Executive Branch - 20 Marker

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

UK & US Executive have significant powers. However, limitations on Executive’s powers. Argued UK Executive has more power in terms of policy making, US & UK has significant powers of appointment, US Executive has lasting impact due to power to appoint supreme court judges. Finally UK Executive has more power as not constrained by term limits unlike US who has limitations

Question 2

Term Limits - Point

Answer 2

UK Executive has significant powers by not being limited in term limits

Question 3

Term Limits - Explain

Answer 3

UK, PM has no limits on number of years they can serve

No legal process exists in UK allowing PM to serve as long as they keep winning elections

Question 4

Term Limits - Example

Answer 4

Margaret Thatcher able to remain PM for 11 years until she suffered a vote of no confidence in 1990

Question 5

Term Limits - Analysis

Answer 5

Consequence of UK Executive, PM can serve as long as votes allow them to

Question 6

Term Limits - Rebuttal Point

Answer 6

US, Executive is very different

Question 7

Term Limits - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 7

US, constitution clearly states President can only serve maximum of 2 terms, 4 years each

Contrast to UK Executive, even if President is popular, unable to serve 3rd term in White House

Question 8

Term Limits - Rebuttal Example

Answer 8

Obama couldn’t run for re-election after serving 2, 4 year terms from 2008-2012 & 2012-2016

Question 9

Term Limits - Rebuttal Analysis

Answer 9

Clear differences between US & UK as no limits to how long a PM can serve but there is for Presidents

Implication, US classed as undemocratic as even if President is popular, can’t serve longer than 2 terms

Question 10

Policy Making - Point

Answer 10

UK Executive has significant policy making powers

Question 11

Policy Making - Explain

Answer 11

PM normally leader of majority party so able to pass legislation without opposition

Policy making in parliament straight-forward as PM can make new laws easily with majority & don’t need to worry about backbench rebellions

Question 12

Policy Making - Example

Answer 12

Won majority in 2019, BJ able to pass EU withdrawal bill to allows Brexit to begin the following year

Question 13

Policy Making - Analysis

Answer 13

Implication of UK Executive’s power, can pass legislation without opposition

Question 14

Policy Making - Rebuttal Point

Answer 14

US Executive faces more barriers

Question 15

Policy Making - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 15

POTUS faced with Congress controlled by other main party, can refuse to support budget or block legislation President would like passed

Question 16

Policy Making - Rebuttal Example

Answer 16

Obama faced with Republican controlled House of Representatives from 2010 & effectively blocked significant legislation

Question 17

Policy Making - Rebuttal Analysis

Answer 17

Significant differences between UK & US powers as in UK PM able to easily pass legislation whereas US opposition can block legislation making it harder to pass

Question 18

Appoint Members - Point

Answer 18

UK Executive has power to appoint which is known as power of patronage

Question 19

Appoint Members - Explain

Answer 19

UK PM can make cabinet appointments that they wish, known as ‘power of patronage’

Means they should publicly support gov decisions & resign if they disagree with PM

Question 20

Appoint Members - Example

Answer 20

Tony Blair & Chancellor Gordon Brow disagreed on issues but Brown stayed in cabinet as Blair was happy to keep him as he could become problematic if rebelling from backbenchers

Question 21

Appoint Members - Analysis

Answer 21

Implication of Executive is all appointments must agree with decisions made

Question 22

Appoint Members - Rebuttal Point

Answer 22

US can also appoint cabinet members

Question 23

Appoint Members - Rebuttal Explain

Answer 23

President has cabinet but only serve at behest of President as Constitution states all executive power should be vested in President

Question 24

Appoint Members - Rebuttal Example

Answer 24

Trump removed Cabinet members as he didn’t think they were supporting agenda, included Defence Secretary & Secretary of State

Question 25

Appoint Members - Rebuttal Analysis

Answer 25

Similarities between UK & US as both can appoint members of cabinet

US also has power to appoint supreme court judge whereas UK doesn’t showing contradictions between powers

Question 26

Overall Conclusion

Answer 26

PM has few limits on power

Led to claims that we’ve moved from Cabinet system of gov to a PM form of gov

President has many limits on power

Constitution ensures Presidents have range of checks to ensure no branch of government has complete power

PPM doesn’t have same restrictions on power