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comparisons between the UK and US political systems (electoral systems (UK…
comparisons between the UK and US political systems
electoral systems
US
3 elections
Presidential
happens every 4 years
there is what is called the electoral college, where each state has a number of electoral college votes which is equal to the number of representatives + the number of senators (always 2).
Within each state there is then an election to vote for a candidate for president, the candidate who wins the most votes, receives all of the electoral college votes (winner takes all and FPTP)
the candidate with the most electoral college votes becomes president (leader of the executive)
Senate
1/3rd of the senate is elected every 2 years, so each term for a senator is 6 years.
each state holds an election run on a FPTP system, whichever candidate receives the most votes wins, and there are 2 total senators for each state.
House
happens every 2 years
each state is split up into a number of districts, based on population.
Each district has an election, pretty much identical to the way an MP is elected. There is a FPTP system.
Each representative who is elected votes in the house of representatives (the lower chamber) on legislation. (this is part of the legislature.)
Primary elections
in order to decide the party nominations for president each state has a primary election.
this is usually a primary (not a caucus) where there is a hidden ballot, each voter then votes for one candidate.
the first primary is Iowa.
UK
1 election to decide who the government is - the Westminster election
the country is split up into many constituencies - based on population
each constituency has an election to choose an MP to represent them. this is based on a FPTP system, whichever candidate wins the most votes wins.
Each MP usually belongs to a party, and whichever party receives a majority of votes forms the government, and the leader of the party becomes the Prime Minister (executive)
The way that the leader of each party is decided is through internal elections where party members are allowed to vote, and nobody else can.
There are also different elections within the devolved bodies
First past the post - HOC, local election (England and Wales)
AMS - Scottish parliament, Welsh assembly, GLA
STV - NI Assembly, local elections (Scottland and Northern Ireland)
AV - local by-elections (Scottland) (alternative vote)
SV - London mayoral elections.
interest/pressure groups
UK
Far fewer access points as the legislature and executive are the same and you only vote for the lower chamber of the legislature. pressure groups only work at threatening people with reduced support when they are actually elected.
there is a flexible constitution, meaning that there is far less that a pressure group can do to force the government into doing something for that group.
there are far fewer elections, so pressure groups cannot as easily threaten people.
UK politicians rely far less on funding, so groups cannot use this to influence the politicians.
US
far more access points - this is because there are far more elections and politicians who are held accountable to the public. There are representatives, the president + cabinet, the senate, state governments, local counsellors etc.
US pressure groups are more successful because there is a codified, entrenched constitution, meaning that groups can effectively file a case against congress with the supreme court, and actually prevent them from doing what they want.
there are far more elections, so groups can more easily get a politician to do something.
US interest groups are also able to influence politicians more because they rely far more on funding in order to win, interest groups can give this funding to candidates.
Federalism
UK
as a result of the unitary constitution the UK has a non federal system.
The UK has what is called "parliamentary sovereignty" where all political power and sovereignty is located in one single place, parliament.
Although it is true that the UK has a number of devolved bodies.
Scottish parliament
Welsh assembley
Northern Ireland assembly
Greater London Assembly
It may be argued that this is evidence of a federal system, however these bodies have no actual power, they are just borrowing power from parliament
The UK constitution is flexible, so parliament is more important than it.
US
The US on the other hand has an entirely federal system
The country is split up into 50 states.
Each state is allowed to control practically all of its domestic policy
The only thing that the federal government is allowed to do is control minting currency foreign policy and security (military).
parties
UK
Still a 2 party system
The 2 biggest parties - labour and conservative have been the only parties to form an independent government since 1910 (ignoring all of the national governments and coalitions after this)
This is primarily a result of the FPTP system
However, regardless of the debate over how much influence US third parties have, it is immediately clear that the UK has far more third party influence.
The Lib Dems, a 3rd party, usually get somewhere between 15-25% of the vote in UK elections. The most significant time was in 2010 when they actually managed to form a coalition government with the conservatives.
UKIP had a massive effect in the 2015 election as they were able to force Cameron to promise the Brexit referendum, through his fear of the spoiler effect and losing the election. UKIP, a third party was able to influence the system to get the Brexit referendum, in turn causing Brexit, likely one of the biggest changes in British politics this century.
Also, when you look within the Devolved bodies of the UK, third parties are much bigger. In wales the biggest party is Plaid Cymru, in Ireland the biggest parties are the DUP and Sinn Fein, in Scotland the SNP is the biggest party.
The DUP also has a load of power over the government as the conservatives only gain a majority through agreement with the DUP.
Recently in the EU election the Brexit party won, this is a third party.
US
2 party system
Why?
FPTP system for congress
Almost all states have winner takes all
in many states you have to meet a certain criteria to even be put on the ballot
Federal funding rules. (you can ask the govt for money if you meet a criteria).
Co optation of policies (when a small party begins to grow, the big parties just steal their policies)
Much less 3rd party influence
it is arguable how much influence they have got though.
For instance, there have been examples of third parties gaining major traction before, such as Ross Perot who received 19% of the vote in the electoral race.
small parties will use initiatives, referendums etc.
It is also argued that the system of policy co optation surely shows that small parties have actually got influence, they are essentially policy factories.
However, it is true that it is extremely difficult to grow as a small party
Because of FPTP, they will never win
The funding system makes it impossible to win - to gain funding there needs to be a chance of winning, and without funding there is no chance of winning, so people don't fund you, vicious cycle.
Also, all of the examples of third parties actually gaining influence are in the past and don't carry on today.
Separation of powers
UK
There is much less separation of powers
Every member of the executive is also a member of the legislature.
There is now a separate supreme court and no justices can also be members of other branches of govt. This was a reform from what used to be a massive fusion of powers.
US
Much greater separation of powers
No one person can be a member of more than one branch.
there are totally different elections for each branch
There are many checks and balances
there are 6 in total, as each branch checks each other branch
There is a completely separate supreme court
Constitutions
UK
flexible constitution - can be changed easily, constitutional law is above no other law. This comes as a result of parliamentary sovereignty and the rule that parliament cannot bind its successors.
Uncodified constitution - it is in multiple documents, 7 in total
unitary constitution - it places all sovereignty in one place, parliament.
US
Federal constitution - power is divided up between all of the states and the federal government. They try to distribute power as widely as possible.
Entrenched constitution - the constitution is above all other law and it can only be amended with a super majority in some area.
Codified constitution - it is located in one document, the Constitution