Democratic Party (United States)

== Political positions ==
{{main|Political positions of the Democratic Party (United States)}}
The party's platform blends [[civil liberty]] and [[social equality]] with support for a [[mixed economy|mixed capitalist economy]].<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291">Larry E. Sullivan. ''The SAGE glossary of the social and behavioral sciences'' (2009). p. 291: "This liberalism favors a generous welfare state and a greater measure of social and economic equality. Liberty thus exists when all citizens have access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities."</ref> On social issues, it advocates for [[Abortion-rights movements|the continued legality of abortion]],<ref name=":0" /> the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]],<ref name=":4" /> and [[LGBT rights]].<ref name=":5" />

On economic issues, it favors [[Healthcare reform in the United States|universal healthcare coverage]], [[industrial policy]], [[universal child care]], [[paid sick leave]], [[Corporate governance|corporate governance reform]], and [[Unionization|supporting unions]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name="jlevy" /><ref name=":8" />
; Economic policy:
* Expand [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and safety-net programs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/03/13/push-to-expand-social-security-not-cut-it-gets-another-boost/|title=Push to expand Social Security (not cut it) gets another boost|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Greg|last=Sargent|date=March 13, 2014|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716044825/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/03/13/push-to-expand-social-security-not-cut-it-gets-another-boost/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Increase the [[Capital gains tax in the United States|capital gains tax]] rate to 39.6% for taxpayers with annual income above $1 million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Iacurci |first1=Greg |title=Biden's top tax rate on capital gains, dividends would be among highest in developed world |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/21/biden-tax-plan-raises-top-capital-gains-dividend-tax-rate-to-among-highest-in-world.html |website=CNBC |date=June 21, 2021 |access-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123054125/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/21/biden-tax-plan-raises-top-capital-gains-dividend-tax-rate-to-among-highest-in-world.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Cut taxes for the working and middle classes as well as small businesses.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/democratic_party.htm|title=On The Issues : Every Issue – Every Politician|publisher=Ontheissues.org|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504192839/http://www.ontheissues.org/Democratic_Party.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Change tax rules to discourage shipping jobs overseas.<ref name="ReferenceB" />
* Increase federal and state [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wages]].<ref name="Bacon-2019">{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-republicans-and-democrats-are-doing-in-the-states-where-they-have-total-power/|title=What Republicans And Democrats Are Doing In The States Where They Have Total Power|last=Bacon| first=Perry Jr. |date=May 28, 2019|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en-US |access-date=June 5, 2019|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605210614/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-republicans-and-democrats-are-doing-in-the-states-where-they-have-total-power/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Modernize and expand access to [[Education in the United States|public education]] and provide [[universal preschool]] education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/education|title=Education|work=Democrats.org|access-date=May 29, 2014|archive-date=April 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430183210/http://www.democrats.org/issues/education|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Support the goal of [[universal health care]] through a [[public health insurance option]] or expanding [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]]/[[Medicaid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/health_care|title=Health Care|work=Democrats.org|access-date=May 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530035527/http://www.democrats.org/issues/health_care|archive-date=May 30, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* Increase investments in infrastructure development<ref name="2016platform" /> as well as scientific and technological research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/science_and_technology|title=Science & Technology|work=Democrats.org|access-date=May 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626133224/http://www.democrats.org/issues/science_and_technology|archive-date=June 26, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Offer tax credits to make clean energy more accessible for consumers and increase domestic production of clean energy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Isaac-Thomas |first1=Bella |title=What the Inflation Reduction Act does for green energy |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/what-the-inflation-reduction-act-does-for-green-energy |website=PBS |date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122222107/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/what-the-inflation-reduction-act-does-for-green-energy |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Uphold labor protections and the right to [[Labor unions in the United States|unionize]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/sites/default/files/ssn_basic_facts_schlozman_on_why_labor_unions_ally_with_the_democrats.pdf|title=THE ALLIANCE OF U.S. LABOR UNIONS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY|publisher=Scholarsstrategynetwork.org|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041402/http://www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/sites/default/files/ssn_basic_facts_schlozman_on_why_labor_unions_ally_with_the_democrats.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/issue/worker-rights|title=Worker Rights|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821122706/http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/issue/worker-rights|archive-date=August 21, 2014}}</ref>
* Reform the [[Student loans in the United States|student loan]] system and allow for refinancing student loans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/2014/06/09/obama-warren-student-loan-refinancing|title=Obama Endorses Sen. Warren's Student Loan Refinancing Bill|author=Asma Khalid|date=June 9, 2014|work=wbur|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=June 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611020027/http://www.wbur.org/2014/06/09/obama-warren-student-loan-refinancing|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Make college more affordable.<ref name="Bacon-2019" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Erica |title=House Democrats Unveil Plan to Make College More Affordable |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/us/politics/house-democrats-higher-education.html |website=The New York Times |date=October 15, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321220407/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/us/politics/house-democrats-higher-education.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Mandate [[equal pay for equal work]] regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/07/democrats-highlight-equal-pay-in-political-push/|title=Democrats highlight equal pay in political push|publisher=CNN|date=April 7, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2014|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610173814/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/07/democrats-highlight-equal-pay-in-political-push/|url-status=live}}</ref>
; Social policy:
* Decriminalize or legalize marijuana.<ref name="Bacon-2019" />
* Uphold [[Network neutrality in the United States|network neutrality]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/technology/obama-net-neutrality-fcc.html|title=Obama Net Neutrality|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 19, 2015|first=Edward|last=Wyatt|date=November 10, 2014|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427132858/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/technology/obama-net-neutrality-fcc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Implement [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref name="ontheissues.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Democratic_Party_Government_Reform.htm|title=Democratic Party on Government Reform|publisher=Ontheissues.org|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=April 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430084041/http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Government_Reform.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Uphold [[voting rights]] and easy access to voting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/nick-nyhart/a-call-for-election-refor_b_3443648.html|title=A Call for Election Reform, Beginning with New York|work=The Huffington Post|date=June 15, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324035217/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-nyhart/a-call-for-election-refor_b_3443648.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/voting_rights|title=Voting Rights|work=Democrats.org|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209071842/http://www.democrats.org/issues/voting_rights|archive-date=February 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Support [[same-sex marriage]] and ban [[conversion therapy]].<ref name="Bacon-2019" />
* Allow legal access to [[Abortion in the United States|abortions]] and women's reproductive health care.<ref name="2016platform" />
* Reform the immigration system and allow for a [[Immigration reform in the United States|pathway to citizenship]].<ref name="2016platform" />
* Expand background checks and reduce access to assault weapons to address gun violence.<ref name="2016platform" />
* Improve privacy laws and curtail government surveillance.<ref name="2016platform" />
* Oppose [[Torture in the United States|torture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irregulartimes.com/2009/04/27/for-torture-and-surveillance-commission-via-hr-104-target-the-congressional-progressive-caucus/|title=For Torture and Surveillance Commission via H.R. 104, Target The Congressional Progressive Caucus|work=Irregular Times|access-date=May 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529103649/http://irregulartimes.com/2009/04/27/for-torture-and-surveillance-commission-via-hr-104-target-the-congressional-progressive-caucus/|archive-date=May 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Democratic_Party_Crime.htm|title=Democratic Party on Crime|publisher=Ontheissues.org|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429193145/http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Crime.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Abolish capital punishment.<ref name="Protecting Communities and Building">{{cite web |title=Protecting Communities and Building Trust by Reforming Our Criminal Justice System |url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/protecting-communities-and-building-trust-by-reforming-our-criminal-justice-system/ |website=Democrats |access-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122151253/https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/protecting-communities-and-building-trust-by-reforming-our-criminal-justice-system/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Recognize and defend [[Internet freedom]] worldwide.<ref name="ReferenceB" />

