Paper 3 USA Essay Questions

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PAPER 3: USA Comparative Government

▪        The US Constitution and Federalism

▪        Congress

▪        Presidency

▪        Supreme Court and civil rights

▪        US Democracy and Participation

▪        Comparative Theories (Rational, Cultural and Structural)

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 the American voters are the biggest influence on legislation.

DEMOCRACY: 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.

DEMOCRACY: 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.

DEMOCRACY: 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:

DEMOCRACY: 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.