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Component 3: Comparative Politics (USA)

9 dot points across 9 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do the rational, cultural and structural approaches explain differences between US and UK politics?

Component 3A.6.1: the three comparative theoretical approaches (rational, cultural and structural) and the different ways they explain similarities and differences between the government and politics of the UK and USA.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on the comparative theories, covering the rational, cultural and structural approaches, what each focuses on, and how they explain similarities and differences between the government and politics of the UK and USA, the compulsory focus of Section B.
12 min answer →

How do the UK and US party systems, campaign finance and pressure groups compare?

Component 3A.6.9 to 6.10: comparing and debating UK and US democracy and participation (party systems, internal party unity, party policy profiles, campaign finance and pressure groups), and how rational, cultural and structural approaches account for the differences.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer comparing UK and US democracy and participation, covering the two-party and multi-party systems, internal party unity, the policy profiles of the main parties, campaign finance and party funding, and the power and methods of pressure groups, explained through rational, cultural and structural approaches.
13 min answer →

How do the UK and US constitutions, legislatures, executives and courts compare?

Component 3A.6.2 to 6.8: comparing and debating the UK and US constitutions, legislatures, executives and judiciaries, and how rational, cultural and structural approaches account for the similarities and differences.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer comparing UK and US government, covering the codified and uncodified constitutions, the legislatures, the powers of the president and prime minister, the relative independence of the two supreme courts, and how rational, cultural and structural approaches explain the similarities and differences.
14 min answer →

How does the US Constitution distribute and limit power, and how federal is the USA today?

Component 3A.1: the nature of the US Constitution (vagueness, codification, entrenchment), its key features (federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, bipartisanship, limited government), the amendment process and the federalism debate.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on the US Constitution and federalism, covering the codified and entrenched nature of the document, federalism, the separation of powers and checks and balances, limited government, the amendment process, and the debate over how federal the USA remains today.
13 min answer →

What are the formal and informal sources of presidential power, and why does it vary?

Component 3A.3: the formal and informal sources of presidential power, the relationships with Congress and the Supreme Court, the limitations on the president, and the debate over the imperial presidency, with reference to presidents since 1992.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on the US presidency, covering the formal constitutional powers and informal sources of power such as executive orders and the power of persuasion, EXOP, the relationships with Congress and the Supreme Court, the limitations on presidential power, and the debate over the imperial presidency, with reference to presidents since 1992.
14 min answer →

How powerful is the US Supreme Court, and how well does it protect civil rights?

Component 3A.4: the nature, role and independence of the US Supreme Court, judicial review, the appointment process, judicial activism and restraint, and the protection of civil liberties and race and rights in contemporary US politics.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on the US Supreme Court and civil rights, covering the nature and role of the Court, judicial review from Marbury v Madison, the appointment process and ideological balance, judicial activism and restraint, the protection of civil liberties, and race and rights in contemporary US politics.
14 min answer →

How are civil liberties and rights protected in the USA, and how contested are race and rights today?

Component 3A.4.4 to 4.6: the protection of civil liberties and rights through the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Supreme Court rulings, race and rights in contemporary US politics, and the debates over their effectiveness.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on US civil liberties and rights, covering the protection of rights through the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Supreme Court rulings, race and rights in contemporary US politics including voting rights, affirmative action and representation, and the debates over how effectively rights are protected.
13 min answer →

How is US Congress structured, and how well does it perform its functions?

Component 3A.2: the bicameral structure and powers of Congress, its functions of representation, legislation and oversight, the significance of incumbency, and the debates over its effectiveness.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on US Congress, covering its bicameral structure, the distribution of powers between the House and Senate, the functions of representation, legislation and oversight, the significance of incumbency, partisanship and gridlock, and the debates over how effectively Congress works.
13 min answer →

How does US democracy work, and do money and interest groups distort it?

Component 3A.5: US electoral systems and presidential elections, campaign finance, the Democratic and Republican parties and their coalitions, interest groups and PACs, and the debates over US democracy and participation.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on US democracy and participation, covering the presidential election process and the electoral college, campaign finance and Citizens United, the ideas and coalitions of the Democratic and Republican parties, interest groups, PACs and Super PACs, and the debates over US democracy.
14 min answer →