US comparison questions

• Cultural theory to compare federalism and devolution

  • Nationalism parties (seperarism)
  • Beliefs of the states (political autonomy)
  • Certainty of the future
• Structural theory comparing constitutions

  • Codification
  • Fusion of powers
  • Federalism v unitary
• Rational theory comparing constitutions

  • Politicisation of Supreme Court
  • US leader has to persuade
  • Rights culture
• Constitution cultural theory

  • Rights culture
  • Archaic features in UK
  • Evolution v Revolution
• Structural theory executives accountability

  • Separation of powers
  • Impeachment Process
  • Singular executive
• Rational theory comparing executives and cabinets

  • Political rivals (VP v cabinet)
  • Political damage US (resignations)
  • Policy decisions (primus inter pares)
• Cultural theory comparing executives

  • Limited government (less centralised party) v parliamentary Sovereignty
  • Status as Head of state
  • Collegiate response from PM v President being a strong figure
• Rational theory PM v President

  • Legislating from weak position (Obama and Cameron)
  • Responding to criticism (DT BJ party control)
  • National Emergency (TB GWB, DC convention)
• Structural theory PM and President

  • Singular exec v cabinet
  • Personal mandate
  • Dominance on legislation
• cultural theory Supreme Courts

  • Historic importance
  • Appointment publicity and politicisation
  • Final decider
• structural theory Supreme Courts

  • Appointment
  • Parliamentary sovereignty
  • Separation of powers
• rational theory Supreme Courts

  • legal philosophies
  • targeting of pressure groups and outside influence
  • final decider
• Structural theory comparing elections

  • Fixed terms v not
  • Electoral systems
  • More elected officials in US
• Elections rational theories

  • Wasted votes
  • US campaign finance
  • Focus on small areas
• Cultural theory elections

  • Emphasis on individual
  • Primaries
  • Voting behaviour
  • Campaign Finance
• Structural theory campaign finance

  • Stricter regulations
  • State funding in UK
  • Position of the courts
• Campaign Finance cultural theory

  • Individual v collective donations
  • Freedom with donations
  • Link between donations and outcomes
• Structural theory pressure groups

  • Unlimited spending in US elections v restrictive in UK
  • More access points in US
  • Links with trade unions
• Pressure groups rational theory

  • Lobbying and fear of pressure groups
  • Political alliances
  • Outsider v insider
• Cultural theory pressure groups

  • US political freedom
  • Elitism
  • Culture of pressure groups
• Structural theory Civil rights

  • Entrenched v flexible
  • Constitutional Sovereignty v parliamentary Sovereignty
  • Civil rights protected by pressure groups
• Civil rights rational theory

  • A single figure in Civil rights movement
  • Sixties governments
  • Rights culture in the US
• Civil rights cultural theory

  • Religious groups
  • Threat of far right groups
  • "Rights" culture