How can we compare the politics of the UK and the USA?
The comparative approaches of rational, cultural and structural theories, and how they explain the similarities and differences between the constitutions, legislatures, executives, judiciaries and democracies of the UK and the USA.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the comparative approaches of rational, cultural and structural theories, and how they explain the similarities and differences between the government and politics of the UK and the USA.
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain the three comparative approaches (rational, cultural and structural theories) and use them to compare the constitutions, legislatures, executives, judiciaries and democracies of the UK and the USA, identifying both similarities and differences.
What is comparative politics?
The three theories
Comparing the UK and the USA
- Constitution: the US has a codified, entrenched, supreme constitution interpreted by the courts; the UK an uncodified, flexible constitution resting on parliamentary sovereignty. A structural approach stresses how this single difference shapes almost everything that follows.
- Legislature: US Congress has co-equal chambers and real independence from the executive (a separation of powers); the UK Parliament is usually dominated by an executive drawn from and sitting within it (a fusion of powers).
- Executive: a separately elected president with fixed constitutional powers and term limits, versus a prime minister with no separate mandate who depends on commanding a Commons majority.
- Judiciary: the US Supreme Court can strike down federal and state laws through judicial review; the UK Supreme Court cannot strike down statute because of parliamentary sovereignty, only interpret it or issue declarations of incompatibility.
- Democracy and participation: both have free elections and active pressure or interest groups (a cultural similarity in valuing participation), but they differ in electoral systems, party systems, the use of primaries and the far greater role of money in the US (shaped by structural rules such as Citizens United).
A strong answer applies a comparative theory consistently. Rational theory explains, for example, why members of Congress prioritise local interests (re-election); cultural theory explains the deeper US attachment to rights and distrust of central power; structural theory explains how codification and the separation of powers produce a more constrained, gridlock-prone system than the UK fusion. The best answers use a theory to explain differences, not merely list them, and recognise similarities as well as contrasts.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 201912 marksAnalyse, using one comparative theory, the differences between the UK and US judiciaries. (Paper 3, Section B-style comparative essay rescoped to 12.)Show worked answer →
A focused comparative essay applying a single theory consistently.
Using structural theory: institutions shape behaviour. The US Supreme Court interprets a codified, entrenched, supreme constitution, so judicial review lets it strike down laws (Marbury v Madison 1803). The UK Supreme Court operates under parliamentary sovereignty and an uncodified constitution, so it can only interpret statute or issue declarations of incompatibility, not strike laws down.
Analyse how the structural difference (codified versus uncodified, supreme constitution versus sovereign Parliament) explains the contrasting power of the two courts.
Markers reward consistent use of one theory, accurate institutional detail, and analysis rather than mere description.
AQA 202112 marksAnalyse, using cultural theory, the differences between political participation in the UK and the USA. (Paper 3, Section B-style comparative essay rescoped to 12.)Show worked answer →
A focused comparative essay applying cultural theory consistently.
Using cultural theory: shared values and traditions shape behaviour. US political culture stresses individualism, distrust of central government, rights and frequent elections (for many offices), encouraging certain forms of participation but also low turnout in some contests. UK culture, shaped by parliamentary tradition and a stronger collectivist strand, channels participation differently, through parties and Parliament.
Analyse how contrasting cultures explain differences in participation, while noting the limits of a purely cultural explanation.
Markers reward consistent use of cultural theory, accurate examples, and analysis of how culture explains the difference.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA A-level Politics (7152) specification — AQA (2017)