=== Economic issues ===
[[Equal opportunity employment|Equal economic opportunity]], a [[social safety net]], and strong [[Labor unions in the United States|labor unions]] have historically been at the heart of Democratic economic policy.<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291" /> The Democratic Party's economic policy positions, as measured by votes in Congress, tend to align with those of middle class.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grossmann|first1=Matt|last2=Mahmood|first2=Zuhaib|last3=Isaac|first3=William|date=2021|title=Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Unequal Class Influence in American Policy|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/711900|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=83|issue=4|pages=1706–1720|doi=10.1086/711900|s2cid=224851520|issn=0022-3816|access-date=October 12, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029170940/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/711900|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bartels|first=Larry M.|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/64558|title=Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age – Second Edition|date=2016|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-8336-3|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105222439/https://muse.jhu.edu/book/64558|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rhodes|first1=Jesse H.|last2=Schaffner|first2=Brian F.|date=2017|title=Testing Models of Unequal Representation: Democratic Populists and Republican Oligarchs?|url=http://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/QJPS-16077|journal=Quarterly Journal of Political Science|volume=12|issue=2|pages=185–204|doi=10.1561/100.00016077|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029183431/https://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/QJPS-16077|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lax|first1=Jeffrey R.|last2=Phillips|first2=Justin H.|last3=Zelizer|first3=Adam|date=2019|title=The Party or the Purse? Unequal Representation in the US Senate|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/party-or-the-purse-unequal-representation-in-the-us-senate/286BFEAA039374759DE14D782A0BB8DD|journal=American Political Science Review|language=en|volume=113|issue=4|pages=917–940|doi=10.1017/S0003055419000315|s2cid=21669533|issn=0003-0554|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029000457/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/party-or-the-purse-unequal-representation-in-the-us-senate/286BFEAA039374759DE14D782A0BB8DD|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hacker|first1=Jacob S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kqu6DwAAQBAJ|title=Let them Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality|last2=Pierson|first2=Paul|date=2020|publisher=Liveright Publishing|isbn=978-1-63149-685-1|language=en}}</ref> Democrats support a [[progressive tax]] system, higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wages]], [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[universal health care]], [[Education in the United States|public education]], and [[Subsidized housing in the United States|subsidized housing]].<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291" /> They also support infrastructure development and clean energy investments to achieve economic development and job creation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/economy_and_job_creation|title=Jobs and the Economy|work=Democrats.org|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320195530/http://www.democrats.org/issues/economy_and_job_creation|archive-date=March 20, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the 1990s, the party has at times supported [[Centrism|centrist]] economic reforms that cut the size of government and reduced market regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/wall-street-deregulation-clinton-advisers-obama|title=Wall Street deregulation pushed by Clinton advisers, documents reveal|author=Dan Roberts|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 19, 2014|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106185232/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/wall-street-deregulation-clinton-advisers-obama|url-status=live}}</ref> The party has generally rejected both [[Laissez-faire|''laissez-faire'' economics]] and [[market socialism]], instead favoring [[Keynesian economics]] within a capitalist market-based system.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mudge |first1=Stephanie |title=Leftism Reinvented: Western Parties from Socialism to Neoliberalism |date=2018 |publisher=Harvard University Press |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages=167–213}}</ref>

==== Fiscal policy ====
Democrats support a more [[progressive tax]] structure to provide more services and reduce [[economic inequality]] by making sure that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes.<ref name="how-high">{{cite web |url=http://economics.about.com/od/monetaryandfiscalpolicy/a/high_taxes.htm |title=How High Should Taxes Be? |publisher=Economics.about.com |date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414204158/http://economics.about.com/od/monetaryandfiscalpolicy/a/high_taxes.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
Democrats and Republicans traditionally take differing stances on eradicating poverty. Brady said "Our poverty level is the direct consequence of our weak social policies, which are a direct consequence of weak political actors".<ref>{{cite news |last1=CARBONARO |first1=GIULIA |title=Poverty Is Killing Nearly 200,000 Americans a Year |url=https://www.newsweek.com/poverty-killing-nearly-200000-americans-year-1806002 |agency=Newsweek |date=2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629052853/https://www.newsweek.com/poverty-killing-nearly-200000-americans-year-1806002 |url-status=live }}</ref>
They oppose the cutting of social services, such as [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], and [[Medicaid]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/social/ch9.htm|title=The Social Safety Net|publisher=usinfo.state.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410221216/http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/social/ch9.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2008}}</ref> believing it to be harmful to efficiency and [[social justice]]. Democrats believe the benefits of social services in monetary and non-monetary terms are a more [[Productive and unproductive labour|productive labor]] force and cultured population and believe that the benefits of this are greater than any benefits that could be derived from lower taxes, especially on top earners, or cuts to social services. Furthermore, Democrats see social services as essential toward providing [[Positive liberty|positive freedom]], freedom derived from economic opportunity. The Democratic-led House of Representatives reinstated the [[PAYGO]] (pay-as-you-go) budget rule at the start of the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Day Two: House passes new budget rules|date=January 5, 2007|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16487187|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 5, 2007|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204034031/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16487187|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Minimum wage ====
{{see also|Minimum wage in the United States}}
The Democratic Party favors raising the [[minimum wage]]. The [[Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007]] was an early component of the Democrats' agenda during the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]]. In 2006, the Democrats supported six state-ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage and all six initiatives passed.<ref name="democrats.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |title=The Democratic Party Platform |publisher=Democrats.org |access-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315234633/http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |archive-date=March 15, 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, Senate Democrats introduced the Raise the Wage Act which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kulwin|first=Noah|date=May 25, 2017|title=Democrats just united on a $15-an-hour minimum wage|url=https://news.vice.com/story/democrats-just-united-on-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage|work=Vice|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-date=May 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526052042/https://news.vice.com/story/democrats-just-united-on-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Democratic president [[Joe Biden]] proposed increasing the minimum wage to $15 by 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Freking |first1=Kevin |title=Biden, Democrats hit gas on push for $15 minimum wage |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189 |website=The Associated Press |date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219102902/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189 |url-status=live }}</ref> In many states controlled by Democrats, the state minimum wage has been increased to a rate above the federal minimum wage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marr |first1=Chris |title=Blue State Minimum Wages Inch Upward, Widening Gap With South |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/blue-state-minimum-wages-inch-upward-widening-gap-with-south |website=Bloomberg Law |access-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525224046/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/blue-state-minimum-wages-inch-upward-widening-gap-with-south |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Health care ====
[[File:Obama signing health care-20100323.jpg|thumb|President Obama signing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] into law in 2010]]
Democrats call for "affordable and quality health care" and favor moving toward [[universal health care]] in a variety of forms to address rising healthcare costs. Progressive Democrats politicians favor a [[single-payer health care|single-payer program]] or [[Medicare for All]], while liberals prefer creating a [[public health insurance option]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodnough |first1=Abby |last2=Kaplan |first2=Thomas |title=Democrat vs. Democrat: How Health Care Is Dividing the Party |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/health/democratic-debate-healthcare.html |website=The New York Times |date=June 28, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722004441/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/health/democratic-debate-healthcare.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], signed into law by President [[Barack Obama]] on March 23, 2010, has been one of the most significant pushes for universal health care. As of December 2019, more than 20&nbsp;million Americans have gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nova |first1=Annie |title=How the Affordable Care Act transformed our health-care system |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/29/how-the-affordable-care-act-transformed-the-us-health-care-system.html |website=CNBC |date=December 29, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727041849/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/29/how-the-affordable-care-act-transformed-the-us-health-care-system.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Education ====
Democrats favor improving [[public education]] by raising school standards and reforming the [[Head Start (program)|Head Start program]]. They also support [[universal preschool]], expanding access to primary education, including through [[charter schools]], and are generally opposed to [[school voucher]] programs. They call for addressing [[student loan]] debt and reforms to reduce college tuition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/101962.pdf |title=Moving America Forward 2012 Democratic National Platform |publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819093203/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/101962.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Other proposals have included tuition-free public universities and reform of [[standardized testing]]. Democrats have the long-term aim of having publicly funded college education with low tuition fees (like in much of Europe and Canada), which would be available to every eligible American student. Alternatively, they encourage expanding access to post-secondary education by increasing state funding for student financial aid such as [[Pell Grants]] and [[college tuition]] [[tax deductions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Clinton Joins Key Senate Democrats to Release Report on "The College Cost Crunch"|date=June 28, 2006|url=http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=258005|work=clinton.senate.gov|access-date=November 25, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025234254/http://www.clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=258005|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref>

