UK/US comparative Politics Flashcards
Name an example each from the UK and the US of the ‘revolving door’ effect in pressure groups
UK: UsForThem advised by Ed Barker, campaigned for school reopening
US: 64% of congresspeople that failed to get re-elected in 2012 became lobbyists
Name an example each from the UK and the US of pressure groups impacting legislation via the Supreme Court
US: 1997 Reno v. ACLU: SCOTUS struck down 1996 Communications Indecency Act, promoting free speech online (in favour of ACLU)
UK: UKSC cannot strike down laws so less influence, but pressure groups campaign for breaches of ECHR e.g prisoner voting rights (government ignored this though)
Name an example each from the UK and the US of access points of pressure groups in their election systems
US: pressure groups have many access points such as ballot initiatives, referendums, 2 year federal election cycle BUT may be less powerful e.g ACLU lost 2/3 of ballot initiatives it supported in 2020, no provision for federal referendums
UK: less frequent elections (general, devolved, local) and referendums but may be more powerful e.g Leave.eu
Name an example each from the UK and the US of how their pressure groups affect representation
Both have causal groups (e.g American Bar Association/British Medical Association) to encourage pluralism and ensure all views represented, also have fringe groups (e.g NORPAC/Extinction Rebellion) - may lead to views of minority being represented over majority
Name an example each from the UK and US about influencing the judicial branch
US: for life so take interest e.g US Chamber of Commerce backed Brett Kavanaugh’s 2018 appointment
UK: independent process that can’t be influenced
Name an example of a US and UK pressure group about gun violence, and their overall successes
US: Brady campaign, led to mandate of checks before purchasing a gun, but gun violence deaths in US were highest on record in 2021
UK: Snowdrop campaign, outlawed private ownership of handguns, no more school shootings since
Name an example each of UK and US pressure groups having insider links to a party
US: NRA has close links to Republican party, and has spent over $100m supporting them since 2012
UK: Many groups are registered as charities and have less close links, but can offer advice e.g BMA, but no influence e.g new contract for junior doctors in 2016
6: Name a similarity and a difference of the Conservatives and Republicans, with examples
Similar: Lower tax e.g Conservatives reduced corporation tax by 10% since 2010, Trump reduced corporation tax in 2018
Different: Position on social issues e.g. many Republicans oppose same-sex marriage but Conservatives introduced it
6: Name a similarity and a difference of Labour and the Democrats, with examples
Similar: better public services e.g Blair ramped up NHS spending, Obamacare
Different: Many democrats oppose ‘Medicare for all’ whereas all Labour MPs are pro-NHS
6: Describe the UK and US electoral system
US: two-party system in 50 states, ‘50-party system’, can adapt policies to each state; all First-past-the-post
UK: subnational; differing systems in devolved/local e.g AMS for Scottish Parliament, STV for NI assembly
6: Name two examples each of the electoral system affecting votes in the UK and US
UK: in 2015 UKIP won 1 seat with 13% of the vote; 2015 GE Conservative has 37% of votes, but had 51% and 36% of seats
US: Ross Perot 1992 won 19% of popular vote but no Electoral College seats; 2016 Republicans overrep due to gerrymandering
6: Name 2 examples each for and against of party unity being greater in the USA than the UK
For: increased hyperpartisanship in US (no overlap), leadership challenges in UK (Boris)
Against: US States (arguably a 100-party system), presence of factions (e.g Tuesday Group vs. Fiscal Conservatives, UK Thatcherites/One-nation conservatives)
6: Name 3 areas (with examples) that can be used to assess whether the US and the UK have a two party system
balance of power: only ever been Cons/Lab PM since 1922, only ever Rep/Dem President
securing votes: UKIP/ross perot
representation: third parties very little say in US (no TV debates), in UK devolved nations 3rd parties dominate
6: Name an example each from the UK and US of elitism in party funding
UK: Conservative Leaders Group if you donated £50000 within the last year - gives access, limits democracy
US: Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, spent $28m on GOP donations - self interest, low taxes
Name an example each from the UK and US of funding reforms
UK: PPERA 2000 (limit spending to £30000 in each constituency, donations over £5000 delcared)
US: Bipartisan campaign reform act banned ‘soft money’, but Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 2010 introduced Super PACs, negating the impact of some reforms.
