5. Comparing the US and UK executives

Question 1

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - chief executive

Answer 1

Similarities:
- both head of government
Differences:
- President is singular executive
- PM is primus inter parus in a collective executive

Question 2

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - head of state

Answer 2

Differences:
- president is also the head of state
- UK - head of state is the King

Question 3

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - legislation

Answer 3

Similarities:
- both initiate legislation
Differences:
- Congress develops own programme of legislation while parliament a government programme of legislation

Question 4

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - financial powers

Answer 4

Differences:
- the president is dependent on congressional approval for his budget - gov shutdown can occur e.g. Trump had 2 lockdowns, 1st 5 days 2017, 2nd 35 days 2018-2019 cost roughly $11B
- UK gov shutdowns do not occur

Question 5

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - military powers

Answer 5

Similarities:
- both act as the key military decision maker
Differences:
- President is commander in chief of armed forces whereas in the UK the monarch performs this role

Question 6

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - appointments

Answer 6

Differences:
- the presidents appointments to cabinet and exectuive branch positions require senate conformation whereas, in the UK PM can appoint whomever they want

Question 7

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - election

Answer 7

Differences:
- president is directly elected so personal mandate to public
- PM is leader of political party that wins enough support in HoC

Question 8

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - term limits

Answer 8

Differences:
- PM has no term limits while president has 2 term limit
E.g. PM Walpole 1721-1742 or Thatcher serves 11yrs and 22 days

Question 9

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - succession

Answer 9

Similarities:
- the president appoints a VP
- PM may choose to appoint a deputy if they wish
Differences:
- VP will succeed the president if they die or is removed from office
- Succession will go to a internal party election to see who takes over

Question 10

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - patronage

Answer 10

Similarities:
- both can reward supporters with cabinet or gov positions
Differences:
- the power of patronage is more useful to PM as they can offer governemnt jobs to MPs in return for support
- separation of powers prevents the president from influencing members of congress this way

Question 11

What are the similarities and differences between the roles and powers of the President and Prime Minister? - pardon

Answer 11

Differences:
- power of pardon is held by the president
- Monarch can issue a royal pardon

Question 12

What are the similarities and differences in the UK and US on accountability to the legislatures? - passing legislation

Answer 12

Similarities:
- both leaders introduce their legislative agenda for the year
- both budgets are scrutinised by the legislatures
Differences:
- presidents generally finds it more difficult to pass legislation through congress (esp. in divided gov)
- PM are usually able to rely on parliamentary majority

Question 13

What are the similarities and differences in the UK and US on accountability to the legislatures? - scrutiny of the exectuve?

Answer 13

Similarities:
- both legislatures use the committee system to scrutinise the actions of their gov
Differences:
- the PM appear in the HoC each week for PMQs

Question 14

What are the similarities and differences in the UK and US on accountability to the legislatures? - removal from office

Answer 14

Differences:
- HoC can call a vote of no confidence in the gov (simple maj can remove)
- President can be removed through impeachment

Question 15

What are the similarities and differences in the UK and US relationship to other institutions of government? - cabinet

Answer 15

Similarities:
- US cabinet officers are generally responsible for specific gov departments, as are the UK
- PM and president both select members
Differences:
- president nominees need to be confirmed by Senate
- PM is collective cabinet gov while the president does not share any authority

Question 16

What are the similarities and differences in the UK and US relationship to other institutions of government? - executive administration

Answer 16

Similarities:
- both leaders require administrative support
Differences:
- EXOP is much more extensive than the PM office and cabinet office

Question 17

What are the similarities and differences in the UK and US relationship to other institutions of government? - wider bureaucracy

Answer 17

Similarities:
- both leaders act as chief of gov bureaucracy
Differences:
- vast majority of top civil service do not change from one gov to another
- US gov administration needs to fill around 4,000 gov positions

Question 18

What is the strucutal theory approach to the UK and US executives?

Answer 18

• PM must be a member of parliament while president cannot be a member of Congress
• US singular executive while UK cabinet collective government
• difference removal from office process
• separation of powers gives the president fat less ability to enforce his will on parliament than the prime minister with a majority

Question 19

What is the rational theory approach to the UK and US executives?

Answer 19

Different approach to presidency:
- Trump favoured aggressive imperial style - firing cabinet members and using executive orders often
- Obama favoured unilateral action using executive orders and agreements to avoid congress
Different approach to PM:
- Blair - presidential style- overlooked cabinet
- Cameron - highly focused on cabinet - Quad

Question 20

What is the cultural theory approach to the UK and US executives?

Answer 20

• US poltical culture afford the president a degree of respect that the UK PM does not receive
• doctrine of collective cabinet responsibility created a culture of cabinet government