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What Are the Similarities and Differences Between the Political Systems in U.K and U.S?

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What are the similarities and differences between the political systems in U.K and U.S?

When the U.S. Constitution was being drafted, its writers had the British Parliamentary system to base on. The British system was the system they were used to and had learnt since childhood. However, because the monarchy was one of the main things that the former colonists had rebelled against, any form of monarchy and most forms of concentrated power were avoided.

The most fundamental difference between the political system in the U.K and the U.S is the constitution. The United States has a written constitution which is very difficult to change. The UK does not have a single document called the constitution but instead its constitutional …show more content…

The Upper House
The United States has a Senate as the upper house of the legislative branch and the U.K. has the House of Lords. Under the U.S. system, each state, regardless of size, has two senators. Originally, senators were appointed by the governor of the state they represented but they are now elected to serve six-year terms. The House of Lords is very different. Members of the House of Lords are not elected. The 792 members of the House of Lords are members by inheritance, appointment or their rank in the Church of England; they are not elected and cannot be removed by vote. This part of the political system in the U.K is not democratic. Otherwise the House of Lords serve the same purpose as the U.S. Senate. They discuss, debate and vote on legislation passed by the lower house of the legislative branch.

The Lower House
The U.S. House of Representatives and the British House of Commons have a great deal in common. Each house is made up of representatives elected by the people. In both systems control of the lower house goes to the party that has the most seats. Under the U.K. system, the leader of the party with the most seats becomes the Prime Minister and the official head of the government. Under the U.S. system this person would be the Speaker of the House. One other key difference is elections. Under the parliamentary system, the prime minister can go to the crown at any point and ask to dissolve Parliament. If this is done an election

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