Differences

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--- offtopic:american_politics [2017/04/12 15:56] – petike
+++ offtopic:american_politics [2018/06/02 09:43] – max_sinister
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 ====== American Politics ======
-{{:offtopic:americans.jpg|}}
+{{:offtopic:americans.jpg|Now that we got the "Murica" out of our system.}}
 Now that we got the "Murica" out of our system.
 ==== Political System (in progress) ====
-The main governing document of the United States is the U.S. Constitution, fully ratified in 1789 with the inauguration of George Washington. The previous governing document was that of the failed Articles of Confederation, existing from 1777 to 1789. The constitution gives us that of a federal republic, with some democratic tendencies, and is divided up into three separate branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. With all three supposed to keep the others in check of overstepping their constitutional authority, known as "checks and balances". The Constitution can amended in order to roll with the times, likely explaining it's continued longevity. So far we have had 27 amendments with the first 10 being the Bill of Rights. Comprising the country are a total of 50 states, the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), the overseas territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, etc).
+The main governing document of the United States is the U.S. Constitution, fully ratified in 1789 with the inauguration of George Washington. The previous governing document was that of the failed Articles of Confederation, existing from 1777 to 1789. The constitution gives us that of a federal republic, with some democratic tendencies, and is divided up into three separate branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. With all three supposed to keep the others in check of overstepping their constitutional authority, known as "checks and balances". The Constitution can be amended in order to roll with the times, likely explaining its continued longevity. So far we have had 27 amendments with the first 10 being the Bill of Rights. Comprising the country are a total of 50 states, the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), the overseas territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, etc).
 === Legislative Branch ===
-The legislative branch made up of two houses that compose the Congress; the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both houses have a grand total of 535 members combined, not including six non-voting delegates. Since the 17th Amendment both chambers have been directly elected, previously Senators were chosen by state legislators. All states have representation in the two bodies with membership in the House being based off population and for the Senate every state gets two senators regardless of population
+The legislative branch made up of two houses that compose the Congress; the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both houses have a grand total of 535 members combined, not including six non-voting delegates. Since the 17th Amendment both chambers have been directly elected, previously Senators were chosen by state legislators. All states have representation in the two bodies with membership in the House being based off population and for the Senate every state gets two senators regardless of population.
 **The House of Representatives**
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 === Judicial Branch ===
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 Off-topic thread: **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=358945|American Politics Natter Thread]]**
-**Members in Line To Make the Next Thread:** [[offtopic: Usili| Usili]], [[offtopic:Biden&Ceaser'12]], [[offtopic:Colonel Levnekov|Colonel Levnekov]], [[offtopic:constantinople|Constantinople]]
+**Members in Line To Make the Next Thread:** [[Usili]], [[offtopic:Biden&Ceaser'12]], [[Colonel Levnekov]], [[Constantinople]]
 ----
@@ Line 44: / Line 46: @@
 The big two everyone cares about and the smaller ones trying to be relevant.
 === Major parties ===
-**The Democratic Party**: The oldest American political party, with it's immediate predecessor being Democratic-Republican Party (known as the Republicans in their day) and the main liberal party of the country. Was something of a conservative populist party for most of the 19th century but began to make shifts to a more liberal stance in the early 20th century under Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. Shed most of it's southern wing starting in the 60s with it's support of civil right's which was picked up on by the Republicans. Has moved to the center since the late 70s, mostly solidified by the Bill Clinton presidency during the 90s. Support generally comes from the Northeast, industrial Midwest, and West Coast. Currently hold the Presidency with Barrack Obama. Remarkably went from the party of Jim Crow and the Confederacy to nominating America's first black President. They get the color blue and are represented by a donkey.
+**The Democratic Party**: The oldest American political party, with its immediate predecessor being  the Democratic-Republican Party (known as the Republicans in their day) and the main liberal party of the country. Was something of a conservative populist party for most of the 19th century but began to make shifts to a more liberal stance in the early 20th century under Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. Shed most of its southern wing starting in the 60s with its support of civil rights which was picked up on by the Republicans. Has moved to the center since the late 70s, mostly solidified by the Bill Clinton presidency during the 90s. Support generally comes from the Northeast, industrial Midwest, and West Coast. Remarkably went from the party of Jim Crow and the Confederacy to nominating America's first black President. They get the color blue and are represented by a donkey.
