Comparative Theories and the UK-US Comparison

What Comparative Theories and the UK-US Comparison covers

Covers the systematic comparison of British and American politics: legislatures, executives, courts and rights, parties and pressure groups, each read through the rational, cultural and structural approaches.

The 11 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Comparing the UK and US legislatures: structure and powersRecall questions on the exclusive powers of each chamber, the Parliament Acts, and why the Lords is weaker than the Senate.Open →
• Comparing the UK and US legislatures: strengths and approachesRecall questions on the strengths and weaknesses of each legislature, the filibuster, and how the three approaches explain the differences.Open →
• Comparing the executives: powers and selectionRecall questions on how each head of government is chosen and removed, and on the veto, executive orders, prerogative powers and treaty-making.Open →
• Comparing the executives: accountability and approachesRecall questions on impeachment, oversight hearings, question time and confidence votes, and on how the three approaches read the difference.Open →
• Comparing the Supreme Courts: powers and appointmentsRecall questions on where each court's powers come from, judicial review against declarations of incompatibility, and the two appointment processes.Open →
• Comparing rights protection and interest group litigationRecall questions on the Bill of Rights against the Human Rights Act, how effective each is, and how interest groups use the courts in each country.Open →
• Comparing party systems and party ideasRecall questions on two-party against multi-party politics, internal party unity, and what each of the four main parties stands for.Open →
• Comparing campaign finance and pressure groupsRecall questions on how campaigns are funded and regulated in each country and on the access points open to pressure groups.Open →
• Applying the three approaches to democracy and participationRecall questions on how the rational, cultural and structural approaches each explain differences in participation, funding and party systems.Open →
• Comparative theories: rational, cultural and structuralRecall questions on what each of the three approaches focuses on and how each explains party systems and political behaviour.Open →
• Comparing the UK and US constitutionsThe nature and sources of the UK and US constitutions, amendment, sovereignty, checks and balances, US federalism against UK devolution and its asymmetry, the protection of states and devolved bodies, convergence between the systems, and the structural, cultural and rational explanations.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Comparative Theories and the UK-US Comparison further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Structural approach vs Rational approach

  Structural approach: comparison centred on formal institutions. Rational approach: comparison centred on strategic individual choices.

• Cultural approach vs Structural approach

  Cultural approach: comparison centred on values and political traditions. Structural approach: comparison centred on institutions and formal rules.

• Fusion of powers vs Separation of powers

  Fusion of powers: the executive and legislature being institutionally connected. Separation of powers: the executive and legislature being institutionally distinct.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   How does the distribution of financial powers differ between the two US chambers and the two UK Houses?

   Model answer

   In the US the House of Representatives must originate revenue bills but the Senate can amend them freely and must also pass them, so both chambers hold real financial power. In the UK the Commons has exclusive control: the Lords cannot amend a money bill and can delay it for only one month.

2. 2

   How do the two legislatures differ in their power to remove members of the executive?

   Model answer

   Congress can remove a President only by impeachment in the House followed by conviction on a two-thirds Senate vote, a deliberately high bar met by no President. The Commons needs only a simple majority on a confidence motion to bring down a government.

3. 3

   How does legislative control over executive appointments differ between the UK and the US?

   Model answer

   The Senate must confirm Cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and federal judges, and has rejected or forced the withdrawal of nominees. The UK Parliament has no equivalent power: the Prime Minister appoints ministers without any parliamentary vote.

4. 4

   How does each legislature's role in treaty-making differ?

   Model answer

   A US treaty takes effect only if two-thirds of the Senate consents, which has blocked treaties a President signed. In the UK treaties are made under prerogative power, and Parliament's role is limited to a period in which it may object and to passing any implementing legislation.

5. 5

   Why is the US House of Representatives considered closer to the people than the Senate?

   Model answer

   Representatives serve two-year terms and represent specific districts, whereas Senators serve six-year terms and represent entire states.

6. 6

   What exclusive authority does the UK House of Commons hold over money bills?

   Model answer

   The Commons has exclusive authority over money bills; the Lords cannot amend or reject them.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Comparative Theories and the UK-US Comparison revision questions

What does Comparative Theories and the UK-US Comparison cover in Edexcel A-Level Politics?

11 subtopics: comparing the uk and us legislatures: structure and powers, comparing the uk and us legislatures: strengths and approaches, comparing the executives: powers and selection, comparing the executives: accountability and approaches, comparing the supreme courts: powers and appointments, comparing rights protection and interest group litigation, comparing party systems and party ideas, comparing campaign finance and pressure groups, applying the three approaches to democracy and participation, comparative theories: rational, cultural and structural and comparing the uk and us constitutions. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Comparative Theories and the UK-US Comparison organised?

By the Edexcel 9PL0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.