Republican Party
The Republican Party (often GOP for Grand Old Party) is the majority party of the two major political parties in the United States. The President of the United States, George W. Bush, is a member of the party – and by rules common to both major U.S. parties, its head – and it has majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as in governorships and state legislative seats. Of the two major U.S. parties, the GOP is considered the conservative party.
Since the Goldwater campaign, the GOP has appealed to limited government and federalism, yet this has not resulted in consistant application once the GOP dominated the Federal government. The GOP has a considerable Libertarian faction, organized in the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Republican leadership
Libertarian policies favored by Republicans
- School choice
- Tax relief
- The right to keep and bear arms
- Free trade
- Limited government
- Eliminate state funding of abortion.
Quasi-libertarian politicies favored by Republicans
- Social Security reform.
Statist policies favored by Republicans
- Prohibition of abortion
- Strengthening of drug laws
- Military intervention (Pre-emptive war)
- Theological state (establishment of official state positions on theological issues, such as "In God We Trust".)
- Corporate welfare
- Legislation banning gay marriage, and regulating alternative lifestyles