US structure 12 marker plans (Mr Archer)

The 3 similarities between the natures and sources of the UK and US constitutions

• Both have 3 branches of government

• Both establish bicameral legislatures

• Both constitutions rely on consitutional conventions

3 differences in the natures and sources of the UK and US constitutions

• Codified v uncodified

• Partial fusion of powers v separation of powers

• Entrenched v unentrenched

Similarities between separation/fusion of powers in the US and UK

• Both have 3 branches of government and bicameral systems

• Both have a Supreme Court that can check government power due to an independent judiciary

• Both executives play a role in shaping legislation

Differences between separation/fusion of powers in the US and UK

• US has full separation of powers v UK partial fusion of powers

• US presidents tenure is separate from the Congress, while a PMs tenure depends on maintaining confidence of HoC

• SCOTUS can exercise judicial review v UK SC cannot strike down an act of parliament

Similarities between the UK and US legislatures

• Both have bicameral legislatures, with both houses playing a role in legislations

• Both have directly elected lower chambers

• Both legislatures scrutinise the executive

Differences between the UK and US legislatures

• Relatively equal chambers v HoC dominance

• Both chambers elected v only elected HoC

• President cannot rely on Congress to pass legislation v executive dominance in the legislature

Similarities between the US and UK executives

• Both executives influence and initiate legislation to implement their political agendas

• Both executives are key decision makers in military affairs

• Both have minsters and government departments that they rely on to implement policy

Differences between the UK and US executives

• Separation of powers v fusion of powers between the executive and the legislature

• Presidents electoral mandate v elected MPs and party

• One powerful president v figurehead PM and cabinet as executive

What does the 1st amendment protect?

Protects free speech and religion in a line of text that can be easily interpreted

What are examples of the sources that the UK constitution is accumulated of?

Statute law like the HRA 1998, historical documents like the Magna Carta and conventions like the Salisbury convention

What does the constitution explicitly establish Congress as?

A two-house legislature

What can only the commons pass regarding legislation?

Only house that can pass taxation legislation

What case established judicial review?

Marbury v Madison

The overturning of Roe v Wade

Overturned by Dobbs v Jackson in 2022 due to SCOTUS ruling that it was unconstitutional

What’s a parliament act that structurally rewrote the constitution by a simple majority vote?

The EU withdrawal agreement 2020

What’s a convention in the US consitution?

The US constitution does not directly establish a cabinet, but every president since 1789 has had one

How do you change the US constitution?

2/3 of congress and ¾ of states to agree

How many amendments have been passed to the US consitution?

27, with 10 of them making up the bill of rights

What act passed in the UK in just 4 days in response to a national health crisis?

The coronavirus act 2020

What was Obama before he ran for president?

Obama was a senator but had to resign to run for president as he can’t simultaneously be a member of the legislature and executive

An example partial fusion of powers in the UK

Burnham has to become an MP through the Makerfield by election before he could run for MP

Trump v CASA

2025 birthright citizenship executive order, the court limited the federal court’s ability to issue nationwide injunctions

Boris Johnson’s proroguing of parliament

Ruled unlawful by Supreme Court as it frustrated parliaments ability to carry out its constitutional functions

Trump shaping legislation

The one big beautiful bill act which passed Congress and was signed into law in July 2025

Hereditary peers bill act

Passed HoL in March 2026 and originated in HoC

How many voting members is there in the House of Representatives

435

How many elected MPs does the House of Commons have?

650

What committee scrutinised BoJo in may 2020?

The liason committee

What’s an example of Congress disputing presidential legislation?

2021, opposition form democratic senators helped prevent the build back better bil from passing in its original form

Example of Trump being commander in chief

Trump sending troops to Iran in 2026

One powerful presidential decision Trump made

2025, Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to operate under stronger presidential supervision