Theoretical approaches

Question 1

rational approach

Answer 1

• individuals act in a logically way that will benefit them (eg. to get promoted) and maximise self interest
• they make the ‘rational choice’
• make decisions based on their own political, social, economic, cultural, environmental goals
• applies to scenarios such as voting behaviour
• critics say it overestimates human’s rationality

Question 2

rational approach - comparing the constitutions

Answer 2

similar:
- individuals compete for sovereignty to secure position
- citizens can fight for their own rights granted by bill of rights (US) or HRA 1998 (UK)
different:
- covid: US - states decided on restrictions ; UK - leaders of devolved regions adapted localised policy based on westminster policies/restrictions
- (US) lobbyists can target more access points - federal and state ; (UK) fewer access points as sovereignty in focused in westminster - although they can target devolved access points too

Question 3

cultural approach

Answer 3

• focus on ideas (political, economic, social, religious)
• collective
• culture can be shaped and learned
• symbolic system of values, beliefs, ideas, attitudes
  shapes people’s perceptions and behaviours - can explain views on liberties and rights
• applies to voting behaviour and demonstrations
• has power to motivate people to action

Question 4

cultural approach - comparing the constitutions

Answer 4

similar:
- cultural expectations in bill of rights and HRA 1998
difference:
- bill of rights (US) has a stronger culture of rights compared to HRA 1998 as it is still not as clear
- (US) reflects clear intent of founders to limit concentrated power and protect individual rights - represents the values of social elitist
- (UK) no relevant cultural upheaval that constitution is strongly based on - still contains aspects of feudal past (eg. HoL, Royal Assent)

Question 5

structural approach

Answer 5

• institutions and the processes in them and widely in the political system
• many political results are due to the processes formally laid out to them
• structures creates particular relationships between positions
• focus on branches and the other structures more widely in the political system (eg. constituencies, media, pressure groups etc)

Question 6

structural approach - comparing the constitutions

Answer 6

difference:
- (US) codified, entrenched, hard to amend ; (UK) uncodified, unentrenched, flexible to amend
- (US) structurally, powers are equal ; (UK) parliamentary sovereignty makes the executive and legislatory dominant (fusion of powers - majority gov dominates parliament), lords can only declare law ultra vires not unconstitutional
- (US) direct election of both congressional chambers and equal legislative powers can lead to disagreement and gridlock ; (UK) allows HoC to dominate HoL