==== Environment ====
{{main|Environmental policy of the United States}}

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| image1            = 2009- Pew survey - is climate change a major threat, by political party.svg
| caption1          = Democrats and Republicans have diverged on the seriousness of the threat posed by climate change, with Democrats' assessment rising significantly in the mid-2010s.<ref name=PewClimateChange_20230418>● {{cite web |title=54% of Americans view climate change as a major threat, but the partisan divide has grown |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/sr_2023-04-18_climate_5/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422182323/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/sr_2023-04-18_climate_5/ |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live }} ● Broader discussion by {{cite web |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |last2=Funk |first2=Cary |last3=Kennedy |first3=Brian |title=What the data says about Americans' views of climate change |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512193458/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/ |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| image2            = 2021 Survey on existence of global warming and responsibility for climate change - bar chart.svg
| caption2          = The sharp divide over the existence of and responsibility for global warming and climate change falls largely along political lines. Overall, 60% of those surveyed said oil and gas companies were "completely or mostly responsible" for climate change.<ref name=Guardian_20211026>{{cite news |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=Revealed: 60% of Americans say oil firms are to blame for the climate crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment |work=The Guardian |date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026122356/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |url-status=live |quote=Source: Guardian/Vice/CCN/YouGov poll. Note: ±4% margin of error.}}</ref>
}}

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| total_width       = 450
| image3            = 20220301 Opinions by political party - Climate change causation - Action for carbon neutral 2050 - Pew Research.svg
| caption3          = Opinion about human causation of climate change increased substantially with education among Democrats, but not among Republicans.<ref name=Pew_20220301/> Conversely, opinions favoring becoming carbon neutral declined substantially with age among Republicans, but not among Democrats.<ref name=Pew_20220301>{{cite web |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |last2=Funk |first2=Cary |last3=Kennedy |first3=Brian |title=Americans Largely Favor U.S. Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral by 2050 / Appendix (Detailed charts and tables) |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/carbon-neutral-2050-appendix/ |website=Pew Research |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418220503/https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/carbon-neutral-2050-appendix/ |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |date=March 1, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| image4            = 20220411 Support for policies to combat climate change, by political party - Gallup poll.svg
| caption4          = A broad range of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed. Democrats' support for such policies consistently exceeds that of Republicans.<ref name=Gallup_20220411>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeffrey M. |title=Climate Change Proposals Favored by Solid Majorities in U.S. / Support for Policies Designed to Limit Greenhouse Gases, by Political Party |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/391679/climate-change-proposals-favored-solid-majorities.aspx |website=Gallup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001132301/https://news.gallup.com/poll/391679/climate-change-proposals-favored-solid-majorities.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |date=April 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

[[File:202307 Survey - comfortable with solar wind nuclear in my community.svg|thumb|Acceptance of wind and solar facilities in one's community is stronger among Democrats (blue), while acceptance of nuclear power plants is stronger among Republicans (red).<ref name="WashPost_20231003">{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Allyson |last2=Guskin |first2=Emily |last3=Clement |first3=Scott |title=Americans don't hate living near solar and wind farms as much as you might think |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/10/03/solar-panels-wind-turbines-nimby/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003211732/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/10/03/solar-panels-wind-turbines-nimby/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 | url-status=live }}</ref>]]

Democrats believe that the government should protect the environment and have a history of environmentalism. In more recent years, this stance has emphasized [[renewable energy]] generation as the basis for an improved economy, greater [[national security]], and general environmental benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/a/national/clean_environment/ |title=Agenda&nbsp;— Environment |access-date=March 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315113030/http://www.democrats.org/a/national/clean_environment/ |archive-date=March 15, 2007}}</ref> The Democratic Party is substantially more likely than the Republican Party to support environmental regulation and policies that are supportive of renewable energy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Coley|first1=Jonathan S.|last2=Hess|first2=David J.|date=2012|title=Green energy laws and Republican legislators in the United States|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421512004752|journal=Energy Policy|language=en|volume=48|pages=576–583|doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2012.05.062|bibcode=2012EnPol..48..576C |issn=0301-4215|access-date=November 7, 2021|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618224202/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421512004752|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bergquist|first1=Parrish|last2=Warshaw|first2=Christopher|date=2020|title=Elections and parties in environmental politics|url=https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788972833/9781788972833.00017.xml|journal=Handbook of U.S. Environmental Policy|pages=126–141|language=en-US|doi=10.4337/9781788972840.00017|isbn=9781788972840|s2cid=219077951|access-date=November 7, 2021|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107233114/https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788972833/9781788972833.00017.xml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Democratic Party also favors expansion of conservation lands and encourages open space and rail travel to relieve highway and airport congestion and improve air quality and the economy as it "believe[s] that communities, environmental interests, and the government should work together to protect resources while ensuring the vitality of local economies. Once Americans were led to believe they had to make a choice between the economy and the environment. They now know this is a false choice".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Environment.htm|title=Democratic Party on Environment|access-date=October 24, 2007|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703223850/http://ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Environment.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The foremost environmental concern of the Democratic Party is [[climate change]]. Democrats, most notably former Vice President [[Al Gore]], have pressed for stern regulation of [[greenhouse gas]]es. On October 15, 2007, Gore won the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] for his efforts to build greater knowledge about man-made climate change and laying the foundations for the measures needed to counteract it.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=John Nicols|title=Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize|magazine=The Nation|date=October 12, 2007}}</ref>

==== Renewable energy and fossil fuels ====
Democrats have supported increased domestic [[renewable energy]] development, including wind and solar power farms, in an effort to reduce carbon pollution. The party's platform calls for an "all of the above" energy policy including clean energy, natural gas and domestic oil, with the desire of becoming energy independent.<ref name="democrats.org" /> The party has supported higher taxes on [[oil companies]] and increased regulations on [[coal power plant]]s, favoring a policy of reducing long-term reliance on [[fossil fuels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/energy_independence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920002824/http://www.democrats.org/issues/energy_independence|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2010|title=Energy Independence|work=Democrats.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/coal-state-democrats-to-obama-curb-emissions-um-no-thanks/|title=Coal state Democrats to Obama: Curb emissions? Um, no thanks.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513225106/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/coal-state-democrats-to-obama-curb-emissions-um-no-thanks/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the party supports stricter [[fuel emissions standard]]s to prevent air pollution.

