21.4 - Comparisons with the Democracy and Participation of the UK

Question 1

Rational comparisons between the US and UK.

Answer 1

• The choices that voters make are most commonly determined by the party that is offering policies that will give the best outcome for them.
• Party-line voting is often determined by career aspirations of those within a party.
• Party policies can be stronly influenced by the personal political beliefs within each party.
• Factions within parties are often a reflection of presonal beliefs or individuals within a party.
• Methods of pressure groups are often determined by resources available to them.

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Question 2

Cultural comparisons between the US and UK.

Answer 2

• There is some expectation that socioeconomic groups will vote for a certain party.
• The expectation of party unity is high in both countries.
• Very few third-parties or independents elected in both countries. (Although the UK is seeing more third-parties)
• The degree of party unity is often determined by national issues of the day.
• The difficulty of achieving campaign reform in both countries is due to a lack of political motivation from those in charge.
• Party policies in both countries are influenced by ideological belief in certain political principles.

Question 3

Structural comparisons between the US and UK.

Answer 3

• The number of access points is determined by the political structure of each country.
• The constitutional framework from both countries determines the electoral process, and the resulting mandate gained from it.
• The party systems in both countries are a result of the electoral process.
• Parties in both countries hold conventions or conferences to inform, develop and legitimise the policies they will go on to advance.

Question 4

How do the UK and US demonstrate a two-party system?

Answer 4

• Labour and Conservatives in the UK and Democrats and Republicans in the US have held a vast majority of seats in each country.
• Lack of a real third party in each country.

Question 5

How do the UK and US demonstrate a two-and-a-half party system?

Answer 5

• The Lib-Dems in 2010 and DUP in 2017. Nadar in 2000 as a ‘spoiler’ for Al Gore.
• The televised debates in UK in 2010 including third parties. Debates over whether the Green and Libertarian party in the US should have been included in debates.

Question 6

How do the UK and US demonstrate a multiparty system?

Answer 6

• At regional levels, third parties fare better in both countries. Progressive and independent candidates have won in recent gubernatorial races in the US (Bill Walker in Alaska, Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island).

Question 7

How united are parties in the US and UK?

Answer 7

Less united in the US than the UK.
US parties are big tent and far broader so there are more ideological disagreements.

• On the Left and Right, politicians have been accused of dragging their parties outwards. (Corbyn and Sanders, Johnson and Trump/Cruz)

In certain regards, each parties tend to agree when they are in opposition to the other main party.

• Almost all Republicans supporting the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh and almost all Democrats voting against.
• Theresa May’s vote of no confidence being supported by all Conservative MPs in 2019.

Question 8

What are the debates surrounding campaign finance in the US and UK?

Answer 8

The UK has far stricter rules in place.
* Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 - requires declarations as to the source of donations over £7,500.
* Representation of the People Act 1983 - limits individual spending to £30,700 for the long campaign and £8,700 for the short campaign.

The US has far weaker rules.
* Citizens United v FEC
* Dark money being prevalent.

Campaign spending in the US regularly exceeds $10 billion whereas the UK spends around £40 million with the Conservatives winning with a mere £16m in 2019.

Question 9

What are the debates surrounding party funding in the US and UK?

Answer 9

• The ‘matching funds’ in the US if the party acts within certain spending limits. Recent presidential candidates have found it more lucrative to ignore this rule.
• ‘Short money’ in the UK to fund the opposition’s parliamentary expenditures.

Question 10

How do interest groups influence the US and UK?

Answer 10

Supreme Court
* SCOTUS is far stronger than the UK Supreme Court so targeting SCOTUS is more valuable.
* Parliament is sovereign so targeting Parliamentarians is more valuable.

Constitution
* US = Codified so can be used to mount legal challenges.
* UK = Uncodified so is far more flexible which makes it more difficult to mount legal challenges.

Access Points
* US can be accessed at one of three branches of government, or state level legislatures.
* UK can really only be accessed at Westminster.

Election Cycle
* US short election cycle creates greater opportunities for interest groups.
* UK longer cycle gives more opportunity to ignore interest groups.