A comparison between the political systems of the UK and the US

1. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE POLITICAL
SYSTEMS OF THE USA & THE UK
Presented by Afshan Mukhtiar

2. WHAT IS POLITICAL CULTURE
The collection of a set of attitudes, sentiments, and beliefs which give meaning
and order to a political process and also shed light on the assumptions and rules
that govern the behavior in the particular political system.

3. USA
• Separation of church and state
• Freedom of States
• Right to bear arms
• Elected head of state
• Heterogeneity
• Legacy of British empire
• Traditions/customs
• Monarchy/House of Lords
• Homogeneity
UK
BRIEF HISTORY AND CULTURE

4. KEY DIFFERENCES

5. THE CONSTITUTIONS
DIFFERING ORIGINS
• The constitutions of both UK and USA originated and are structurally set
up in different ways.
• In USA at one time and place
• In UK through long evolutionary process

6. USA
• Codified
• Entrenched
• Federal
• Popular sovereignty
• Mostly uncodified
• Flexible
• Unitary
• Parliamentary sovereignty
UK
NATURE OF THE CONSTITUTIONS

7. USA
• Legislature and Executive share their
power and are dependent on each
other/blur boundaries
• Executive must be a member of
parliament
• The biggest court in UK comprises of
nine law lords, the members of the
upper house of the parliament
• One person can hold two offices
UK
SEPARATION OF POWER VS FUSION OF
POWER
• All three organs elected and
appointed separately
• Not dependent on or accountable
before one another
• Clear boundaries/work within their
limitations
• One person can hold only one office

8. CHECK AND BALANCE
SYSTEM UK& USA
In UK the check and balance system is
based on customs and traditions
Executive is accountable to the parliament
Vote of No confidence
Dissolution of the House of Commons
In USA the check and balance system is
built in right from the start

9. USA
• Vote for lower chamber
• Vote for upper chamber
• Elected head of state
• Vote for state governor
• Vote for state legislature
• Initiatives, referendums and recalls
• Elected Mayors, district attorneys, local
councilors
• Separation of power
• Vote for lower chamber
• No
• No
• No
• No
• No
• Elected Councilors
• Fusion of power
UK BEFORE 1995
DEMOCRATIC DIFFERENCE

10. USA
• Vote for lower chamber
• Vote for upper chamber
• Elected head of state
• Vote for state governor
• Vote for state legislature
• Initiatives, referendums and recalls
• Elected Mayors, district attorneys, local
councilors
• Separation of power
• Vote for lower chamber
• No
• No
• Vote for city mayor( London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Liverpool)
• Vote for regional devolution (Welsh, Scottish
Northern Ireland legislatures
• Referendums and recalls
• Elected mayors and police commissioners
• Supreme court
1995 UK
DEMOCRATIC DIFFERENCE

11. PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
• Single executive
• Executive and Legislature elected separately
• Domination of the president
• Presidential Cabinet
• Single membership
• Political homogeneity may not exist
• Non responsibility
• No party discipline
• Fixed term
• Impeachment
• Dual executive
• Majority party rule
• Leadership of the prime minister
• Premier’s cabinet
• Double membership
• Political homogeneity
• Collective responsibility
• Strict party discipline
• No fixed term
• Vote of no confidence
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
PRESIDENTIAL VS PARLIAMENTARY
FORM OF GOVERNMENT

12. US PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM VS UK
PARLIAMENTARIAN SYSTEM

13. USA
• The Senate is chosen in a direct
elections
• The most powerful upper house in the
world
• Shares equal powers with the House
of representatives
• Sometimes even upper hand on HOR
• Lords in House of Lords are either
nominated or inherit the seat
• Non democratic chamber
• House of Commons holds upper hand
in the parliament
UK
THE UPPER HOUSE

14. USA
• The supreme court in USA is
enforcing its codified entrenched
constitution.
• Rulings /Third pillar of the congress
• Judicial Reviews
• Over ruling the executive and the
congress
• For life
• Doesn’t have a codified constitution
so no Judicial reviews
• Doesn’t curtail the powers of the
prime minister or the queen
• For fixed tenure
UK
SUPREME COURT

15. USA
• Federal parties
• Democrats and Republicans dominate the
federal and state elections with independents
securing small proportion of the votes
• Candidates are chosen by the system of
primaries
• In most of the states governors fill the vacant
seats by appointments
• No limitations on expenditure
• National as well as regional parties as well
• Conservatives and Labour win smaller share of
total votes as compared to the other national
and regional parties
• Candidates are chosen by the actual members of
relative parties
• By-elections
• Statuary limitations on expenditures
UK
POLITICAL PARTIES & ELECTIONS

16. End Note
Both the American presidential system and the British parliamentary system are the form
of democracy and are organized in such a way that they both have various strengths. Due
to the vote of no confidence, it is easy to end the term of prime minister within a
parliamentary system. Meanwhile it is harder to impeach a president. However, prime
ministers are dependent on the legislature while the presidents enjoy the independent
reign. They are able to make the decisions they believe are the best for the nation.
Despite all the differences and few similarities between the two systems, it is ultimately
the members of the nation who hold power and strong political institutions. By voting the
citizen can voice their choices and effect the change in their respective countries, no
matter their system of government.