==== Trade agreements ====
Like the Republican Party, the Democratic Party has taken widely varying views on [[international trade]] throughout its history. 
The Democrats dominated the [[Second Party System]] and set low tariffs designed to pay for the government but not protect industry. Their opponents the Whigs wanted high protective tariffs but usually were outvoted in Congress. Tariffs soon became a major political issue as the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whigs]] (1832–1852) and (after 1854) the Republicans wanted to protect their mostly northern industries and constituents by voting for higher tariffs and the [[Southern Democrats]], which had very little industry but imported many goods voted for lower tariffs. After the Second Party System ended in 1854 the Democrats lost control and the new Republican Party had its opportunity to raise rates.<ref>Taussig, ''Tariff History'' pp. 109–24</ref>

During the [[Third Party System]], Democratic president [[Grover Cleveland]] made low tariffs the centerpiece of Democratic Party policies, arguing that high tariffs were an unnecessary and unfair tax on consumers. The South and [[Western United States|West]] generally supported low tariffs, while the industrial [[Northern United States|North]] high tariffs.<ref>Joanne R. Reitano, ''The Tariff Question in the Gilded Age: The Great Debate of 1888'' (Penn State Press, 1994)</ref> During the [[Fourth Party System]], Democratic president [[Woodrow Wilson]] made a drastic lowering of tariff rates a major priority for his presidency. The 1913 [[Underwood Tariff]] cut rates, and the new revenues generated by the [[federal income tax]] made tariffs much less important in terms of economic impact and political rhetoric.<ref>Woodrow Wilson: "Address to a Joint Session of Congress on the Banking System," June 23, 1913. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65369 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012012358/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65369 |date=October 12, 2018 }}.</ref>

In the 1990s, the Clinton administration and a number of prominent Democrats pushed through a number of agreements such as the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA). Since then, the party's shift away from free trade became evident in the [[Dominican Republic&nbsp;– Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA) vote, with 15 House Democrats voting for the agreement and 187 voting against.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weisman|first=Jonathan|title=CAFTA Reflects Democrats' Shift From Trade Bills|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 6, 2005|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501345_pf.html|access-date=December 10, 2006|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102173616/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501345_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Nichols |first=John |title=CAFTA Vote Outs "Bush Democrats" |magazine=[[The Nation]] |date=July 28, 2005 |url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=8874 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111027041618/http://www.thenation.com/blogs/john-nichols?bid=1&pid=8874 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=December 15, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/|title=Building A Stronger, Fairer Economy|website=Democratic National Committee|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818204036/https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Social issues ===
[[File:Shirley Chisholm.jpg|thumb|[[Shirley Chisholm]] was the first major-party African American candidate to run nationwide primary campaigns.]]
The modern Democratic Party emphasizes [[social equality]] and [[equal opportunity]]. Democrats support [[Voting rights in the United States|voting rights]] and [[minority rights]], including [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]]. Democratic president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] signed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which outlawed racial segregation. Carmines and Stimson wrote "the Democratic Party appropriated racial liberalism and assumed federal responsibility for ending racial discrimination."<ref>Carmines, Edward G.; Stimson, James A. "Racial Issues and The Structure of Mass Belief Systems," ''Journal of Politics'' (1982) 44#1 pp 2–20 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2130281 in JSTOR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731011758/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2130281 |date=July 31, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Talmadge Anderson |author2=James Benjamin Stewart |name-list-style=amp |title=Introduction to African American Studies: Transdisciplinary Approaches and Implications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=49tXR1Ok6poC&pg=PA205|year=2007|publisher=Black Classic Press|page=205|isbn=9781580730396 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Jeffrey M. Stonecash|title=New Directions in American Political Parties|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNuOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA131|year=2010|publisher=Routledge|page=131|isbn=9781135282059}}</ref>

Ideological social elements in the party include [[cultural liberalism]], [[civil libertarianism]], and [[feminism]]. Some Democratic social policies are immigration reform, [[electoral reform]], and women's [[reproductive rights]].

==== Equal opportunity ====
The Democratic Party supports [[equal opportunity]] for all Americans regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, [[sexual orientation]], [[gender identity]], religion, creed, or national origin. The Democratic Party has broad appeal across most socioeconomic and ethnic demographics, as seen in recent exit polls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/|title=Behind Biden's 2020 Victory|date=June 30, 2021|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819144304/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/|url-status=live}}</ref> Democrats also strongly support the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilities Act]] to prohibit discrimination against people based on physical or mental disability. As such, the Democrats pushed as well the [[ADA Amendments Act of 2008]], a disability rights expansion that became law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/civil_rights|title=Civil Rights|work=Democrats.org|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209053820/http://www.democrats.org/issues/civil_rights|archive-date=February 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Most Democrats support [[affirmative action]] to further equal opportunity. However, in 2020 [[2020 California Proposition 16|57% voters in California]] voted to keep their state constitution's ban on affirmative action, despite Biden [[2020 United States presidential election in California|winning 63% of the vote in California]] in the same election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf|title=STATEMENT OF VOTE|first1=Alex|last1=Padilla|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=March 15, 2024}}</ref>

==== Voting rights ====
The party is very supportive of improving voting rights as well as election accuracy and accessibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usliberals.about.com/od/electionreform/a/VotingAgenda.htm|title=Liberalism 101: Democratic Party Agenda on Electoral Reform|author=Deborah White|work=About|access-date=April 17, 2014|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310140253/http://usliberals.about.com/od/electionreform/a/VotingAgenda.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> They support extensions of voting time, including making election day a holiday. They support reforming the electoral system to eliminate [[gerrymandering]], abolishing the [[United States Electoral College|electoral college]], as well as passing comprehensive [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref name="ontheissues.org" />

==== Abortion and reproductive rights ====
{{see also|Abortion in the United States}}
The Democratic position on abortion has changed significantly over time.<ref name="Williams-2015">{{Cite journal |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=June 2015 |title=The Partisan Trajectory of the American Pro-Life Movement: How a Liberal Catholic Campaign Became a Conservative Evangelical Cause |journal=Religions |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=451–475 |doi=10.3390/rel6020451 |issn=2077-1444 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Williams-2022b">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=May 9, 2022 |title=This Really Is a Different Pro-Life Movement |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/south-abortion-pro-life-protestants-catholics/629779/ |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |quote=This was not merely a geographic shift, trading one region for another, but a more fundamental transformation of the anti-abortion movement's political ideology. In 1973 many of the most vocal opponents of abortion were northern Democrats who believed in an expanded social-welfare state and who wanted to reduce abortion rates through prenatal insurance and federally funded day care. In 2022, most anti-abortion politicians are conservative Republicans who are skeptical of such measures. What happened was a seismic religious and political shift in opposition to abortion that has not occurred in any other Western country. |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510043840/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/south-abortion-pro-life-protestants-catholics/629779/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Republicans generally favored legalized abortion more than Democrats,<ref name="Halpern-2018">{{Cite news |last=Halpern |first=Sue |date=November 8, 2018 |title=How Republicans Became Anti-Choice |language=en |work=[[The New York Review of Books]] |url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/08/how-republicans-became-anti-choice/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |issn=0028-7504 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204085532/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/08/how-republicans-became-anti-choice/ |url-status=live }}</ref> although significant heterogeneity could be found within both parties.<ref name="Taylor-2018">{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Justin |date=May 9, 2018 |title=How the Christian Right Became Prolife on Abortion and Transformed the Culture Wars |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/christian-right-discovered-abortion-rights-transformed-culture-wars/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=[[The Gospel Coalition]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204085533/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/christian-right-discovered-abortion-rights-transformed-culture-wars/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During this time, opposition to abortion tended to be concentrated within the political left in the United States. Liberal Protestants and Catholics (many of whom were Democratic voters) opposed abortion, while most conservative Protestants supported legal access to abortion services.<ref name="Williams-2015" />{{clarify|date=April 2024}}

