Role/power of the PM and President -Similarity

Theme 1

Head of Government 

US 1

Both are heads of government and direct the executive.  

Trump directs US national policy and oversees federal agencies.  

-He led the national effort on immigration enforcement through 2025 executive orders and the expansion of ICE operation. 

Article II establishes the Executive Branch and vests all executive power directly in the President 

UK 1

UK PM Keir Starmer as head of gov, directed economic policy through Chancellor Rachel Reeves, including Oct 2024 Budget which prioritised NHS investment and rebuilding capital spending. 

This role is established through constitutional convention of fusion of powers in which executive derives from the largest political party in HoC with the party leader being PM, head of Gov.  

Similarity 1

Structural theory:  

Each system formally vests responsibility for directing the executive, and day to day operation of the country in a single head of government, granting the officeholder formal control over agencies, departments and policy delivery mechanism.  

Whether the power derives from a codified article or from constitutional convention, both leaders direct the executive branch and oversees delivery of major government policy.   

Theme 2

Role in military leadership

US 1

Both leaders shape military decisions.  
Trump as Commander in chief under Article II, authorised the June 2025 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.  

UK 2

Starmer exercised operational direction over the armed forces through cabinet and authorised the Nov 2024 use of UK supplied Storm Shadow Missiles against targets inside Russia.  

The formal title of Commander in chief sits with King Charles III as the role of head of state, but the PM holds the practical ability to deploy UK armed forces in practice due to use of royal prerogative power.  

Similarity 2

Structural theory:  

Operational military authority is allocated to the head of gov in both systems, whether by direct constitutional grant, or by long settled convention of royal prerogative power.  
This allocation of military authority allow executive to deploy forces without requiring fresh legislative permission for every operation. Both leaders play central role in national security and hold control over military decision. 

Theme 3

Party Leadership

US 3

Both leaders are dominant figures within their respective parties.  

Trump dominate the Republican Party: MAGA populism is the dominant force within Republican party after 2024, with the moderate republicans (anti trump faction known as RINOs) largely marginalised.  

UK 3

Starmer leads labour, having consolidated control against the Corbynite left faction.  
Corbyn himself was barred from standing as a Labour candidate in 2024 having lost the whip, and won Islington North as an independent.  

similarity 3

Rational theory:  

Rational choice theory provides strong explanation for both leaders’ behaviour because it assumes political actors to make strategic calculations to maximise their ability to achieve their goals.  

-both Trump and Starmer sought to weaken internal rivals and consolidate control over their parties because united party is easier to govern and lead than a divided one.  

-by consolidating authority before key political decisions are made, they increase the ability to control the party agenda and secure support for their preferred policies in the legislative branch, allowing them to achieve their objectives.  

Theme 4

Appointment of key officials (power)

US

Both leaders appoint senior officials.  
Trump appointed his 2025 cabinet including, Marco Rubio (state), subject to Senate confirmation.  

Rubio can be seen as rational attempt to strengthen different wings of the Republican party (as a former rival in presidential election), and placing an experienced figure on foreign policy.  

UK 4

Starmer appointed Angela Raynor as Deputy PM. 

-this appointment was a strategic choice to maintain the party unity by giving a prominent figure from labour’s traditional left and trade union wing a senior role within gov, reducing likelihood of internal division. 

Similarity 4

Rational choice theory:  

Both leaders make appointments strategically in order to max the effectiveness of their administration.  

-Both Trump and Starmer have incentive to appoint individuals who are competent, loyal and supportive of their political agenda, whilst also appointing rival figures to contain internal division within the party.