Political partys- comparison

Question 1

Cultural- historical roots UK?

Answer 1

Uk third parties like the lib dems and nationalist parties (SNP and plaid cymru) have deep historical foundations dating back to the 19th century and early 20th

Question 1

Cultural points?

Answer 1

Historical roots
Impact of regional and cultural diversity
Succession and independent

Question 2

Cultural- historical roots US?

Answer 2

Major 3rd parties such as libertarian and green party relatively recent 1971-80

Question 3

Cultural-Impact of regional and cultural diversity UK?

Answer 3

Distinct regional identity support the development of the nationalist party’s like the SNP and Plaid Cymru

Question 4

Cultural- Impact of regional and cultural diversity US?

Answer 4

Great diversity resulting in 2 parties with regional variation vs proletarianism of regional parties

Question 5

Cultural- Succession and independent UK?

Answer 5

Uk national parties focus on independence via devolution

Question 6

Cultural- Succession and independent US?

Answer 6

US succession is unthinkable due to historically unity enforced after civil war

Question 7

Rational points?

Answer 7

Two party dominance
Fragmentation of US party’s
UK multiparty opportunity

Question 8

Rational- Two party dominance UK?

Answer 8

Easier for 3rd parties to get on ballot
£500 fee and 10 references

Question 9

Rational- Two party dominance US?

Answer 9

2 party is USA reinforces itself as high profile candidate like Trump and Sanders prefer to run in democratic and republican parties
-Primary system incentive candidates to align with a mega party attracts a diverse range of individual reducing realign on central party structure

Question 10

Rational- Fragmentation of US party’s

Answer 10

Party’s resemble a loose coalition of independent political operation with don’t base campaign messages
Despite rising hyper partisan weaker party unity persist, democratic by occasional deficits e.g. Jeff v Andrew switching from Dem and Rep to 2020

Question 11

Rational- UK multiparty opportunity

Answer 11

In the UK absence on primary encourages candidates to stand for smaller party’s as independents such as Heidi Allen (Change UK/ Lib dems)
and Frank Field (independant)
However moves often resulting in electoral deficits suggesting harsh electoral results for those outside major party

Question 12

Structural points?

Answer 12

Ballot access challenge
Televised debate barriers
Decentralised election system

Question 13

Structural- Ballot access challenge US?

Answer 13

Stringent law for 3rd party ballot access such as signature threshold and exorbitant fees ($35,000) in Oklahoma from 2020
Disadvantaged smaller parties

Question 14

Structural- Ballot access challenge UK?

Answer 14

UK has more affordable requirement such £500 deposit and nomination from 10 signature

Question 15

Structural-Televised debate barriers US?

Answer 15

3rd party candidate face exclusion from presidential debate unless they meet a high polling threshold of 15% in designated polls limiting visibility and departures a cycle of low support

Question 16

Structural- Televised debate barriers UK?

Answer 16

No direct equivelant

Question 17

Structural- Decentralised election system US?

Answer 17

Fragmented state specific nature of US elected system further hindering smaller parties

Question 18

Structural- Decentralised election system UK?

Answer 18

Compared to UK more centralised and uniform electoral requirement

Question 19

Similarity’s between american and UK two party system?

Answer 19

-Both parties cover a range of views like internal coalition (Tea party republicans vs one nation tories)
progressive democrats vs hard left
-Both party’s exhibit rebellions
-Ideological distinct
-Systems create a domination in parliament over rewarding and the expense of third parties

Question 20

Differences of the two party system?

Answer 20

-Conservative party more progressive compared to reps on abortion
-Party unity lower in USA vs UK
-Dominance of the central or national party weaker in the US due to size and diversity of country
-Issues creating divide and tension within partys differ e.g. leave or remain and US foreign policy and trade