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A-LEVEL US POLITICS PAPER 3 ESSAY PLANS! A* STUDENT!!! $17.45
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A-LEVEL US POLITICS PAPER 3 ESSAY PLANS! A* STUDENT!!!

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These are the best resources to revise from if you are sitting your A-Level Politics exam. Be prepared for any question from the given topic with these A* essay plans! US Politics can be a tricky paper 3 to navigate after two UK Politics papers, but rest assured, with these at hand, you will be rea...

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  • August 25, 2024
  • 17
  • 2021/2022
  • Essay
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The US Constitution and Federalism

Evaluate the view that amendments to the Us constitution are both possible and useful

Structural

⚫ De jure, the amendment process to the US Constitution has never not been available as an option

⚫ Requirement of 2/3 majority in both congress chambers plus 3/4 majority in favor across state
legislatures

⚫ 19th Amendment, allowing all women to vote in elections regardless of which state they live in

⚫ A cumulation of political movements resulting in a very useful amendment

Counter

⚫ That was rectified in 1920, there have been no amendments to the constitution in the 21st century.

⚫ Only allowing limited evolution of the constitution in the 20th, 19th,18th century as there are only
27 amendments

Rational

⚫ The process of amendment ensures that change can come but it is still protected form political
whims and mass public system

⚫ Seen with the limited number of amendments since 1787

⚫ That's where the positives to the process end

Counter

⚫ Political polarization has led to congressional gridlock, meaning a 66% consensus in the chambers
can't be met, let alone 75% across state legislatures

⚫ Therefore the possibility of passing useful amendments is jeopardized



Cultural

⚫ The constitution is a product of its time

⚫ As is the amendment process for the constitution

⚫ The amendment process was written by the founding fathers for 13 white, much smaller, states

⚫ Now, the diversity of the US is immeasurable

⚫ States and their legislatives have never been so different, so not only is congressional gridlock a
problem, but finding consensus in such a diverse nation sees the possibility for amendment
diminish, regardless of whether the amendment would be useful

, TWE is the constitution fit for purpose.



Point 1: Democracy

⚫ Elections everywhere, all the time!

➢ Federal Law

➢ Presidential elections every 4 years, HOR every 2 years, senate every 6 years

➢ State Law

➢ Governor and legislature elections

Counter

⚫ Turnout often low, allows for extremism in primaries

⚫ Average turnout for senate is 44%

⚫ Asymmetric Representation: California + Wyoming both 2 senators



Point 2: Protection from Tyranny

⚫ Separation of power (Legislative, Executive, Judiciary)

⚫ Congress: Impeachment

⚫ President: Veto laws by Congress

⚫ SCOTUS: Points on free actions)

⚫ Federalism

⚫ Thus, an AUTOCRACY

⚫ Different electoral systems to ensure different outcomes

➢ Guiding against tyranny of majority and population

Counter:

⚫ Separation of power leads to a gridlock/vetocracy

⚫ Polarized nature of US political leads to nothing happening

⚫ No check on SCOTUS

, Point 3: Primacy of Individual +The State

⚫ Primary of individual

➢ Democracy, Bill of Rights(9th +14th amendments)

➢ Allows the individual to be protected

⚫ Primary of the State

➢ Federalism, Police powers

➢ Bill of Rights 10th amendment

⚫ Concentration of power in federal gov in time of crisis

➢ Post 9/11

⚫ SCOTUS determines where the line is drawn between the states and the gov

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