-Democratic Presidents include: Andrew Jackson (1829 - 1837), Martin Van Buren (1837 - 1841), James K. Polk (1845 - 1849), Franklin Pierce (1853 - 1857), James Buchanan (1857 - 1861), Grover Cleveland (1885 - 1889, 1893 - 1897)*, Woodrow Wilson (1913 - 1921), Franklin Roosevelt (1933 - 1945)*, Harry Truman (1945 - 1953), John Kennedy (1961 - 1963), Lyndon Johnson (1963 - 1969), Jimmy Carter (1977 - 1981), Bill Clinton (1993 - 2001), and Barrack Obama (2009 - present).
+Democratic Presidents include: Andrew Jackson (1829 - 1837), Martin Van Buren (1837 - 1841), James K. Polk (1845 - 1849), Franklin Pierce (1853 - 1857), James Buchanan (1857 - 1861), Grover Cleveland (1885 - 1889, 1893 - 1897)*, Woodrow Wilson (1913 - 1921), Franklin Roosevelt (1933 - 1945)**, Harry Truman (1945 - 1953), John Kennedy (1961 - 1963), Lyndon Johnson (1963 - 1969), Jimmy Carter (1977 - 1981), Bill Clinton (1993 - 2001), and Barack Obama (2009 - 2017).
 *Only President to serve non-consecutive terms.
-*Only President to serve more than two terms.
+**Only President to serve more than two terms.
-**The Republican Party**: aka "the GOP/Grand Old Party" and the main conservative party of the country. Arose in the pre-Civil War years as a party in opposition to the institution of slavery and it's expansion. Has almost always been the party of fiscal conservatism and since the 70s/80s has been also defined by Religious Right influenced social conservatism. In the mid-twentieth century they began to switch regional support with the Democrats, taking over the then-traditionally Democratic south and the Democrats overtaking old Republican strongholds in the North. The Tea Party has recently arisen as a faction in the party and has been gradually pulling the party further right. Currently holds both houses of Congress. They get the color red and their animal is the elephant.
+**The Republican Party**: aka "the GOP/Grand Old Party" and the main conservative party of the country. Arose in the pre-Civil War years as a party in opposition to the institution of slavery and its expansion. Has almost always been the party of fiscal conservatism and since the 70s/80s has been also defined by Religious Right influenced social conservatism. In the mid-twentieth century they began to switch regional support with the Democrats, taking over the then-traditionally Democratic South while the Democrats overtook old Republican strongholds in the North. The Tea Party has recently arisen as a faction in the party and has been gradually pulling the party further right. Currently holds both houses of Congress, as well as the presidency with Donald Trump. They get the color red and their animal is the elephant.
-Republican Presidents include: Abraham Lincoln (1861 - 1865), Ulysses Grant (1869 - 1877), Rutherford B. Hayes (1877 - 1881), Andrew Garfield (1881), Chester Arthur (1881 - 1885), Benjamin Harrison (1889 - 1893), William McKinley (1897 - 1901), Theodore Roosevelt (1901 - 1909), William Howard Taft (1909 - 1913), Warren G. Harding (1921 - 1923), Calvin Coolidge (1923 - 1929), Herbert Hoover (1929 - 1933), Dwight Eisenhower (1953 - 1961), Richard Nixon (1969 - 1974), Gerald Ford (1974 - 1977), Ronald Reagan (1981 - 1989), George H.W. Bush (1989 - 1993), and George W. Bush (2001 - 2009)
+Republican Presidents include: Abraham Lincoln (1861 - 1865), Ulysses Grant (1869 - 1877), Rutherford B. Hayes (1877 - 1881), Andrew Garfield (1881), Chester Arthur (1881 - 1885), Benjamin Harrison (1889 - 1893), William McKinley (1897 - 1901), Theodore Roosevelt (1901 - 1909), William Howard Taft (1909 - 1913), Warren G. Harding (1921 - 1923), Calvin Coolidge (1923 - 1929), Herbert Hoover (1929 - 1933), Dwight Eisenhower (1953 - 1961), Richard Nixon (1969 - 1974), Gerald Ford (1974 - 1977), Ronald Reagan (1981 - 1989), George H.W. Bush (1989 - 1993), George W. Bush (2001 - 2009), and Donald Trump (2017 - Present).
