13 essay plans on the likely questions in the comparative section of the USA Paper, including examples
1. Similarities/ differences between US/UK constitution
2. Similarities/ differences between US federal system and UK system of devolution
3. Similarities/ differences between US Congress ...
Similarities/ differences between US/UK constitution
Similarities Differences
Ability to be amended Flexibility and amendment
- US = amended must be voted and agreed - UK = lack of codification = can be
to be passed by 2/3 of both houses and modernised through new statue laws e.g.
then ratified by ¾ of states before it is Immigration Act 2016
added to the constitution = has happened - US = amendment process inflexible,
27 times e.g. BOR requires supermajorities in both houses
- UK = law can be passed with a majority and ratification by ¾ state legislatures (less
vote in Parliament e.g. 2005 Constitutional modernisation = 2nd amendment out of
Reform Act // doesn’t need to be agreed date and in need of review- mass
upon by other governments as Parliament shootings)
is sovereign
Protect rights Codification and sources
- US = BOR used to defend peoples’ rights - UK = written through statue law,
in court e.g. freedom of speech authoritative works, treaties etc
(Abercrombie and Fitch were sued for - US = single document
refusing to allow a Muslim woman to wear
a hijab to work)
- UK = HRA (gay couple successfully used
the Human Rights Act to sue the owners of
a B&B who refused to let them stay
because homosexuality was against their
religion)
Both distribute power Protection of rights
- US = federal system which gives federal - UK = rights part of statue law
govt and state govt powers of their own - US = human rights formally entrenched
e.g. federal = national laws like taxes // e.g. BOR certain rights have become
state = driving licences embedded in system since early years,
- UK = devolution e.g. Scotland (1999) whereas the UK has only recently added in
control justice, education, health, income specific protection
tax rates // Westminster = national laws
over defence, immigration etc
Similarities/ differences between US federal system and UK system of devolution
Similarities Differences
Purpose Where sovereignty lies
- both aim to redistribute power to smaller - UK = Parliament is sovereign and remains
states/ nations through decentralisation the supreme law-making body //
- UK e.g. Scotland Act 2012 allowed Parliament allows devolved bodies in
Scotland to set their own rate of income tax Scotland, Wales and NI to implement their
- US e.g. overturning of Roe v Wade in the own heath care, education, and policy
US allowed states to make their own laws systems but can easily be revoked due to
, regarding abortion this
- US = distribution of sovereignty from the
federal government to each state // federal
government doesn't have the authority to
remove sovereignty from the states
meaning each state can create its own laws
e.g. on abortion or the death penalty
The national government maintains a Entrenchment
degree of supremacy over smaller, - US = federalism is entrenched under the
regional governments 10th amendment e.g. education, death
- UK = currency penalty states’ rights are protected by
- US = national crisis e.g. 9/11 sovereign constitution
- UK = devolved bodies rely on Parliament
for its existence and remain right to
dissolve the bodies
Equality of power
- US = federalism is equal amongst the
states
- UK = devolution is asymmetric e.g.
Scotland has devolved justice system but
Wales does not
Similarities/ differences between US Congress and UK Parliament
Similarities Differences
Bicameral Elected chambers
- UK = HOL, HOC - UK = HOL is unelected
- US = HOR, Senate - US = Article one show that Senate is
elected
Both hold oversight function Separation of powers vs Fusion of powers
- US = impeachment e.g. Clinton, Trump - bills are usually introduced by executive
- UK = debates e.g. PMQs due to govt majority in UK but the
executive is reliant on Congress to pass bills
in their agenda in US
Both hold legislative function Party discipline
- both can propose laws - UK = power of patronage and whip
system
- US = separation of powers means people
are less likely to toe the party line e.g.
Manchin
Similarities/ differences between UK HoC and US HoR
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