Topic > Key Differences in Government in the US and UK

The US and the UK are two different states in the world. The United States, also known as the United States of America, has a federal and constitutional republican form of government, while the United Kingdom (UK) instills monarchical-parliamentary constitutional government. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Here are some key differences in how to govern: Perhaps the most fundamental difference between the American and British political systems is the constitution. The United States has a written constitution like most other nation states. The United Kingdom does not have a single document called a Constitution, but its constitutional provisions are scattered across various Acts of Parliament. The American Constitution is difficult to change and, in current political circumstances, perhaps impossible to significantly alter. The British Constitution, or various Acts of Parliament, can be amended by a simple majority of the legislature. The most obvious and certainly most visible difference between the American and British political systems is that the United States is a presidential system, with the apex of power in a president elected indirectly through an electoral college, while the United Kingdom is a parliamentary system , with the Prime Minister remaining in office and holding power only as long as he holds a majority of votes in the House of Commons. A US president is limited by the constitution to two four-year terms, while there is no limit on how long a British prime minister can hold the office. The American Cabinet is appointed by the President, but he does not preside over it or participate in it. The British Cabinet is appointed by the Prime Minister who normally attends and chairs each meeting. In the United States, both houses of parliament – ​​the Senate and the House of Representatives – are directly elected. In the United Kingdom, the House of Commons is directly elected, but the House of Lords is largely appointed, making it unique in the democratic world. In America, the Supreme Court is a highly political institution: its members are appointed by the President on a partisan basis. and its decisions are often highly political and highly controversial. In contrast, in Britain the Supreme Court is not appointed on a political basis and, like all British courts, avoids making decisions that it deems appropriate to politicians and Parliament. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In the United States, the term of a president, senator, or congressman is known as four years, six years, and two years, respectively, and election dates are fixed. In the UK, the term of office of members of the House of Commons - and therefore of the Government - is legally a maximum of five years, but traditionally a Prime Minister could call a general election whenever he wished and it was considered "cowardly" to wait for everyone five years and therefore elections were more typically held after about four years. However, the current coalition government has adopted legislation providing for a fixed five-year term, barring special circumstances.