In its national platforms from 1992 to 2004, the Democratic Party has called for abortion to be "safe, legal and rare"—namely, keeping it legal by rejecting laws that allow governmental interference in abortion decisions and reducing the number of abortions by promoting both knowledge of reproduction and contraception and incentives for adoption. The wording changed in the 2008 platform.{{cn|date=April 2024}} When Congress voted on the [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]] in 2003, Congressional Democrats were split, with a minority (including former [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]]) supporting the ban and the majority of Democrats opposing the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_2003-530.htm|title=House Votes on 2003-530|publisher=Ontheissues.org|date=October 2, 2003|access-date=March 18, 2014|archive-date=February 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228171204/http://www.ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_2003-530.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the 2020 Democratic Party platform, "Democrats believe every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion."<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Democratic Party Platform |url=https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-07-31-Democratic-Party-Platform-For-Distribution.pdf |website=2020 Democratic National Convention |access-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216091833/https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-07-31-Democratic-Party-Platform-For-Distribution.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Immigration ====
{{see also|Immigration to the United States|Illegal immigration to the United States}}
[[File:President Lyndon B. Johnson Signing of the Immigration Act of 1965 (02) - restoration1.jpg|thumb|President Johnson signing the [[Immigration Act of 1965]]]]

Like the Republican Party, the Democratic Party has taken widely varying views on immigration throughout its history. Since the 1990s, the Democratic Party has been more supportive overall of immigration than the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://press.princeton.edu/titles/11040.html|title=Trading Barriers|last=Peters|first=Margaret|date=2017|pages=154–155|publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691174471|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303043905/https://press.princeton.edu/titles/11040.html|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Many Democratic politicians have called for systematic reform of the immigration system such that residents that have [[Illegal immigration to the United States|come into the United States illegally]] have a pathway to legal citizenship. President Obama remarked in November 2013 that he felt it was "long past time to fix our broken immigration system," particularly to allow "incredibly bright young people" that came over as students to become full citizens. The Public Religion Research Institute found in a late 2013 study that 73% of Democrats supported the pathway concept, compared to 63% of Americans as a whole.<ref name="long-past">{{cite news |last=Frumin |first=Aliyah |title=Obama: 'Long past time' for immigration reform |date=November 25, 2013 |url=https://msnbc.com/hardball/obama-long-past-time-reform |publisher=[[MSNBC.com]] |access-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121145422/http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/obama-long-past-time-reform |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2013, Democrats in the Senate passed [[Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013|S. 744]], which would reform immigration policy to allow citizenship for illegal immigrants in the United States. The law failed to pass in the House and was never re-introduced after the [[113th Congress]]. As of 2023, no major [[immigration reform in the United States|immigration reform]] legislation has been enacted into law in the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00167 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110070108/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00167 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/immigration-asylum-trump-biden-gang-of-eight-3d8007e72928665b66d8648be0e3e31f|website=AP News|title=Immigration reform stalled decade after Gang of 8's big push|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=April 3, 2023|archive-date=April 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403061526/https://apnews.com/article/immigration-asylum-trump-biden-gang-of-eight-3d8007e72928665b66d8648be0e3e31f|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== LGBT rights ====
{{see also|LGBT rights in the United States}}
The Democratic position on [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]] has changed significantly over time.<ref name="Igielnik-2022">{{Cite web |last=Igielnik |first=Ruth |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Backdrop for Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Rights: A Big Shift in Public Opinion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/same-sex-marriage-public-opinion.html |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116235133/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/same-sex-marriage-public-opinion.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Lindberg-2022">{{Cite web |last=Lindberg |first=Tim |date=August 2, 2022 |title=Congress is considering making same-sex marriage federal law – a political scientist explains how this issue became less polarized over time |url=https://theconversation.com/congress-is-considering-making-same-sex-marriage-federal-law-a-political-scientist-explains-how-this-issue-became-less-polarized-over-time-187509 |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Kansas Reflector |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823203344/http://theconversation.com/congress-is-considering-making-same-sex-marriage-federal-law-a-political-scientist-explains-how-this-issue-became-less-polarized-over-time-187509 |url-status=live }}</ref> Before the 2000s, like the Republicans, the Democratic Party often took positions hostile to LGBT rights. As of the 2020s, both voters and elected representatives within the Democratic Party are overwhelmingly supportive of [[LGBT]] rights.<ref name="Igielnik-2022" />