 === Minor parties ===
 There are really only three currently worth noting.
-**Libertarian Party**: aka "Republicans who want to smoke weed". The third largest party in terms of registered membership and elected offices (mostly municipal). The most notable thing about them in the past few decades has been (His Holiness) Ron Paul ran as their presidential candidate in 1988 and former Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, ran as their presidential candidate in 2012. They are best described as classical liberal and their color is gold.
+**Libertarian Party**: aka "Republicans who want to smoke weed". The third largest party in terms of registered membership and elected offices (mostly municipal). The most notable thing about them in the past few decades has been (His Holiness) Ron Paul ran as their presidential candidate in 1988 and former Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, ran as their presidential candidate in 2012 and 2016. They are best described as classical liberal and their color is gold.
-**Green Party** aka "Unwashed Hippies". Behind the Libertarians in terms of registered membership and offices held. Not as sucessfull like it's European counterparts in effecting national policy. As one could assume it supports better environmental policy in addition to other generally left-wing positions. The most notable thing about them was their presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, in the 2000 election performing very well by their standards.Tends to dabble in scientific woo and conspiracy theories (most notably by nominating a 9/11 truther in 2008).  No points for guessing what color represents them.
+**Green Party** aka "Unwashed Hippies". Behind the Libertarians in terms of registered membership and offices held. Not as successful like their European counterparts in effecting national policy. As one could assume it supports better environmental policy in addition to other generally left-wing positions. The most notable thing about them was their presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, in the 2000 election performing very well by their standards. Tend to dabble in scientific woo and conspiracy theories (most notably by nominating a 9/11 truther in 2008).  No points for guessing what color represents them.
-**Constitution Party**: aka the "We support the Bible over the..." Put the paleo in paleoconservative and try to claim red, white, and blue as their official party colors. One of the only notable things about them is their California branch is what's left of the George Wallace American Independent Party.
+**Constitution Party**: aka the "We support the Bible over the..." Put the paleo in paleoconservative and try to claim red, white, and blue as their official party colors. One of the only notable things about them is that their California affiliate was (until 2016) the last remaining rump of George Wallace's American Independent Party.
 === Former Major Parties ===
 Some notable former major political parties from America's past.
-**The Federalist Party**: The country's first political party. Originating from the pro-Constitution factions in the early years of the country and formed during the Washington Administration, under his Treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton. Washington is sometimes considered a Federalist even though he rejected any affiliation with factions or parties. Favored a strong central government at the expense of the state governments, a national bank, and generally pro-British views during the Revolutionary/Napoleonic Wars. It was largely undone by it's support of the Alien and Sedition Act, the rise of the more pro-democratic Jeffersonian Republicans, and the death of it's leader Alexander Hamilton in a duel.
+**The Federalist Party**: The country's first political party. Originating from the pro-Constitution factions in the early years of the country and formed during the Washington Administration, under his Treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton. Washington is sometimes considered a Federalist even though he rejected //any// affiliation with factions or parties. Favored a strong central government at the expense of the state governments, a national bank, and generally pro-British views during the Revolutionary/Napoleonic Wars. It was largely undone by its support of the Alien and Sedition Act, the rise of the more pro-democratic Jeffersonian Republicans, and the death of its leader Alexander Hamilton in a duel.
-It's only President was John Adams (1797 - 1801)
+Its only President was John Adams (1797 - 1801).
-**The Democratic-Republicans**: Officially known as the Republicans in their day but have been anachronistically called the Democratic-Republicans as both parties nowadays can trace their lineage back to this party (Democrats more so than Republicans). Was a farmer/plantation based party and drew it's support primarily from the southern states but as the Federalists collapsed it made headway into previous Federalist areas. Eventually this led to being the only political party for a short time, culminating in the 1820 election where President James Monroe faced no opposition candidate. Gave away the next election as it was split between four different candidates.
