How to Recognize Characteristics of Republicans Vs. Democrats

Democrats and Republicans have key ideological differences.

The U.S. political system only has two major parties. There are minor parties but, for all intents and purposes, the main players are the Democrats and the Republicans. Each of the two parties has its own ideological standpoints that most members follow. It is important to understand these characteristics in order to compare a candidate to your own political leanings.

Instructions

1. Assess each party's economic strategy. Economic management is a key feature that distinguishes the two parties. Democrats often support economic reforms through government spending on things like infrastructure while Republicans tend to support economic reform through reduced taxes and government spending, leaving more money in consumers' pockets.

2. Look at each party's health care ideology. Both parties have the big-picture goal of affordable health care, but many Democrats propose to do so through increased regulation and national standards. Republicans, on the other hand, are more-inclined toward reducing health care costs through reduced regulation and increased competition between health care providers.

3. Examine education policy. Many Democrats support government spending on education while many Republicans focus less on government spending (although they don't unilaterally oppose it) and more on individual choice for students and their parents. Many Republicans also believe that government intervention in education should stop at secondary school, while more Democrats believe in funding higher and technical education as well as primary and secondary education.

4. Look at energy policy. Democrats often support government investment in new, clean energy while Republicans tend to support more diversified, larger-scale sources of energy, including oil drilling in previously un-drilled places, nuclear power and other conventional energy sources.

References

• Democrats: Our Party
• GOP: Our Issues