How do elections, parties and pressure groups shape US democracy and participation?
The electoral process and the presidential election, the role and ideas of the Democratic and Republican parties, the influence of interest groups, the use of money and the impact of these on democracy and participation.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the US electoral process and presidential election, the role and ideas of the Democratic and Republican parties, the influence of interest groups and money, and the impact on democracy and participation.
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain the US electoral process and the presidential election (primaries, caucuses, the Electoral College), describe the ideas and coalitions of the Democratic and Republican parties, evaluate the influence of interest groups and money, and assess the impact of all this on democracy and participation.
The electoral process and the presidential election
The two parties
The Democratic Party is broadly liberal, supporting social programmes, civil rights, environmental regulation, abortion rights and a more active federal government. The Republican Party is broadly conservative, favouring free markets, lower taxes, a smaller federal government, gun rights and traditional social values. Both are broad coalitions rather than disciplined ideological blocs: each contains internal factions (progressives and moderates among Democrats; establishment, libertarian and populist wings among Republicans). Over recent decades partisanship and polarisation have deepened, with the parties more ideologically distinct and "split-ticket" voting in decline, which feeds congressional gridlock and intensifies confirmation battles.
Interest groups and money
Interest groups influence US politics through lobbying (a vast professional industry in Washington), funding campaigns through political action committees (PACs), endorsements, grassroots mobilisation and legal action (filing or funding court cases, as the NRA and ACLU do). Since the Supreme Court's Citizens United v FEC (2010) ruling, which treated political spending as protected free expression, super PACs can raise and spend unlimited sums independently of campaigns, hugely intensifying the role of money. Supporters call this free expression and healthy pluralism, with many groups competing; critics warn it lets wealthy donors and powerful groups distort democracy, advantage incumbents and drown out ordinary citizens. The debate over money is therefore at the heart of arguments about the health of US democracy.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 201912 marksExamine the case for reforming the Electoral College. (Paper 3, Section C-style, USA essay rescoped to 12.)Show worked answer →
A focused essay with developed analysis and some evaluation.
Develop the case for reform: it can elect a president who loses the popular vote (2000 and 2016), it is disproportional and over-weights small states, and winner-take-all focuses campaigns on a few swing states while ignoring "safe" states.
Evaluate with the case against: it preserves federalism and the role of states, requires broad geographic support, produces clear outcomes, and reform would require a near-impossible constitutional amendment.
Markers reward accurate detail on how the College works, analysis of the reform arguments, and a judgement.
AQA 202120 marksEvaluate the view that money has too much influence on US democracy. (Adapted from Paper 3, Section C essay; 25-mark essay rescoped to 20.)Show worked answer →
A balanced essay with a sustained judgement and developed arguments on both sides.
For too much influence: Citizens United v FEC (2010) allowed unlimited spending through super PACs, the cost of campaigns favours wealthy donors and incumbents, and lobbying gives moneyed interests access.
Against: spending is a form of protected free expression, money does not guarantee victory (well-funded candidates lose), and pluralist competition among many groups disperses influence.
Markers reward accurate detail (Citizens United, super PACs, PACs), weighing of the two sides, and a justified conclusion. AO3 (evaluation) carries the most weight.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA A-level Politics (7152) specification — AQA (2017)