rational theoretical approach

Question 1

what is the rational approach

Answer 1

focuses on individuals
it assumes that people act rationally and logically in order to maximise their own self interest
- it assumes that people has their own social and economical political goals and they will make decisions based on the best way to achieve those goals - one that gives the most beneficial outcome

Question 2

what can rational approach theory be easily compared with

Answer 2

voting behaviour and political parties and pressure groups

Question 3

drawbacks of rational theory

Answer 3

overestimates human rationality and ignores the difficulty in getting accurate information required to make ‘rational’ choices

Question 4

rational approach to constitutions

Answer 4

• us citizens are able to pursue their right (given by bill of rights) to stop gov acting upon their rights eg carpenter v US. similarly in the uk passing the HRA98 has enabled citizens to fight for their rights eg campbell v mirror group newspapers 2004
• sep of powers in us allows more access points to lobby a range in institutions whereas in the uk there are less access points because sovereignty is unitary so most lobbying is done to the westminster gov

Question 5

what was campbell v mirror group newspapers

Answer 5

naomi campbel was able to declare press coverage of her stay in a rehab clinic as intrusive to her right to private life and in a landmark case the coverage was declared illegal

Question 6

rational approch to legislative branches uk/us
differences

Answer 6

• behave rationally by giving priority to diff groups to max own self interest : in uk mps behave rationally by giving priority to the party because it is the best way to get recognition from party whips and could potentially get recognition from the exec and get a junior minister pos whereas in the US in the house of reps they focus highly on their constituents and demonstrate a clear record on campaigning leg that benefits their district because they get elected every 2 years
• congress member far less subject to pressure from the exec tham MPs. in us in a divided gov congress will openly say their views even if its against their pres own party eg trump trying to override obamacare) whereas in the uk it is rational to back the PM because during a majority gov defeats for the gov are rare and can get more leg through