3.1 Comparative Politics Flashcards
what is the structural approach?
- political outcomes are determined by formal structures and processes in a political system
- focuses on institutions in a political system and the processes within them
what is the rational approach?
- focuses on individuals in a political system
- suggests individuals typically act out of self interest and give themselves the most beneficial outcome
what is the cultural approach?
- focuses on shared ideas within a political system or group
- suggests shared ideas, values or beliefs of a group in society ofter determine the actions of that group
when should you use the structural approach?
- legislatures
- executives
- judiciaries
- constitutions
- electoral systems
- political parties
- pressure groups
when should you use the rational approach?
- legislators
- members of the executive branch
- voters
- members of political parties
- members of pressure groups
when do you use the cultural approach?
- i’m not actually too sure
- but as an example the different relationships between the state and religion in the USA and UK can be accounted for through the cultural history of each nation
what are four differences between the constitutions?
different sources to their constitutions:
- US constitution is supplemented by interpretative amendments by the supreme court
- numerous sources make up UK constitution like statute law and authoratative works like AV Dicey’s ‘introduction to the law of the constitution’ (1885)
codified/uncodified:
- the US has a single document from 1789 entrenched in higher law and been formally amended 27 times
- the UK has several sources like statue and common law (Magna Carta) but has no higher law
the amendment process:
- US amendment process is tricky e.g. failed equal rights bill in the 70s
- UK a simply act of parliament changes the constitution so it is frequent and easy
head of state:
- US is a republic with an indirectly elected head of state who is both politically active and partisan
- the UK is a constitutional monarchy with and unelected head of state whose role is ceremonial and not political
what are the similarities between the separation of powers?
they both have three branches of government:
- legislature, executive and judiciary
- both with a supreme court that is elected
both provide for systems of government that could be described as representative democracies
both have sub-national governments:
- state government in the US
- devolved governments in the UK
both have a bicameral legislature:
- US house and senate
- UK commons and lords
what are the similarities in the devolution/federal system?
- the states rely on federal grants to supplement their budget and the four nations of the UK are also reliant on money from central government
- both the federal government in the USA and the central government in the UK maintain a degree of supremacy over the states and devolved regions respectively
- both the states and devolved regions have notable differences in legislation as compared to other parts of their countries
what are differences in the devolution/federal system?
- the states have more autonomy on both legislation and criminal punishments than the regions of the UK which are subject to more centralised laws and justice
- the sovereignty of the states is entrenched in the US constitution but in the UK sovereignty resides with parliament so technically the devolved assemblies are reliant on parliament for their existence
- US states frequently challenge the federal government in the supreme court and are successful, in the UK devolved bodies have a limited recourse to appeal to the supreme court
what are the differences in the legislative function of congress and parliament?
- in congress no government programme of legislation exists but it dominates in parliament
- in congress there are low levels of party discipline in comparison to the high levels in parliament
- thousands of bills are introduced in one session but very few are passed into law in Congress whereas in parliament a limited number are introduced and most bills are passed
- in Congress bills are considered by both houses at the same time whereas in parliament it is consecutively
- in Congress the two chambers have equal powers not like the UK
- the President has significant veto power but here royal assent is no longer withheld
what are the differences in methods of oversight?
Congress:
- standing committee hearings
- select committee hearings
- confirmation of appointments in the senate
- ratification of treaties in the senate
- impeachment, trial and removal from office
Parliament:
- question time and PMQs
- select committee hearings
- correspondence with ministers
- policy debates
- votes of no confidence
- tabling of early day motions
what are differences in legislature?
- US has bicameral system where both chambers have equal powers but different powers whereas the UK has a bicameral system where the commons has more power
- in the US the executive does not sit in the legislative branch due to separation of powers and can only propose legislation whereas in the UK the executive sits in commons and dominates the legislative programme
- in the US both houses of congress are elected whereas in the UK only the commons is
- the US has lots of checks and balances between the branches whereas the UK has few, mostly between the two houses
what are the similarities in the executive?
- both head of their governments
- both act as key military decision maker, able to order military action without consulting legislature
- both use patronage to reward supporters with cabinet posts or government positions
- in both cabinet members are generall responsible for a specific government department
what are differences in the executive?
- checks and balances are big to check the president’s power but not really any for the prime minister
- the president cannot be part of the legislature and can only propose legislation whereas the prime minister sits in commons and drives legislation
- the president can veto legislation but the prime minister can’t
- the cabinet system is very important in the UK but not really in the US