Support for same-sex marriage has steadily increased among the general public, including voters in both major parties, since the start of the 21st century. An April 2009 ABC News/''Washington Post'' public opinion poll put support among Democrats at 62%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1089a6HotButtonIssues.pdf|title=Changing Views on Social Issues|date=April 30, 2009|access-date=May 14, 2009|archive-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110130400/http://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1089a6HotButtonIssues.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> A broad majority of Democrats have supported other LGBT-related laws such as extending [[hate crime]] statutes, [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act|legally preventing discrimination against LGBT people in the workforce]] and repealing the "[[don't ask, don't tell]]" military policy. A 2006 [[Pew Research Center]] poll of Democrats found that 55% supported gays adopting children with 40% opposed while 70% support [[Sexual orientation and military service|gays in the military]], with only 23% opposed.<ref>[http://people-press.org/report/273/less-opposition-to-gay-marriage-adoption-and-military-service Less Opposition to Gay Marriage, Adoption and Military Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310052909/http://people-press.org/report/273/less-opposition-to-gay-marriage-adoption-and-military-service |date=March 10, 2011}}. [[Pew Research Center]]. March 22, 2006.</ref> Gallup polling from May 2009 stated that 82% of Democrats support open enlistment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/120764/conservatives-shift-favor-openly-gay-service-members.aspx|title=Conservatives Shift in Favor of Openly Gay Service Members|publisher=[[The Gallup Organization|Gallup.com]]|date=June 5, 2009|first=Lymari|last=Morales|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-date=May 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501214245/http://www.gallup.com/poll/120764/Conservatives-Shift-Favor-Openly-Gay-Service-Members.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2023 Gallup public opinion poll found 84% of Democrats support same-sex marriage, compared to 71% support by the general public and 49% support by Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/506636/sex-marriage-support-holds-high.aspx|date=June 5, 2023|title=U.S. Same-Sex Marriage Support Holds at 71% High|first1=Justin|last1=McCarthy|access-date=June 5, 2023|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605083325/https://news.gallup.com/poll/506636/sex-marriage-support-holds-high.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2004 Democratic National Platform stated that marriage should be defined at the state level and it repudiated the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]].<ref name="platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf |title=The 2004 Democratic National Platform for America|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041013001521/http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf |archive-date=October 13, 2004 }}&nbsp;{{small|(111&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> [[John Kerry]], the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, did not support same-sex marriage in [[John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign|his campaign.]] While not stating support of same-sex marriage, the 2008 platform called for repeal of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage and removed the need for interstate recognition, supported antidiscrimination laws and the extension of hate crime laws to LGBT people and opposed "don't ask, don't tell".<ref>{{cite web |last=Garcia |first=Michelle |url=http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/advance/2012/04/22/year-democrats-embrace-marriage-equality |title=Is This the Year Democrats Embrace Marriage Equality? |publisher=Advocate.com |date=April 22, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234045/http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/advance/2012/04/22/year-democrats-embrace-marriage-equality |url-status=live}}</ref> The 2012 platform included support for same-sex marriage and for the repeal of DOMA.<ref name="NPR-2012">{{cite web |work=All Things Considered |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160562404/democratic-platform-endorses-gay-marriage |title=Democratic Platform Endorses Gay Marriage |publisher=Npr.org |date=September 4, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005001326/http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160562404/democratic-platform-endorses-gay-marriage |url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 9, 2012, [[Barack Obama]] became the first sitting president to say he supports same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57431122-503544/obama-backs-same-sex-marriage/|title=Obama backs same-sex marriage|work=[[CBS News]]|date=May 9, 2012|access-date=May 9, 2012|archive-date=May 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510010911/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57431122-503544/obama-backs-same-sex-marriage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Huffington Post">{{cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html|title=Obama Backs Gay Marriage|author=Sam Stein|date=May 9, 2012|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920002222/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html|url-status=dead }}</ref> Previously, he had opposed restrictions on same-sex marriage such as the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which he promised to repeal,<ref name="LGBT">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html|title=Same-sex Marriage – Issues – Election Center 2008 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428162155/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html|url-status=live}}</ref> California's [[Prop 8]],<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/02/obama_opposes_gay_marriage_ban.html Obama Opposes Gay Marriage Ban] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926223051/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/02/obama_opposes_gay_marriage_ban.html |date=September 26, 2011}}. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. By Perry Bacon Jr. July 2, 2008.</ref> and a [[constitutional amendment]] to ban same-sex marriage (which he opposed saying that "decisions about marriage should be left to the states as they always have been"),<ref>[http://obama.senate.gov/press/060607-obama_statement_26/index.php Obama Statement on Vote Against Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208020010/http://obama.senate.gov/press/060607-obama_statement_26/index.php |date=December 8, 2008}}. [[United States Senate]] [http://senate.gov/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228084718/http://www.senate.gov/ |date=December 28, 2016}}. June 7, 2006.</ref> but also stated that he personally believed marriage to be between a man and a woman and that he favored civil unions that would "give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples".<ref name="LGBT" /> Earlier, when running for the Illinois Senate in 1996 he said, "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obama-once-supported-same_n_157656.html |title=Obama Once Supported Same-Sex Marriage 'Unequivocally' |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |first=Jason |last=Linkins |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512012736/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obama-once-supported-same_n_157656.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Former presidents [[Bill Clinton]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/25/video-clinton-shifts-on-gay-marriage/ |work=CNN |title=Video: Clinton shifts on gay marriage |access-date=May 1, 2010 |date=September 25, 2009 |archive-date=December 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226140541/http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/25/video-clinton-shifts-on-gay-marriage/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Jimmy Carter]]<ref>{{cite news|date=March 19, 2012|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/president-jimmy-carter-bible-book_n_1349570.html|title=President Jimmy Carter Authors New Bible Book, Answers Hard Biblical Questions|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=June 26, 2012|first=Paul|last=Raushenbush|archive-date=June 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625134951/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/president-jimmy-carter-bible-book_n_1349570.html|url-status=live}}</ref> along with former Democratic presidential nominees [[Al Gore]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://current.com/items/88817757_gay-men-and-women-should-have-the-same-rights.htm |title=Gay men and women should have the same rights // Current |publisher=Current.com |date=January 17, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129220957/http://current.com/items/88817757_gay-men-and-women-should-have-the-same-rights.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Michael Dukakis]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Israel|first=Josh|title=Mondale and Dukakis Back Marriage Equality|website=[[ThinkProgress]]|date=May 16, 2013|url=https://thinkprogress.org/mondale-dukakis-back-marriage-equality-joining-every-living-democratic-presidential-nominee-56a1d402991d/|access-date=November 4, 2019|archive-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104164913/https://thinkprogress.org/mondale-dukakis-back-marriage-equality-joining-every-living-democratic-presidential-nominee-56a1d402991d/|url-status=live}}</ref> support same-sex marriage. President [[Joe Biden]] has supported [[same-sex marriage]] since 2012, when he became the highest-ranking government official to support it. In 2022, Biden signed the [[Respect for Marriage Act]]; the law repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, which Biden had voted for during his Senate tenure.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cournoyer |first1=Caroline |title=Joe Biden Endorses Gay Marriage |url=https://www.governing.com/archive/Joseph-Biden-Endorses-Gay-Marriage.html |website=Governing |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222013528/https://www.governing.com/archive/Joseph-Biden-Endorses-Gay-Marriage.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Status of Puerto Rico and D.C. ====
The 2016 Democratic Party platform declares, regarding the status of Puerto Rico: "We are committed to addressing the extraordinary challenges faced by our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. Many stem from the fundamental question of Puerto Rico's political status. Democrats believe that the people of Puerto Rico should determine their ultimate political status from permanent options that do not conflict with the Constitution, laws, and policies of the United States. Democrats are committed to promoting economic opportunity and good-paying jobs for the hardworking people of Puerto Rico. We also believe that Puerto Ricans must be treated equally by Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs that benefit families. Puerto Ricans should be able to vote for the people who make their laws, just as they should be treated equally. All American citizens, no matter where they reside, should have the right to vote for the president of the United States. Finally, we believe that federal officials must respect Puerto Rico's local self-government as laws are implemented and Puerto Rico's budget and debt are restructured so that it can get on a path towards stability and prosperity".<ref name="2016platform">{{cite web|url=https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Democratic-Party-Platform-7.21.16-no-lines.pdf|title=Democratic Party Platform 2016|access-date=November 11, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110225904/https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Democratic-Party-Platform-7.21.16-no-lines.pdf|archive-date=November 10, 2016}}</ref>

Also, it declares that regarding the status of the [[District of Columbia]]: "Restoring our democracy also means finally passing statehood for the District of Columbia, so that the American citizens who reside in the nation's capital have full and equal congressional rights as well as the right to have the laws and budget of their local government respected without Congressional interference."<ref name="2016platform" />

=== Legal issues ===

==== Gun control ====
[[File:20210420 Gun control survey by political party - Pew Research.svg|thumb|upright=1.5| U.S. opinion on gun control issues is deeply divided along political lines, as shown in this 2021 survey.<ref name="Pew_20210420">{{cite web |title=Amid a Series of Mass Shootings in the U.S., Gun Policy Remains Deeply Divisive |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/20/amid-a-series-of-mass-shootings-in-the-u-s-gun-policy-remains-deeply-divisive/ |website=PewResearch.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530202009/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/20/amid-a-series-of-mass-shootings-in-the-u-s-gun-policy-remains-deeply-divisive/ |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |date=April 20, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
With a stated goal of reducing crime and homicide, the Democratic Party has introduced various [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control]] measures, most notably the [[Gun Control Act of 1968]], the [[Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act|Brady Bill]] of 1993 and Crime Control Act of 1994. In its national platform for 2008, the only statement explicitly favoring gun control was a plan calling for renewal of the 1994 [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban|Assault Weapons Ban]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queerty.com/wp/docs/2008/08/2008-democratic-platform-080808.pdf|title=The Draft 2008 Democratic National Platform: Renewing America's Promise|access-date=February 4, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512191810/http://www.queerty.com/wp/docs/2008/08/2008-democratic-platform-080808.pdf|archive-date=May 12, 2012}}</ref> In 2022, Democratic president [[Joe Biden]] signed the [[Bipartisan Safer Communities Act]], which among other things expanded background checks and provided incentives for states to pass red flag laws.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clyde |first1=Don |last2=Miranda |first2=Shauneen |title=Biden signs gun safety bill into law |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107626030/biden-signs-gun-safety-law |website=NPR |date=June 25, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924024307/https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107626030/biden-signs-gun-safety-law |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, 20% of Democrats owned firearms, compared to 32% of the general public and 45% of Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/13/key-facts-about-americans-and-guns/|access-date=September 19, 2023|date=September 13, 2023|title=Key facts about Americans and guns|website=Pew Research Center|first1=Katherine|last1=Schaeffer}}</ref>

==== Death penalty ====
The Democratic Party's 2020 platform states its opposition to the death penalty.<ref name="Protecting Communities and Building" /> Although most Democrats in Congress have never seriously moved to overturn the rarely used [[Capital punishment by the United States federal government|federal death penalty]], both [[Russ Feingold]] and [[Dennis Kucinich]] have introduced such bills with little success. Democrats have led efforts to overturn state death penalty laws, particularly in [[New Jersey#Capital punishment|New Jersey]] and in [[New Mexico]]. They have also sought to prevent the reinstatement of the death penalty in those states which prohibit it, including [[Capital punishment in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]], [[Capital punishment in New York (state)|New York]], and [[Capital punishment in Delaware|Delaware]]. During the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], Democrats led the expansion of the federal death penalty. These efforts resulted in the passage of the [[Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996]], signed into law by [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]], which heavily limited appeals in death penalty cases.
In 1972, the Democratic Party platform called for the abolition of capital punishment.<ref>{{cite web |title=1972 Democratic Party Platform |via=American Presidency Project|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1972-democratic-party-platform|date=July 11, 1972|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408133915/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1972-democratic-party-platform|archive-date=April 8, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1992, 1993 and 1995, Democratic Texas Congressman [[Henry B. Gonzalez|Henry González]] unsuccessfully introduced the [[s:Death Penalty Abolition Amendment|Death Penalty Abolition Amendment]] which prohibited the use of [[capital punishment in the United States]]. Democratic Missouri Congressman [[Bill Clay|William Lacy Clay Sr.]] cosponsored the amendment in 1993.

