Comparative Essay Plans

Question 1

Examine the differences in the flexibility of the constitution in the USA and the UK.

Answer 1

Constitutional reform flexible in UK but not in the US

Judicial interpretation allows both UK and US supreme courts to keep the constitution relevant to society

Vagueness of language allows more flexibility for the UK constitution

Question 2

Examine the effects of the USA’s codified constitution and UK’s uncodified constitution on the governments of both countries.

Answer 2

Separation of powers makes US government harder to pass legislation

Constitutional reform is much easier with UK’s uncodified constitution

UK uncodified constitution means government is stronger in the UK (can retroactively change the law)

Question 3

Examine the ways in which the US and UK cabinets are different.

Answer 3

Collective responsibility means UK is more united

More expertise in US cabinet but more political experience in the UK cabinet

Prime minister is more forced to maintain party unity in cabinet

Question 4

Examine the different relationships between the US president and the UK prime minister and their respective legislatures/Examine the ways in which the US president and UK prime minister can seek to influence legislation.

Answer 4

Driving legislative agenda: Easier for the UK prime minister

Passage of legislation: Easier for the UK prime minister

Vetoing legislation: UK prime minister cannot veto legislation but doesn’t need to as he/she controls the agenda

Question 5

Examine the methods of oversight of the oversight in the US congress and UK parliament.

Answer 5

Committees: US committees are more powerful but more partisan too

Questioning of the executive: UK has more intense (regular) questioning of the executive

UK has easier methods to bring down the executive

Question 6

Examine the representative function of the legislatures in the US and UK.

Answer 6

Descriptive representation: Getting better in the UK

Substantive representation congress perform less than parliament

Vote to seat share of elections are more proportional for congress

Question 7

Examine the differences between the US codified and the UK un-codified constitution.

Answer 7

Single source v variety of sources

Hard to amend v easy to amend

Separation of powers v fusion of powers

Question 8

Analyse the effectiveness of the US and UK constitutions.

Answer 8

Both seek to provide rules determining where sovereignty lies (not really clear for the UK)

Both seek to protect rights (HRA for UK)

Both have mechanisms to allow them to remain relevant to the times

Question 9

Examine the similarities in the role and powers of UK PM and US president.

Answer 9

Set the tone: (US, state of union. UK, PMQs)

Head of state

Make key appointments

Question 10

Examine the factors that affect the power of the president and PM in the US and in the UK.

Answer 10

Size of mandate/majority

Electoral system: (College win for Trump despite losing the popular vote, Tories forced into coalition despite winning comfortably in 2010)

Events

Question 11

Examine the strengths of the House of Commons and House of Representatives.

Answer 11

Highly representative of the country (both consist of democratically elected representatives)

Play a key role in legislation

Perform a vital check on the executive

Question 12

Examine the factors that affect the power of the legislatures in the US and in the UK.

Answer 12

Power of the president

Size of ruling party majority

Constitutional limits and conventions

Question 13

Examine the differences in the power of the supreme court in the US and in the UK.

Answer 13

US SC has great power because it rules on the meaning or application of higher law

US SC can strike laws down

US SC rulings are usually on much more significant issues

Question 14

Examine the similarities in the power of the supreme court in the US and in the UK

Answer 14

Both create precedent through their rulings

Both courts decide which cases to take

Both the US SC and UK SC can rule actions taken by the executive branches to be illegal

Question 15

Examine the similarities between the conservative and republican party policies.

Answer 15

Both tend to support lower taxes and less regulation

Both tend to support less government intervention

Both are tough on foreign policy

Question 16

Examine the similarities between the labour and democrat party policies.

Answer 16

Both tend to favour higher taxes

Both tend to favour more state intervention

Both are have a more relaxed approach on foreign policy

Question 17

Examine the effectiveness of pressure groups in the US and the UK.

Answer 17

Can encourage awareness of ideas and therefore political participation

Can effectively lobby the three branches of government

But depends on insider/outsider status

Question 18

Analyse how democratic the US and UK constitutions are.

Answer 18

Both have structures that allow for regular, democratic elections.

US constitution is more democratic as it uses supermajorities.

Both are anti-democratic as they allow governments without a popular majority to govern the country.

Question 19

Analyse the factors that create accountability of the Executive to Congress and Parliament in the US and in the UK.

Answer 19

Structurally the constitution’s of both countries create mechanisms that create accountability.

Methods of checks and balances.

Make up of Congress or Parliament determines effectiveness of oversight.

Question 20

Examine the strengths of the House of Lords and Senate.

Answer 20

Both appointed for longer terms, less susceptible to the mood of the moment.

Represent wider constituencies so can take a broader view.

Play a key role in legislation and oversight.

Question 21

Analyse whether the Senate and House of Lords are equal in power.

Answer 21

Senate has more power in oversight, Lords restricted by conventions.

Senate has large role in legislation, can veto. Lords has no such power.

Senate has role in appointments. Lords has no such power.

Question 22

Examine the independence of the Supreme Courts in the US and UK.

Answer 22

Both are independent: Separate branch.

US appointments are highly politicised.

US Supreme court more politicised in the decisions it makes.

Question 23

Examine the differences between the Conservative and Republican party policies.

Answer 23

Republicans more conservative on gay marriage.

Republicans favour less gun control, no equivalent in the UK.

Republicans against universal healthcare, Conservatives support NHS.

Question 24

Analyse the party systems in the US and UK.

Answer 24

Both have two party systems.

UK has a stronger third party presence than the US.

Stronger regional variations in the UK e.g. SNP for Scotland and Plaid Cymru for Wales.