Difference in party system (US vs UK)

Topic 1

Number of competitive national parties

US 1

US has a strict two-party system, with Democrats and Republicans as the sole competitors for national power.

Example:

As all election held in US is FPTP, creating 2 party system, which is why Bernie Sanders becoming democrat nominee despite not being a party member.

UK 1

UK has a multi-party system, where the Labour and the conservatives dominant but other parties like SNP, Liberal democrats, green party, also compete and win seats in Parliament.

Example:

2019 General election

Conservatives 56%

Labour 31%

LibDem 1.7%

SNP 7.4%

Difference 1

This is a difference because in the UK smaller parties can still secure representation and influence national politics, whereas in US, only two parties effectively compete at national level.

Structural analysis, examining how the ideological breath of the party and electoral systems in each country shape the party landscape, resulting in a two-party dominance in the US and multi-party system in the UK

Topic 2

Role of regional parties

US 2

In the US, there are no equivalent regional parties. No regional party is strong enough to compete at the federal level and has never won any congressional seats.

Example:

Green party, libertarians

-people vote as a protest vote

In 2024 Presidential election, Green Party nominee Jill Stein received 0.56% of the national popular vote, as people voted green due to disagreements with Harris’ stance on Palestine (not strong enough)

UK 2

Regional parties hold significant power in the UK, especially in devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland. SNP, Plaid Cymru, and DUP are powerful in their regions and has substantial power to influence their local politics.

Example:

In 2026, Scottish National Party has 60 MSPs, has near majority in Scottish parliament, controlling devolved legislative agenda.

Difference 2

This is a structural difference because regional parties in the UK enabled by proportional electoral system (AMS, STV) have a substantial role in shaping both local and national policy, while the US system lacks regional parties with comparable influence due to FPTP electoral system.

Topic 3

Coalition gov

US 3

The US system, however, doesn’t allow for coalition governments at the federal level due to its winner-takes-all outcome of the FPTP and very partisan nature of politics; power is consolidated under one party if they control the executive or legislative branches.

Example:

In 2024 Presidential election, Republican nominee won the Presidency, controlling both House and Senate.

UK 3

In the UK, coalition gov can form when no single party wins a majority, as seen with the Conservative Liberal democratic coalition in 2010

Difference 3

-cultural analysis,

Coalition gov in the UK reflects a political cultural that, whilst usually majoritarian, accepts parliamentary bargaining, whereas the absence of the coalition gov in US reflects a deeply embedded two party, partisan political culture.