During his [[Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama|Illinois Senate career]], former President [[Barack Obama]] successfully introduced legislation intended to reduce the likelihood of [[Miscarriage of justice|wrongful convictions]] in capital cases, requiring videotaping of confessions. When [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|campaigning for the presidency]], Obama stated that he supports the limited use of the death penalty, including for people who have been convicted of raping a minor under the age of 12, having opposed the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s ruling in ''[[Kennedy v. Louisiana]]'' that the death penalty was unconstitutional in which the victim of a crime was not killed.<ref>[http://www.newser.com/story/30953/obama-backs-death-penalty-for-child-rapists.html "Obama Backs Death Penalty for Child Rapists"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527012457/http://www.newser.com/story/30953/obama-backs-death-penalty-for-child-rapists.html |date=May 27, 2009}}. [[Newser]], June 26, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2009.</ref> Obama has stated that he thinks the "death penalty does little to deter crime" and that it is used too frequently and too inconsistently.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Candidates on the Death Penalty|url=http://pewforum.org/religion08/compare.php?Issue=Death_Penalty|access-date=July 26, 2009|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704020036/http://pewforum.org/religion08/compare.php?Issue=Death_Penalty |archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>

In June 2016, the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee unanimously adopted an amendment to abolish the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Democratic Platform Drafting Meeting Concludes|url=https://demconvention.com/news/democratic-platform-drafting-meeting-concludes/|date=June 25, 2016|access-date=June 29, 2016|publisher=DNCC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160802094026/https://demconvention.com/news/democratic-platform-drafting-meeting-concludes/|archive-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>

==== Torture ====
Many Democrats are opposed to the [[Torture and the United States|use of torture]] against individuals apprehended and held prisoner by the [[United States armed forces|United States military]], and hold that categorizing such prisoners as [[unlawful combatant]]s does not release the United States from its obligations under the [[Geneva Conventions]]. Democrats contend that torture is inhumane, damages the United States' moral standing in the world, and produces questionable results. Democrats are largely against [[waterboarding]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |title=Americans divided in views of use of torture in U.S. anti-terror efforts |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/26/americans-divided-in-views-of-use-of-torture-in-u-s-anti-terror-efforts/ |access-date=March 21, 2020 |date=January 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321214249/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/26/americans-divided-in-views-of-use-of-torture-in-u-s-anti-terror-efforts/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Torture became a divisive issue in the party after Barack Obama was elected president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009/05/22/obama-and-democrats-torture-problem|title=Obama and Democrats' Torture Problem|author=Kenneth T. Walsh|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706211938/https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009/05/22/obama-and-democrats-torture-problem|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Patriot Act ====
Many Democrats are opposed to the [[Patriot Act]], but when the law was passed most Democrats were supportive of it and all but two Democrats in the Senate voted for the original Patriot Act legislation in 2001. The lone nay vote was from [[Russ Feingold]] of [[Wisconsin]] as [[Mary Landrieu]] of [[Louisiana]] did not vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313 |title=Senate roll call on passage of the PATRIOT Act |publisher=Senate.gov |date=April 25, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205074052/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the House, the Democrats voted for the Act by 145 yea and 62 nay. Democrats were split on the renewal in 2006. In the Senate, Democrats voted 34 for the 2006 renewal and nine against. In the House, 66 Democrats voted for the renewal and 124 against.<ref>{{cite web |title=House approves Patriot Act renewal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/07/patriot.act/ |website=CNN.com |access-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321220837/https://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/07/patriot.act/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Privacy ====
The Democratic Party believes that individuals should have a [[privacy law|right to privacy]]. For example, many Democrats have opposed the [[NSA warrantless surveillance (2001–07)|NSA warrantless surveillance of American citizens]].

Some Democratic officeholders have championed [[consumer protection]] laws that limit the sharing of consumer data between corporations. Democrats have opposed [[Sodomy laws in the United States|sodomy laws]] since the 1972 platform which stated that "Americans should be free to make their own choice of life-styles and private habits without being subject to discrimination or prosecution",<ref>{{cite web |title=1972 Democratic Party Platform |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1972-democratic-party-platform |website=The American Presidency Project |access-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408133915/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1972-democratic-party-platform |url-status=live }}</ref> and believe that government should not regulate consensual noncommercial sexual conduct among adults as a matter of personal privacy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ashtari|first=Shadee|title=Here's The Medieval-Sounding Sodomy Law That Helped Ken Cuccinelli Lose In Virginia|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/ken-cuccinelli-sodomy_n_4226708.html|work=Huffington Post|date=November 6, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324035215/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/ken-cuccinelli-sodomy_n_4226708.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Foreign policy issues ===
The foreign policy of the voters of the two major parties has largely overlapped since the 1990s. A Gallup poll in early 2013 showed broad agreement on the top issues, albeit with some divergence regarding human rights and international cooperation through agencies such as the United Nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/160649/republicans-democrats-agree-top-foreign-policy-goals.aspx|title=Republicans, Democrats Agree on Top Foreign Policy Goals|work=Gallup.com|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=April 16, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310130915/http://www.gallup.com/poll/160649/republicans-democrats-agree-top-foreign-policy-goals.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2014, the Quinnipiac Poll asked Americans which foreign policy they preferred:

{{blockquote|A) The United States is doing too much in other countries around the world, and it is time to do less around the world and focus more on our own problems here at home.

B) The United States must continue to push forward to promote democracy and freedom in other countries worldwide because these efforts make our own country more secure.}}

Democrats chose A over B by 65% to 32%; Republicans chose A over B by 56% to 39%; and independents chose A over B by 67% to 29%.<ref>See "July 3, 2014 – Iraq – Getting In Was Wrong; Getting Out Was Right, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll" [http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2057 Quinnipiac University Poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402190652/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2057 |date=April 2, 2016}} item #51</ref>

