Sample research paper 1
- 1. Same-Sex Marriage: A Contentious Issue Influencing the American Political System April 10, 2013 Word Count: 1,900 PS 101.002 American Government Spring 2013 Mr. Austin Trantham
- 2. One of the first words that comes to mind when thinking about the United States is diversity. Since our nation was founded, diversity of thought, culture, race and numerous other types of diversity have been the hallmark of the United States. One area in which this diversity is highlighted is within the political system. The great diversity within our country certainly leads to innovation which allows our country to move forward. However, this diversity also means that there are not many issues on which all the citizens of the United States agree, something we’ve seen over and over again this semester. The list of “hot button” or extremely contentious issues in American political culture seems to be growing each day. One issue that seems to never be far from the spotlight is same-sex marriage. According to our textbook, since the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which many people believe marked the beginning of the modern gay rights movement, this issue has been at the forefront of American politics (Barbour and Wright, 205). In N. Susan Gaines and James C. Garand’s article titled “Morality, Equality or Locality: Analyzing the Determinants of Support for Same-Sex Marriage” the authors analyze what factors are relevant in a person’s decision whether or not to support same-sex marriage (Gaines and Garand, 1). The authors used data from the 2004 American National Election Studies survey and the U.S. Census to find that “attitudes toward same-sex marriage are a function of moral and religious considerations, attitudes towards gays and lesbians, and gender roles” (Gaines and Garand, 1). They also propose that a person’s attitudes towards women’s right and African American’s civil rights have no correlation to their position on same-sex marriage. The last factor discussed in this article is contextual variables, which the authors describe as the amount of exposure a person has to same-sex relationships (Gaines and Garand, 1). They have found that contextual variables affect opinions of same-sex marriage only when a person has a very high level of exposure to same-sex relationships (Gaines and Garand, 4). From this article,
- 3. it is obvious that there are many different factors which influence a persons views on same-sex marriage. This explains why people have so many different ideas about why same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal. As the study by Gaines and Garand showed, one thing that makes the debate about this civil liberties issue so intense is that many people have strong convictions regarding this behavior (Gaines and Garand, 2). There are many different causes that these strongly held convictions can be attributed to; one major cultural source is religion. There is a strong group of conservative Christian’s who oppose same-sex marriage on the grounds that marriage was intended to be between a man and a woman. However, there are also groups of Christians that recognize that religious convictions should not be translated into national law. So, while religion has a strong influence, people practicing the same religion often end up having very different opinions of the issue. Religion is just one source of the difference in opinion regarding same-sex marriage, but it is definitely one of the most talked about. Regarding the debate over same-sex marriage, the political parties in our nation showcase many of the different approaches to the issue. Washington Times writer Seth McLaughlin claims “Democrats are scrambling to embrace it and Republicans are searching for a way to balance their traditional beliefs with a new focus on being a kinder, gentler party” (McLaughlin). It seems that the Democratic Party’s opinion of same-sex marriage is agreed upon by the majority of its members; however the Republican Party’s view on same-sex marriage is not quite as clear cut. There are some conservative Republicans who still hold out hope that a national amendment will be passed banning same-sex marriage. Other members of the Republican Party, like our own Senator Rand Paul, believe that the issue should be left up to the states to decide. In the article,
- 4. Senator Paul explains “I don’t think the federal government should tell anybody or any state government how they should decide this” (McLaughlin). The issue of same-sex marriage has created a large divide in the United States which has greatly affected the political processes in our nation. One major example of the effect that this issue can have on political activity is discussed in the article titled “Same-sex Marriage Ballot Measures and the 2004 Presidential Election” by Smith, DeSantis and Kassel. This article proposes that the ballot measures banning same-sex marriage in the 2004 presidential election may have swung support in favor of Bush as the measures would “receive broad support from social conservatives who would be mobilized to go to the polls to vote for Bush, who was firmly aligned with the issue” (Smith, DeSantis and Kassel, 1). To put it in simpler terms, some people believe that the anti same-sex marriage ballot measures may have motivated many people to go to the polls to vote on this highly contentious issue. Many of those who were highly motivated to go to the polls were conservative Christians, of which the majority voted for Bush. The 2004 election is just one example of how the issue of same-sex marriage can become a focal point in elections. Outside of effecting elections, which gay rights issues most certainly do, the debate may also have a lasting effect on the Republican Party. The increasing attention gay rights have gotten has put the party in a difficult spot. According to a Washington Post article, a recent poll showed that “59% of Republicans say they oppose gay marriage…the number is down from 72% in 2004” (Sullivan). Clearly the recent enthusiasm surrounding the gay rights movement has influence some members of the Republican Party to change their view. The question becomes, what stance is appropriate for the leadership of the Republican Party to take when their members have conflicting opinions. Iowa Conservative activist Bob Vander Plaats warns “In a lot of ways
