Political Party Platforms - Democrat vs Republican (Parsed Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards capturing each party's stance on key policy areas from the notes.

Abortion policy (Democrat stance)

Restore Roe protections; federal right to choose; protect contraception + IVF; fight state bans/restrictions.

Abortion policy (Republican stance)

Leave abortion policy to the states; cite 14th amendment interests; oppose late-term abortion; explicitly support IVF and access to birth control.

Gay Rights (Democrat stance)

Pass the Equality Act; protect marriage equality and anti-discrimination; combat bans/hostility in schools & public life.

Gay Rights (Republican stance)

Emphasize equal treatment for all; parents’ rights; cut federal funds for schools teaching radical gender ideology; keep men out of women’s sports.

Income Taxes (Democrat stance)

No tax increases under $400k; expand refundable credits (CTC/EITC); raise taxes on billionaires & large corporations; close loopholes.

Income Taxes (Republican stance)

Large tax cuts for workers; make 2017 tax cuts permanent; no tax on tips; pursue additional cuts.

Other Taxes (Democrat stance)

Expand IRS enforcement on wealthy/corporate tax cheats; increase stock buyback tax.

Other Taxes (Republican stance)

Broader deregulatory/tax-cut posture; oppose new green-linked taxes/mandates.

Social Security (Democrat stance)

Protect and oppose privatization; strengthen by asking highest earners to pay more; expand Medicare benefits (vision/dental/hearing).

Social Security (Republican stance)

Fight for and protect…with no cuts and no change to retirement age.

Minimum Wage (Democrat stance)

Raise federal minimum to at least $15/hr; higher pay for public educators; expand overtime eligibility.

Minimum Wage (Republican stance)

Platform does not endorse a federal increase; focus on jobs/training/apprenticeships and deregulation to raise wages via growth.

Crime (Democrat stance)

Fund the police + community violence prevention; national gun-violence strategy; police reform/standards; more mental-health responders.

Crime (Republican stance)

Lock up violent offenders; demolish cartels; rebuild safe, clean cities; tougher enforcement.

Gun Control (Democrat stance)

Universal background checks; national red-flag law; safe-storage; revive assault-weapons ban; increase ATF/FBI resources.

Gun Control (Republican stance)

Defend Second Amendment; enumerate right to keep and bear arms; oppose restrictions framed as infringements.

Death Penalty (Democrat stance)

Historically Democrats opposed federal death penalty; 2020 platform called for abolition; 2024 note suggests no new explicit death-penalty plank.

Death Penalty (Republican stance)

2024 platform emphasizes harsher penalties and incarceration; no explicit federal death-penalty plank; focuses on punishment for violent crime.

Education (Democrat stance)

Invest in public schools, Title 1, counselors; raise teacher pay, expand community college access; relieve student debt; oppose book bans.

Education (Republican stance)

Cultivate grade K-12 schools; expand parental control; cut federal funding to schools teaching CRT/ radical gender ideology; consider closing/downsizing Dept. of Education.

Healthcare (Democrat stance)

Strengthen/expand ACA; lower Rx costs (Medicare negotiation); protect Medicaid; consider Medicare benefit expansion.

Healthcare (Republican stance)

Replace Biden-era health rules; price transparency; deregulation; oppose ‘socialist’ health policies.

Illegal Immigration (Democrat stance)

Secure the border and fix the system; more agents/judges; faster asylum decisions + removals for ineligible; expand lawful pathways; keep families together; DACA path.

Illegal Immigration (Republican stance)

Finish the wall; end releases; restore Remain-in-Mexico; largest deportation operation; cut funding to sanctuary cities; tougher vetting; merit-based immigration.

National Security (Democrat stance)

Peace through alliances; strengthen NATO; diplomacy + strong military; targeted global leadership.

National Security (Republican stance)

Peace through strength; rebuild/modernize military; missile-defense shield; avoid globalism.

Trade (Democrat stance)

Worker-centric trade enforcement; rebuild supply chains (CHIPS/IRA); global minimum tax; protect labor & environment standards.

Trade (Republican stance)

America First trade; favor tariffs/ pressure on cheaters; reshore supply chains; prioritize US producers.

Environment v. Energy Needs (Democrat stance)

Climate action + clean-energy build-out; lower energy costs via clean tech; polluter pays; Paris leadership.

Environment v. Energy Needs (Republican stance)

Drill, baby, drill; unleash oil, gas, coal & nuclear; cancel EV mandates; slash environmental regulations.

Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment (Democrat stance)

Emphasize deficit reduction via fair-share taxes and targeted savings; no BBA plank.

Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment (Republican stance)

Emphasize spending cuts.