5 Essay plans (3 examine and 2 analyse) that answer 12 marker past-year questions. Detailed plans using modern examples to apply to the questions. 'Analyse' questions explain the use of comparative theories (structural/cultural/rational). Covers most of the areas of comparison between the 2 countri...
Paper 3 Examine Questions
Examine the ways in which the methods used by US interest groups and UK
pressure groups differ
US UK
Access points • The US has a hyper-pluralised • The UK has many access points,
democracy however much less than what
• This allows for many access the US has
points at every level of • The most effective access points
government and every branch of tends to only be at the top of
government from the President the UK government via MPs,
all the way down to staff at cabinet ministers and the Prime
government departments Minister
• When there was the attempt to • In addition to that, it is very
repeal the ACA, the hard to be a successful pressure
pharmaceutical industry via their group in the UK without insider
interest group, PhRma, lobbied status
very hard in Congress with • The BMA has seen massive
Republican Congressmen and success in the UK with Anti-
Senators to vote for the repeal smoking legislation having been
passed in the UK numerous
times due to their lobbying
• Outsiders like Just Stop Oil have
found it hard to reach their
goals due to the antagonistic
relationship that they have
created with the public and in
government from their criminal
behaviour
Election • The US has staggered elections • The UK are not on a constant
cycles which sees the campaign trail election cycle like the US,
effectively never ending therefore PGs have less of a
• Once a Congressmen is elected chance to influence election
into office, with their short term outcomes like in the US
of just 2 years, they will have • Parliamentary elections are held
already begun campaigning conventionally every 4-5 years
immediately for the next election with similar terms in devolved
• This allows PG to ensure that assemblies
they constantly have a chance to • This gives less opportunity for
influence Congressmen and other the PGs to provide funding to
politicians who are running for the candidates/party they want
re-election to win
• They are able to provide funding • In 2019 when there was a
to the candidate and are able to General election, the total
ensure that their interests are amount of donations in this
represented by the candidates election amounted to just £30.7
they have chosen to support million which is peanuts
compared to the US
, • The NRA have funded $27m to
individual Congressmen and
Senators as of 2023 who support
loser gun control and strengthen
2nd amendment rights
Federalism vs • The many layers of US • UK devolution has much less
devolution government from the federal powers than the US due to
level to the very local mayors of Parliamentary sovereignty
towns level allows for many which makes Parliament the
opportunities for pressure groups highest legislative body in the
to push their agenda via these UK
local politicians • This means a lot of the power is
• Governors and even city mayors concentrated in Parliament
do have a lot of power that can • Devolved assemblies are under
be of use to PGs the influence of Westminster
• Mayors are able to influence where sometimes their
policies often talked about on the legislation gets overrode by
national level such as local crime Parliament
rate, infrastructure and many • This was seen in 2023 when
more Westminster blocked Scotland's
• This allows interest groups to aim gender bill which planned to
for lower levels of government lower the age to allow the
and still see success switching of genders from 18 to
• Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, 16
has already received donations • Local councils and mayors are
from business groups and real also unable to do much unlike
estate firms which have their counter parts in the US
amounted to almost $3m even and are mainly in charge of
when the election is still more more basic legislative areas
than a year away which have almost no influence
on the national level such as
pothole fixing and trash pickup
and disposal
• This means that PGs are less
likely to be interested in
investing their time and money
to look at devolved
assemblies/institutions and
concentrate all their resources
to Parliament and the Executive
Examine the similar problems faced by the US Congress and UK Parliament
during the legislative process
US UK
Long legislative process • Legislation in the US • The UK also has
has to go through committees which
numerous rounds of perform a similar role
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