politics-America Flashcards
gives three roles the US supreme court plays
One role US supreme court plays is judicial review.
One example of this is Marbury versus Madison.
Another role the US supreme court plays is interpretation of the united states constitution.
One example of this is citizens united versus federal election commission.
The final role US supreme court plays is protection of minority rights.
One example of this is brown versus Topeka board of education.
3 factors that affect the results of a US election
One factor that can affect the US election is an effective Campaign Strategy.
One example of this is in Donald trump in 2016 who made extensive use of social media platforms, particularly Twitter and Facebook, to connect directly with voters.
Another factor that can affect the US election is Media Coverage.
One example of this is Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign which received extensive media coverage, particularly around his grassroots efforts and the use of social media, which helped galvanize support.
The final factor that can affect the US election is focus on key issues.
One example of this is in 2016 when Donald trump focused on immigration, this stance appealed to a significant portion of the electorate concerned about border security and illegal immigration.
Question:
To what extent does the principle of checks and balances within the American Constitution successfully prevent the abuse of power by the three branches of government?
One way that the Supreme court checks the president is through Judicial review.
One example of this happening is Marbury versus Madison.
One way that the president can check congress is through the veto.
One example of this happening is when Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, which aimed to restrict the activities and power of labour unions. Congress overrode his veto.
One way that congress can check the Supreme court is impeachment.
One example of this happening is Samuel Chase who was impeached by the House of Representatives for alleged political bias and for decisions that were politically charged.
“To what extent does party polarization influence the legislative effectiveness of the U.S. Congress?”
One of Congress’s jobs is investigative Authority.
Polarisation has affected this as best seen during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton which was heavily influenced by partisanship, The Republican-controlled House voted to impeach Clinton over charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Democrats largely viewed this as a partisan attack rather than a legitimate investigation, leading to a lack of bipartisan consensus on the impeachment process.
Another of Congress’s jobs is advice and Consent.
Polarisation has affected this as best seen during the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh by President Donald Trump which was highly contentious and polarized, Following allegations of sexual misconduct, the confirmation hearings became a battleground for partisan conflict. Democrats fiercely opposed Kavanaugh, and despite a narrow Republican majority in the Senate, the can vote was characterized by intense partisanship, with many Democrats voting against him regardless of his qualifications. The resulting approval rating of Congress plummeted, reflecting public dissatisfaction with perceived partisanship.
the final of Congress’s jobs is oversight
Polarisation has affected this as best seen during the investigation of Trump’s Tax Returns when the democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee sought to obtain President Donald Trump’s tax returns to assess his financial ties and potential conflicts of interest. The effort became contentious, with Republicans accusing Democrats of engaging in a partisan witch hunt. This led to protracted legal battles that delayed any financial scrutiny regarding Trump’s tax filings. Ultimately, the delay hindered timely oversight and responses that could have informed public policy debates concerning presidential financial transparency.
“To what extent does the President of the United States have the necessary powers to effectively govern? In your response, consider both formal and informal powers, as well as the constraints posed by other branches of government and the political environment.”
One of the President’s formal powers is veto power.
One example of this happening is when Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, which aimed to restrict the activities and power of labour unions. Congress overrode his veto.
One of the President’s informal powers is executive orders.
One example of this is Harry S. Truman who used executive orders to desegregate the Armed Forces in 1948.
One of the President’s implied powers is deploying military forces without a formal declaration of war.
One example of this is when President Truman sent American troops to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, he justified this action on the basis of his authority as Commander-in-Chief and did not seek a formal declaration of war from Congress, the action was framed as a United Nations police action.
(apparently I just love Harry Truman, I swear it was a complete coincidence)
give three sources of the UK constitution
One source of the UK constitution is statute Law.
One example of this is the great Reform Act 1832, this act reformed the British electoral system by redistributing seats in the House of Commons and widening the franchise paving the way for more democratic participation.
Another source of the UK constitution are international treaties and agreements.
One example of this is the United Nations charter (1945) which the UK is an original signatory of.
The final source of the UK constitution are conventions
One example of this is parliamentary sovereignty.
“Discuss the effectiveness of the UK Parliament in holding the government to account. In your answer, consider both the roles of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as the influence of party politics and public opinion.”
One way that parliament can scrutinise the executive is through Prime Minister’s Questions.
One example of this being used effectively was throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, PMQs saw significant exchanges between Boris Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer over Johnson’s handling of the pandemic.
another way that parliament can scrutinise the executive is through Select Committees which scrutinize the work of government departments.
One example of this is the public accounts committee which examines the government’s finances and ensures that public money is spent effectively.
the final way that parliament can scrutinise the executive is through a motion of no confidence.
One example of this is James Callaghan who was relieved of office from a vote of no confidence.
“explain 3 powers of the prime minister”
One power is a legislative role.
One example of this is Boris Johnson’s European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 which facilitated the UK’s exit from the EU, enshrining the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Johnson and making provisions for future relations.
Another power is party leadership.
One example of this is Tony Blair who
rebranded the party with “New Labour,” which aimed to move it towards the centre of the political spectrum.
The final power is representing the country internationally
One example of this is Margaret Thatcher who was known for her strong stance against the Soviet Union and her close relationship with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, her support for a robust military and her role in NATO helped shape Western strategies against communism.
Give two differences in leadership and structure of UK and US parties
One difference in leadership and structure of UK and US parties is Leadership Style.
One example of this is May/Trump and their personal authority in decision making
Another difference in leadership and structure of UK and US parties is Crisis management.
One example of this is Brown/Obama during the global financial crisis.
“explain and analyse three ways in which congress can check the power of the executive”
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