12 markers politics

Prime minister/ president similarities

Prime minister/ president similarities

• Both commander in chief

• Both have control over the legislative

• both have control over the cabinet

President/ prime minister differences

• President is the head of state and the prime minister is not

• Prime minister is part of the legislative in the UK

• President can approve and submit budget while the prime minister can only approve by voting on it

Rights similarities

• Both have pressure groups to protect the rights of citizens

• The rights are generally similar, US have the bill of rights and the UK have the HRA

• If rights are violated it can be taken to court and settled

Rights differences

• Rights are not entrenched in the UK like they are in the US

• Constitution in the US is sovereign

• Supreme court has more power in the US to strike down laws ( roe v wade)

Pressure Groups similarities

• Both have similar funding through donations and membership

• Both contribute to create a pluralists society where decisions are made with input from many areas]

• pressure groups are both restricted by legislation and laws regarding direct action

Pressure Groups differences

• There are no outsider groups in the US

• US groups often fund legal battles that are related to their cause

Constitution similarities

• Both have bicameral chambers in their structure

• Both can be changed by their legislative branches

• Both provide representative democracies

Constitution differences

• the US has a codified constitution, UK does not

• US creates a separation of powers through federalism where as UK has both the legislative and the executive together

• the American constitution is sovereign where as parliament is sovereign in the UK constitution

Voting Behaviour similarities

• Education-based voting

• Age

• Income

Voting Behaviour differences

• Gender seems to have more of an effect in the US

• Regional voting are differently voted, the US has much more important swing states

• US can have a split ticket in their elections, presidency, senator etc

Parties similarities

• Both systems have a two party system

• Functions of the parties are the same

• Both have party leader, person that runs for presidency/ prime minister

Parties differences

• Two party system in the US, multiparty system in the UK

• Party control doesnt exist in the US as they don't have whips

• More third party influence in the UK, especially since the coalition

Parliament and Congress similarities

• Bicameral as both institutions have two chambers

• Both have a speaker and the structure is similar

• Both have legislative power over the executive, vote of no confidence and impeachment

Parliament and Congress differences

• HOL is unelected

• Representatives in the US have a two year cycle

• Executive is in the legislative in the UK