The LDS Church also teaches that families can be sealed together forever in temples through sacred ordinances such as baptism for the dead and celestial marriage.