==== Iran sanctions ====
{{see also|United States sanctions against Iran}}
The Democratic Party has been critical of the Iran's nuclear weapon program and supported economic sanctions against the Iranian government. In 2013, the Democratic-led administration worked to reach a diplomatic agreement with the government of Iran to halt the Iranian nuclear weapon program in exchange for [[Sanctions against Iran|international economic sanction]] relief.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/world/middleeast/talks-with-iran-on-nuclear-deal-hang-in-balance.html |work=The New York Times |first=Michael R. |last=Gordon |title=Accord Reached With Iran to Halt Nuclear Program |date=November 23, 2013 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326212426/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/world/middleeast/talks-with-iran-on-nuclear-deal-hang-in-balance.html | url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2014}}, negotiations had been successful and the party called for more cooperation with Iran in the future.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.577070|title=Jewish Democratic donors urge Congress: Back off Iran sanctions|date=February 28, 2014|work=Haaretz.com|access-date=March 26, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160604/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.577070|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Obama administration agreed to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], which provides sanction relief in exchange for international oversight of the [[Iranian nuclear program]]. In February 2019, the Democratic National Committee passed a resolution calling on the United States to re-enter the JCPOA, which President Trump withdrew from in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-party-passes-resolution-calling-for-us-to-re-enter-iran-nuke-deal/|title=Democratic Party passes resolution calling for US to re-enter Iran nuke deal|last=Cortellessa|first=Eric|website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221022455/https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-party-passes-resolution-calling-for-us-to-re-enter-iran-nuke-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Invasion of Afghanistan ====
{{see also|Afghanistan–United States relations|International public opinion on the war in Afghanistan}}
Democrats in the House of Representatives and in the Senate near-unanimously voted for the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]] against "those responsible for the [[September 11 attacks|recent attacks launched against the United States]]" in [[Afghanistan]] in 2001, supporting the [[NATO]] coalition [[Operation Enduring Freedom|invasion of the nation]]. Most elected Democrats continued to support the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan conflict]] for its duration, with some, such as a [[Democratic National Committee]] spokesperson, voicing concerns that the [[Invasion of Iraq|Iraq War]] shifted too many resources away from the presence in Afghanistan.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/07/democrats_say_m_1.html "Democrats say McCain forgot Afghanistan"]. ''[[Boston Globe]]''. July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820113620/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/07/democrats_say_m_1.html |date=August 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name="daily">[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/15/2008-07-15_john_mccain__barack_obama_urge_afghanist.html "John McCain & Barack Obama urge Afghanistan surge"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113131424/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/15/2008-07-15_john_mccain__barack_obama_urge_afghanist.html |date=November 13, 2009}}. ''[[New York Daily News]]''. July 15, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.</ref> During the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 Presidential Election]], then-candidate [[Barack Obama]] called for a "surge" of troops into Afghanistan.<ref name="daily" /> After winning the presidency, Obama followed through, sending a "surge" force of additional troops to Afghanistan. Troop levels were 94,000 in December 2011 and kept falling, with a target of 68,000 by fall 2012.<ref>"U.S. plans major shift to advisory role in Afghanistan", [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/us-plans-major-shift-to-advisory-role-in-afghanistan.html ''Los Angeles Times'', December 13, 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819153404/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/us-plans-major-shift-to-advisory-role-in-afghanistan.html |date=August 19, 2016}}</ref>

Support for the war among the American people diminished over time. Many Democrats changed their opinion over the course of the war, coming to oppose continuation of the conflict.<ref name="holland" /><ref name="edge" /> In July 2008, [[Gallup poll|Gallup]] found that 41% of Democrats called the invasion a "mistake" while a 55% majority disagreed.<ref name="edge">[http://www.gallup.com/poll/109150/Afghan-War-Edges-Iraq-Most-Important-US.aspx "Afghan War Edges Out Iraq as Most Important for U.S."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224202906/http://www.gallup.com/poll/109150/Afghan-War-Edges-Iraq-Most-Important-US.aspx |date=December 24, 2016}} by Frank Newport. [[Gallup poll|Gallup]]. July 30, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2009.</ref> A [[CNN]] survey in August 2009 stated that a majority of Democrats opposed the war. CNN polling director Keating Holland said: "Nearly two thirds of Republicans support the war in Afghanistan. Three quarters of Democrats oppose the war".<ref name="holland">[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25895398-12335,00.html Most Americans oppose Afghanistan war: poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810102232/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25895398-12335,00.html |date=August 10, 2009}}. ''[[The Australian]]''. August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2009.</ref>

During the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 Presidential Election]], then-candidate [[Joe Biden]] promised to "end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Biden: I Promise To 'End The Forever Wars In Afghanistan And Middle East' As President |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joe-biden-i-promise-to-end-the-forever-wars-in-afghanistan-and-middle-east-as-president/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=cbsnews.com |date=July 11, 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=November 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119224140/https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joe-biden-i-promise-to-end-the-forever-wars-in-afghanistan-and-middle-east-as-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden went on to win the election, and in April 2021, he announced he would withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biden to pull US troops from Afghanistan, end 'forever war' |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-september-11-d2c7426736f9f530e0e62f2295a44d28 |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=AP NEWS |date=April 14, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=November 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119224139/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-september-11-d2c7426736f9f530e0e62f2295a44d28 |url-status=live }}</ref> The last troops left in August, bringing America's 20-year-long military campaign in the country to a close.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liebermann |first=Nicole Gaouette, Jennifer Hansler, Barbara Starr, Oren |date=August 30, 2021 |title=The last US military planes have left Afghanistan, marking the end of the United States' longest war {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/30/politics/us-military-withdraws-afghanistan/index.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911182417/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/30/politics/us-military-withdraws-afghanistan/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a 2023 AP-NORC poll, a majority of Democrats believed that the War in Afghanistan wasn't worth it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-911-terrorism-taliban-women-rights-268ebebb40beea7be3b1528ed6ae5808|title=Republicans and Democrats agree that the Afghanistan war wasn't worth it, an AP-NORC poll shows|date=October 18, 2023|website=AP News|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018190501/https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-911-terrorism-taliban-women-rights-268ebebb40beea7be3b1528ed6ae5808|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Israel ====
{{see also|Israel–United States relations}}
[[File:Shimon Peres observes Binyamin Nitanyahu greeting Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] meeting with President Obama in 2013]]
Democrats have historically been a stronger supporter of Israel than Republicans.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Cavari |first1=Amnon |title=American Public Opinion Toward Israel: From Consensus to Divide |last2=Freedman |first2=Guy |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=2020 |pages=145}}</ref> During the 1940s, the party advocated for the cause of an independent Jewish state over the objections of many [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatives]] in the [[Old Right (United States)|Old Right]], who strongly opposed it.<ref name=":3" /> In 1948, Democratic President [[Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]] became the first world leader to recognize an independent state of Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tenorio |first=Rich |date=November 3, 2020 |title=How a nascent Israel was a key issue in Truman's stunning 1948 election upset |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-nascent-israel-was-a-key-issue-in-trumans-stunning-1948-election-upset/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=[[Times of Israel]] |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118203848/https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-nascent-israel-was-a-key-issue-in-trumans-stunning-1948-election-upset/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

The 2020 Democratic Party platform acknowledges a "commitment to Israel's security, its qualitative military edge, its right to defend itself, and the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding is ironclad" and that "we oppose any effort to unfairly single out and delegitimize Israel, including at the United Nations or through the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/ |title=PARTY PLATFORM |publisher=Democrats.org |access-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-date=March 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315234633/http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|2023 Israel-Hamas War]], the party requested a large-scale military aid package to Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=2023-10-19 |title=Israel-Hamas War: Biden Urges U.S. to Remain 'Beacon to the World' in Aiding Allies at War |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/19/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |access-date=2023-10-20 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020160855/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/19/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |url-status=live }}</ref> 

During the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|Israel–Hamas war]], Biden announced [[United States support for Israel in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war|military support for Israel]], condemned the actions of [[Hamas]] and other Palestinian militants as terrorism,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=October 10, 2023 |title=In Unforgiving Terms, Biden Condemns 'Evil' and 'Abhorrent' Attack on Israel |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html |access-date=October 12, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012001950/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and ordered the US military to build a port to facilitate the arrival of [[Humanitarian aid during the Israel–Hamas war|humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-orders-us-military-to-build-port-in-gaza-to-facilitate-aid/7518026.html | title=Biden Ordering US Military to Build Port in Gaza to Facilitate Aid | date=March 7, 2024 }}</ref>