Edexcel Paper  3 Questions 2019-2025

2025

JUDICIARY 1a) Examine the differences in powers between Supreme Courts.

CONGRESS 1b) Examine the similarities in the legislative powers of US Congress and UK Parliament

CONSTITUTION 2) Analyse how the US and UK constitutions differ. Comparative Theory.

FEDERALISM 3a) Evaluate the view that federalism is declining in the USA.

CONGRESS 3b) Evaluate the view that Congress fails to adequately hold the president to account.

JUDICIARY 3c) Evaluate the view that civil and constitutional rights have been successfully upheld by the US Supreme Court.

2024

CONSTITUTION 1a) Examine the differences in how rights are protected in the US and the UK.

ELECTIONS 1b) Examine the similarities in campaign finance and party funding in the US and the UK.

FEDERALISM 2) Analyse how devolution in the UK differs from federalism in the USA. Comparative Theory.

JUDICIARY 3a) Evaluate the view that the US Supreme Court is a political body rather than a judicial body.

CONGRESS 3b) Evaluate the view that American voters are the biggest influence on legislation.

INTEREST GROUPS 3c) Evaluate the view that interest groups in the USA have a negative impact on democracy.

2023

CONGRESS 1a) Examine the difference between the US Senate and the UK House of Lords.

PARTIES 1b) Examine the similarities between the policies of one main US political party and one main political party in the UK.

PRESIDENT 2) Analyse how the role and powers of the US President and UK Prime Minister are similar. Comparative Theory.

CONGRESS 3a) Evaluate the view that Congress is unrepresentative.

CONSTITUTION 3b) Evaluate the view that the checks and balances in the US Constitution are effective.

ELECTIONS 3c) Evaluate the view that the most significant problem with the US electoral system is the failure to reform campaign finance.

2022:

CONGRESS: 1a) Examine the differences in the checks and balances on the US Congress and the UK Parliament.

INTEREST GROUPS: 1b) Examine the ways in which the methods used by US interest groups and UK pressure groups differ.

PRESIDENT: 2) Analyse how the US President could be considered less effective than the UK Prime Minister in achieving their legislative goals. Comparative Theory.

PRESIDENT: 3a) Evaluate the view that the President is the most powerful branch of government rather than the Supreme Court or Congress.

CIVIL RIGHTS: 3b) Evaluate the view that Congress has protected civil and constitutional rights more effectively than the Supreme Court.

INTEREST GROUPS: 3c) Evaluate the view that interest groups are more effective than political parties at influencing the outcome of presidential elections.

2021:

CONSTITUTION: 1a) Examine the different natures of the US and UK constitutions.

JUDICIARY: 1b) Examine the features of the US and UK Supreme Courts designed to ensure independence from political influence.

CONGRESS: 2) Analyse how the US Senate has greater power than the UK House of Lords. Comparative Theory.

PARTIES: 3a) Evaluate the view that the main factors affecting voting behaviour in Congress are the divisions within and between the political parties.

FEDERALISM: 3b) Evaluate the view that the growth in presidential power has led to a corresponding decline in federalism.

CIVIL RIGHTS: 3c) Evaluate the view that affirmative action has been more significant than minority participation in Congress in promoting racial equality.

2020:

CONGRESS: 1a) Examine how the powers of the US Congress and the UK Parliament are limited in different ways.

PRESIDENT: 1b) Examine the ways in which the roles of the US President and the UK Prime Minister are different.

PARTIES: 2) Analyse how united the main political parties are in the USA and the UK. Comparative Theory.

PARTIES: 3a) Evaluate the view that the presidential power of persuasion is the most significant influence on the policies and ideas of political parties.

CONSTITUTION: 3b) Evaluate the view that the constitutional system of checks and balances is an obstacle to effective government.

JUDICIARY 3c) Evaluate the view that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court ensure it is a political body rather than a judicial one.

2019

INTEREST GROUPS 1a) Examine how interest groups in the USA are more effective at protecting civil rights than pressure groups in the UK.

FEDERALISM 1b) Examine how devolution in the UK differs from federalism in the USA.

CONGRESS 2) Analyse the different legislative powers of the UK Parliament and the US Congress. Comparative Theory.

CONGRESS 3a) Evaluate the view that US foreign policy is dominated as much by Congress as by the presidency.

CONSTITUTION 3b) Evaluate the view that the effective working of the US Constitution depends more on interest groups than the Supreme Court.

ELECTIONS 3c) Evaluate the view that the procedures for electing US presidents and members of Congress are not fit for purpose.