+**The Democratic-Republicans**: Officially known as the Republicans in their day but have been anachronistically called the Democratic-Republicans as both parties nowadays can trace their lineage back to this party (Democrats more so than Republicans). Was a farmer/plantation-based party and drew its support primarily from the southern and mid-Atlantic states, but as the Federalists collapsed it made headway into previous Federalist strongholds in New England. Eventually this allowed the Republicans to be the only political party in the country for a short time, culminating in the 1820 election where President James Monroe faced no opposition candidate. The party collapsed in the following election as it was split between four different candidates.
 Democratic-Republican Presidents include: Thomas Jefferson (1801 - 1809), James Madison (1809 - 1817), James Monroe (1817 - 1825), and John Q. Adams (1825 - 1829).
-**The Whig Party**: Born primarily out of opposition to Andrew Jackson in the 1830s and styled itself after the British Whig Party who opposed Monarchical abuse. While a more a coalition of northern elites and southern plantation owners, it did have some general principles such as money for internal improvements in the western territories, a strong Congress vs weak Presidency, and protective tariffs. While it did have it's own Presidents, they had a habit of dying and getting replaced by less than stellar Veeps. Best exampled by the Whig Vice-President, John Tyler, disagreeing with just about everything the Congressional Whigs proposed and who only joined the party because of a dispute with Andrew Jackson. This made the Whigs mainly the opposition party for most of it's existence throughout the pre-Civil War era. The most famous Whig is probably "The Great Compromiser" and multi-failed Presidential candidate, Henry Clay. It was eventually undone by it being unable to decide what stance to take on the growing issue over slavery, eventually leading to most going their own way. Northerners joining the new Republican Party and southerners joining the Democrats or short-lived Constitutional Union party. Nowadays the minor third-party [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Whig_Party|Modern Whig Party]] has taken up the mantle as the successors to the Whigs.
+**The Whig Party**: Born primarily out of opposition to Andrew Jackson in the 1830s, the Whig Party modeled itself after the British Whig Party, which opposed Monarchical abuse. While more of a coalition of northern elites and southern plantation owners than a coherent national party, Whigs did, by and large, support some general principles such as money for internal improvements in the western territories, a strong Congress and weak Presidency, and protective tariffs. Still, the party was such a diverse coalition of disparate interests that the only two Whigs to win the Presidency (William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor) were nationally-renowned military officers with few political convictions who won on popularity rather than policy. In addition, they had an unfortunate habit of dying and getting replaced by less than stellar Veeps; this is exemplified by Whig Vice-President John Tyler, who, upon ascending to the Presidency after Harrison's death, disagreed with just about everything the Congressional Whigs proposed, having only joined the party because of a personal dispute with Andrew Jackson. This made the Whigs the opposition party for most of its existence throughout the pre-Civil War era. The most famous Whig is probably "The Great Compromiser" and frequent Presidential candidate, Henry Clay. The Whig Party was eventually undone by its inability to take a coherent stance on the growing issue of slavery, eventually leading most Northern Whigs to join the new Republican Party and most Southern Whigs to join the Democrats or the short-lived Constitutional Union party. Nowadays the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Whig_Party|Modern Whig Party]], a (very) minor third party, have styled themselves as the successors to the old Whigs.
 Whig Presidents include William Henry Harrison (1841), John Tyler (1841 - 1845)*, Zachary Taylor (1849 - 1950), and Millard Fillmore (1850 - 1853).