- 5. I think they are straddling the fence, and the old Iowa cowboy in me tells me, if you’re straddling the fence for too long, you’re going to get hurt” (Sullivan). Many people predict that gay rights will be an important issue in the 2016 election, meaning that the Republican Party needs to resolve their gay rights dilemma before it becomes a detriment to the party in the next election season. Clearly, the gay rights movement has affected many facets of American life in recent years. However, the enthusiasm with which this movement has been embraced is a relatively new phenomenon. A CNN article titled “By the numbers: same-sex marriage” offers several statistics that shed light on this topic. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to make same-sex marriage legal (Stark). While this had no legal effect on same-sex marriage in the United States, this shows that until very recently same-sex marriage was not accepted anywhere in the world. Another telling statistic from the article is that in 1996, sixty eight percent of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, a clear majority (Stark). However, in 2012 the percentage of Americans opposed to same-sex marriage has fallen to forty eight percent (Stark). While these statistics make it seem like the gay rights movement has been very successful at changing public opinion and is continuing to gain momentum, it is also important to recognize the statistic that thirty eight states have banned same-sex marriage through an amendment or legislation. Obviously, the fight for marriage equality is far from being over. While the gay rights movement has certainly picked up momentum across the nation, there are clear regional differences in support for same-sex marriage. In an article titled “Behind Gay Marriage Momentum, Regional Gaps Persist” the Pew Research Center for People and the Press reports their findings that 62% of people in the New England region support same-sex marriage, while in the southern United States, 56% are opposed to same-sex marriage (Pew
- 6. Center). Other regions of the nation fall somewhere between the New England and Southern extremes (Pew Center). Every region reports more support for same-sex marriage today than in years past and the south is currently the only region in which the majority of the population opposes same-sex marriage. The gay rights movement has made impressive progress over the past few decades, but their work is clearly not done yet. As with any contentious issue in American politics, both sides of the same-sex marriage debate have good reason for holding their individual set of beliefs. While people on each side of the divide may assert that being a responsible citizen requires a person to be on the “correct side,” I do not think this is true. Neither side of the same-sex marriage debate can be declared right or wrong, however an opinion based not on personal research and reflection, but on family beliefs, media influence or cultural norms would not be an extension of responsible citizenship. In fact, in regards to responsible citizenship I do not think it is as much about the final stance a person takes on an issue, but more about the process through which they come to adopt their set of beliefs. The process of researching relevant laws and selecting credible sources for gathering information allows a person to form their own opinion of the issue at hand. In this instance, I think it is an important component of a responsible citizen to be able to form an opinion independent o I think my opinions and ideas about same-sex marriage are still being formed as we discuss the topic in my other political science classes. I am from a small town in western Kentucky and I think those surroundings influenced my opinions in high school. I had never been exposed to same-sex couples and did not really understand why they would want to be married. In my head, marriage was limited to being between a man and woman and it just did not make sense that a same-sex couple would want to enter into a union that was for a man and a
- 7. woman. However, understanding the logistical benefits of marriage (tax breaks, power of attorney rights, etc.) has made me realize how important it can be for a couple to be able to use the title of marriage. Another thing that has influenced my opinion is the civil liberties class I’m taking this semester. From this class, I have come to the conclusion that our Constitution should be interpreted to prevent discrimination in the realm of marriage. I think many people would be surprised to know that this is my view on the issue of same-sex marriage because I am generally a conservative person and am also active in the church. However, I think our country was founded on religious freedom and denying same-sex couples the right to marry because one of the many religions practiced in our nations is opposed to same-sex marriage seems like a violation of that to me. I think people should be free to choose their own lifestyles and religious convictions should not influence federal or state law. Currently our nation is very divided on the issue of same-sex marriage, as can be seen from various statistics cited thus far. While the trend appears to be that the gay rights movement is gaining momentum, no one can predict how far the movement will go. The same-sex marriage debate has already greatly shaped American politics and it is predicted that this topic will continue to be a focal point in the upcoming elections. No matter which side of the debate you support, I believe the most important factor is making an educated decision. The healthy debate encouraged by this issue causes many Americans to become more informed about the documents guaranteeing our nations freedom. Whether or not human rights are expanded because of this process, our country will benefit by gaining more informed and involved citizens.
- 8. Works Cited Barbour, Christine and Gerald C. Wright, Keeping the Republic Essentials: Power and Citizenship in American Politics,Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2012. Print. Gaines, Susan N. and James C. Garand, “Morality, Equality or Locality: Analyzing Determinants of Support for Same-Sex Marriage,” Political Research Quarterly, 63(3), 2009. McLaughlin, Seth, “Political parties struggle with gay marriage issue,” Washington Times, 24 March 2009. Smith, Daniel, Matthew DeSantis and Jason Kassel, “Same-sex Marriage Ballot Measures and the 2004 Presidential Election,” State and Local Government Review, 38(2), 2006 Stark, Caitlin, “By the numbers: same-sex marriage,” CNN.com, 26 March 2013 Sullivan, Sean, “The Republican Party’s gay marriage catch-22,” Washington post, 2 April 2013. Pew Research Center for People and the Press, “Behind Gay Marriage Momentum, Regional Gaps Persist,” 9 Nov 2012.