Paper 3 US · 2023 Mock · 12 marks
Analyse the differences in how US presidents and UK prime ministers may be held accountable by their legislatures.
Executive
Mark scheme: agreement
AO1: UK PM faces MPs at PMQs weekly, no equivalent in US.
AO2: This means there are more opportunities for the UK Parliament to hold the PM directly account than the US Congress has for the President.
AO1: UK PM scrutinised by the Liaison Committee 2 times a year, US Congressional Committees cannot compel president to testify.
AO2: Separation of powers means the US Congress has no direct power to force presidents to account for their actions, unlike the UK Parliament.
AO1: US Congress can refuse to introduce legislation proposed by president in State of the Union address but UK Parliament must debate Bills proposed by PM.
AO2: US President is more reliant on Congress to pass legislation as they have no power of initiation than the UK PM, who arguably is less accountable as they can use party loyalty to force legislation through.
AO1: US Congress can overturn presidential veto with 2/3 majority but Parliament cannot force PM to pass legislation as PM has no overall veto.
AO2: This gives the US Congress more power to force legislation to be passed than the UK
AO1: Parliament; however, the UK PM may pass secondary legislation through Orders in Council without parliamentary approval.