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 ==== Archived Discussion Threads ====
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=7121|US Presidential Election (or Who Are You Voting For)]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=7121|US Presidential Election (or Who Are You Voting For)]]**
-**
 **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=7169|Bush '04; Clinton '08? And other questions]]**
@@ Line 109: / Line 110: @@
 **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=255861&highlight=elections|2016 US Elections Official Thread]]**
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=336843&highlight=elections|2016 US Elections Official Thread Part II: Electric Obamaloo]]** - [[offtopic:dtanza|DTanza]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=336843&highlight=elections|2016 US Elections Official Thread Part II: Electric Obamaloo]]** - [[DTanza]]
 **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=333453|2018 US Election Official Thread]]**
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=350927|The Official American Elections & Politics Discussion Thread I: Return of the Clinton]]** - [[offtopic:abhakhazia|Abhakhazia]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=350927|The Official American Elections & Politics Discussion Thread I: Return of the Clinton]]** - [[Abhakhazia]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=354404|2015/2016 US Elections Official Thread: Part IV: Republicans of the Lost Election]]** - [[offtopic:nofix|Nofix]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=354404|2015/2016 US Elections Official Thread: Part IV: Republicans of the Lost Election]]** - [[Nofix]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=357030|The General American Politics and Elections Part III: Democratic Park]]** - [[offtopic:kaiser_k|Kaiser K]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=357030|The General American Politics and Elections Part III: Democratic Park]]** - [[Kaiser K]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=358936|The General American Politics and Elections Thread IV: Republican Pie]]** - [[offtopic:TRH|TRH]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=358936|The General American Politics and Elections Thread IV: Republican Pie]]** - [[TRH]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=359112|2015/2016 US Elections Official Thread: Part V: Now with 500% more politics!]]** - [[offtopic:nofix|Nofix]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=359112|2015/2016 US Elections Official Thread: Part V: Now with 500% more politics!]]** - [[Nofix]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=361007|The General American Politics and Elections Thread Part V: Saving Private Walker]]** - [[offtopic:superman|Superman]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=361007|The General American Politics and Elections Thread Part V: Saving Private Walker]]** - [[Superman]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=362914&highlight=Angry|The General American Politics and Election Thread, Part VI: 17 Angry Men (And Woman)]]** - [[offtopic:packmanwiscy|packmanwiscy]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=362914&highlight=Angry|The General American Politics and Election Thread, Part VI: 17 Angry Men (And Woman)]]** - [[packmanwiscy]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=364794|The General American Politics and Election Thread, Part VII: The Unelectables]]** - [[offtopic:gaius_julius_magnus|Gaius Julius Magnus]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=364794|The General American Politics and Election Thread, Part VII: The Unelectables]]** - [[Gaius Julius Magnus]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=366917|The General American Politics and Election Thread Part VIII: Nomination: Impossible]]**- [[offtopic:reagent|Reagent]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=366917|The General American Politics and Election Thread Part VIII: Nomination: Impossible]]**- [[Reagent]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=368237|The General Americans Politics and Discussion Thread Part XI: Bernie Sanders and the Holy Caucus]]** - [[offtopic:napoleon_iv|Napoleon IV]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=368237|The General Americans Politics and Discussion Thread Part XI: Bernie Sanders and the Holy Caucus]]** - [[Napoleon IV]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=369513|The General American Politics Thread Part X: Straight Outta Gopton!]]** - [[offtopic:slydessertfox|Slydessertfox]]
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=369513|The General American Politics Thread Part X: Straight Outta Gopton!]]** - [[Slydessertfox]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=370666|The General American Politics Thread Part XI: Make America Great Again! ]]** - [[offtopic:constantinople|Constantinople]]  The lack of a movie parody and poster led to the creation of **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=370667|The General American Politics Thread Part XI: Mean Democrats]]** - created on October 20th by [[offtopic:reagent|Reagent]]. Quick civil war erupted before the mods merged the threads and Constantinople declared victory.
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=370666|The General American Politics Thread Part XI: Make America Great Again! ]]** - [[Constantinople]]
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=372126|Un-Disputed American Politics Thread Part XII: Run, Donald, Run!]]** - [[offtopic:Upvoteanthology|Upvoteanthology]]
+The lack of a movie parody and poster led to the creation of **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=370667|The General American Politics Thread Part XI: Mean Democrats]]** - created on October 20th by [[Reagent]]. Quick civil war erupted before the mods merged the threads and Constantinople declared victory.
+**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=372126|Un-Disputed American Politics Thread Part XII: Run, Donald, Run!]]** - [[Upvoteanthology]]
 **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/clarify-the-term-bourbon-democrats.288608/|Clarify the term "Bourbon Democrats"]]**