10. comparative politics: electoral and party systems

Question 1

What are the similarities and contrasts on the UK and US elections and electoral systems? - Common

Answer 1

Majoritarian electoral system:
- Both use as it generally results in 2 party dominance and clear outcome
Two party dominance:
- parties can win power on disproportionate share of the vote e.g. 2017 Cons 42.2% vote but 48% seats while 2016 House elections Reps wone 49% vote and 55% seats
Regularity of elections:
- fixed term elections
Use of Direct Democracy:
- referendums
Focus on election campagins:
- both focus on poor records of opponents

Question 2

What are the similarities and contrasts on the UK and US elections and electoral systems? - contrasts

Answer 2

Majoritarian electoral system:
- UK uses other systems e.g. AMS for devolved assemblies
Two party dominance:
- Two party dominance is greater in the USA as they do not have third parties such as SNP, Plaid Cymru and LD
Regularity of elections:
- UK can be flexible e.g. 2017 early GE
Use of direct democracy:
- in the USA is it state base while in the UK it is used for big issues such as EU referendum
Focus on election campagins:
- personal attacks in the US is greater, more focus on personalities in the US, TV debates are recent factor (2010) in the UK

Question 3

What are the similarities of the UK and US two party system?

Answer 3

• Both parties contain a range of veiws (internal coalitions) both internal factions are ideological e.g. Lab ( Momentum) Con (One nation) Rep (Tea party)
• each of the main parties in the USA and the UK can now safely be labelled as conservative or liberal (cons + Reps) (Lab + Dems)
• both parties exhibit internal party rebellions and revolts e.g. Democrat members of the House who voted against Obama care and Labour MPs who rebelled over uni tuition fees
• two parties nowadays represent largely contracting policies
• both parties are strongly in favour of retaining the current electoral system for national elections

Question 4

What are the differences of the UK and US two party system?

Answer 4

• the issues that create divides and tensions e.g. Cons - Brexit while Reps - immigration and trade
• Con is more socially progressive than the Reps on issues such as abortion and same sex marriage
• UK parties have always been ideologically distinct while it is a new distinction in the US
• dominance of the central or national party is weaker in the USA

Question 5

What is the difference for third parties and independent candidates in the UK and US?

Answer 5

• independent candidates are more prominent in the USA however, they are rarely popular
• third parties and independents have a good opportunity to get on the media in the USA
• Third parties succeed better in the UK

Question 6

What is the difference between the UK and US party systems?

Answer 6

• UK has a range of electoral systems for elections. Where more proportional systems are uses e.g. AMS for devolved assemblies - this allowed third parties to be more prominent
• Primaries allow wider choice within the two dominate parties
• Cost of elections in the US makes it harder for new parties to emerge and develop

Question 7

What are the main differences between the USA and UK in campaign finance?

Answer 7

• Rules in the USA are much slaker e.g. Bipartisan Campaign reform act has huge loopholes and is rarely enforced e.g. 527 & 501 groups e.g. overall 2016, 527 groups donate over $800M (decreased to $200M in 2020)
• Campaign in the UK is tightly regulated with limits such as EU referendum limit was £7M

Question 8

What is the strucutal theory approach to Electoral and party systems in the US and UK?

Answer 8

• How parties in the USA are much more decentralised and weaker than in the UK
• The greater range of views within the two main American political parties
• The role of USSC is shaping rules around campaign finance and how the 1st amendment is seen to extend protected rights to pressure groups and corporations. While campagin laws in the UK are decided by Parliament

Question 9

What is the Rational theory approach to Electoral and party systems in the US and UK?

Answer 9

• The different types of voting systems are used in the UK and USA and how this affects voting behaviour and impacts on third parties and independents
• How the opportunity for ballot initiative in the USA makes this a method and campaign focus for many pressure groups
• How and why many individuals or groups which want to influence policies and elections in the USA will donate to or create PACs/SuperPACs

Question 10

What is the Cultural theory approach to Electoral and party systems in the US and UK?

Answer 10

• The stronger the tradition of third parties in the UK e.g. Liberals/ LD
• the longstanding involvement of US pressure groups in political campagining and political funding
• The much bigger scale of expenditure on elections and campaigns in the USA, not least due to laxer laws about political advertising on TV