Compare: President v PM Flashcards
4
Describe the similarities between the President and PM in their role as head of state
- Role as commander in chief rests in practice with both PM (royal prerogative) and President
- Legislatives in both countries becoming more assertive to limit these powers
- Both act as global representatives, negotiation treaties and visiting foreign nations
- Both carry out ceremonial duties, though increasingly limited
3
Describe the differences between the President and PM in their role as head of state
- Head of state: President vs monarch (not PM)
- President holds exclusive powers to veto, power of pardon vs exercised by monarch in UK
- PM easily gains approval for treaties due to majority vs subject to 2/3 senate confirmation
1
Describe the similarity between the PM and President in terms of cabinet
- Both able to make nominations to cabinet
3
Describe the differerences between the PM and President in terms of cabinet
- President’s cabinet subject to Senate approval, unlike UK
- Cabinet not collective body in US, unike UK -> UK cabinet power exceeds US
- Cabinet must be drawn from Parliament in UK vs experts in US
4
Describe the similarity between the PM and President in their legislative control
- Both set annual legislative agenda through State of Union and Queen’s Speech (written by government)
- Both limited by legislatures
- PM: low popularity/small majorities + HoL
- President: losing one or both chambers of Congress
3
Describe difference between the PM and President in their legislative control
- PM usually has majority in HoC
- Presdient likely to face congressional opposition for some time
- Stronger whipping system in UK
1
Describe the similarity between the President and PM in the influence of judicial rulings
- Both effectively subject to juidicial rulings due to independent judiciary
3
Describe the difference between the President and PM in the influence of judicial rulings
- Parliament is sovereign (which PM retains control over) so UK SC powers lack sovereignty
- US SC can strike down president action by interpreting constitution
- However President has more control over composition of SC which can impact their rulings
1
Similarity: PM and President - political parties
- Both seen as leader of respective parties, even if President does not formally hold this role
4
Similarity: impact on government
- Both set legislative agendas - policy desires and react to political curcumstances
- Both have broad control over FP
- Both challenged by other branches/cabinet
- Both have mechanics to control party and push through agenda
5
Difference: impact on government
- Final say over legislation
- PM more likely to pass most of their legislative agenda and face less defeats
- PM ‘elective dictatorship’ vs ‘imperilled’/’imperial’ President
- Punitive punishment by PM (whips and demotions) vs positive power of persuasion by President
- President has greater singular impact to reshape executive, contrasting collective body in UK (e.g. big beasts)
2
Difference: final say over legislation
- Legislation not supported by PM unlikely to pass, but can
- President can more effectively ensure it does not pass (veto)
2
Difference: delegated legislation
- UK: SIs derived from primary legislation
- US: exec actions not derived from primary legisaltion
4
Similarity: accountability to legislature
- Passage of legislation subject to scrutiny and amendments even when forced through
- Both legislatures attempting to assert control over FP
- Actions of both govts subject to investigations
- Both can remove executive, though remains rare
3
Difference: accountability to legislature
- Majority in UK → limited scrutiny vs divided government in US
- Fused nature of UK, whipping system vs primaries leads to less loyalty to President
- short election cycle makes Congress more reactive and limiting of Presidential influence
