Comparative Govt: UK, USA & India – Systems, Powers & Challenges

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TAKEAWAYS:

• The UK has a parliamentary monarchy with a fusion of powers (Prime Minister leads both government and Parliament), while the USA has a presidential system with separation of powers (President, Congress, and Supreme Court are independent).
• India combines elements of both: a parliamentary system (like the UK) with a federal structure (like the USA) and a strong judiciary (like the USA).
• The UK’s House of Lords is unelected, while the USA’s Senate has equal state representation, and India’s Rajya Sabha represents states but with proportional power.
• Federalism in the USA and India decentralizes power to states, but the UK’s unitary system keeps power centralized (though devolution gives some autonomy to Scotland/Wales).
• Key challenges include Brexit (UK), polarized politics (USA), and caste-based politics (India)—all tested in NEB short/long questions.

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1. Introduction to Comparative Government

Comparative government studies how different countries organize their political systems, powers, and governance. The UK, USA, and India are classic examples because:

• They represent three major democratic models:
  • UK: Parliamentary monarchy (hereditary monarch + elected government).
  • USA: Presidential republic (directly elected President + Congress).
  • India: Federal parliamentary republic (President + Prime Minister + federal states).
• They influence Nepal’s own political system (e.g., federalism, proportional representation).
• NEB often asks how these systems differ in executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

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2. The UK: Parliamentary Monarchy with Fusion of Powers

Key Features

How It Works

1. Monarchy: The King/Queen is the head of state (symbolic role, no real power). Power is passed by heredity (e.g., King Charles III succeeded Queen Elizabeth II).

   • IMAGE: British monarchy family tree | Succession line from Queen Victoria to King Charles III

2. Parliamentary System:

   • House of Commons (elected by people, 650 MPs) selects the Prime Minister (leader of the majority party).
   • House of Lords (unelected, appointed/life peers) reviews laws but cannot block them indefinitely.
   • Fusion of Powers: The PM is both head of government and leader of the majority party in Parliament.

3. Executive:

   • Prime Minister (e.g., Rishi Sunak) + Cabinet (senior ministers) run the government.
   • Collective Responsibility: Cabinet ministers must support PM’s decisions or resign.

4. Judiciary:

   • Supreme Court (highest court) interprets laws but cannot strike down laws (unlike USA/India).
   • No judicial review of Parliament’s laws (Parliament is sovereign).

Advantages & Disadvantages

Solved Example: Who Appoints the PM in the UK?

Question: "How is the Prime Minister of the UK selected?" Answer:

1. General Election → People vote for MPs in House of Commons.
2. Majority Party → The party with most seats forms the government.
3. Leader of Majority Party becomes PM (e.g., Boris Johnson was PM after Conservatives won 2019 election).
4. Monarch formally appoints PM (ceremonial role).

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3. The USA: Presidential Republic with Separation of Powers

Key Features

How It Works

1. Presidential System:

   • President (e.g., Joe Biden) is directly elected (via Electoral College) for 4-year terms.
   • No fusion of powers: President is separate from Congress.

2. Legislature (Congress):

   • Bicameral: House of Representatives (435 members, based on state population) + Senate (100 members, 2 per state).
   • Checks on President:
     • House can impeach President.
     • Senate holds impeachment trial.
     • Congress controls budget.

3. Judiciary:

   • Supreme Court (9 justices) has judicial review (can strike down unconstitutional laws).
   • Example: Roe v. Wade (1973) legalized abortion; later overturned in 2022.

4. Federalism:

   • Power is shared between federal government and states.
   • States have their own constitutions, governors, and courts.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Solved Example: How Does the USA Check the President’s Power?

Question: "Explain two ways the US Congress can limit the President’s power." Answer:

1. Impeachment:

   • House of Representatives can impeach (accuse) the President for treason, bribery, or high crimes.
   • Senate holds the trial (needs 2/3 majority to remove).
   • Example: Bill Clinton (1998) and Donald Trump (2019, 2021) were impeached (but acquitted).

2. Budget Control:

   • Congress approves the federal budget.
   • If they refuse funding, the President cannot spend money.
   • Example: Government shutdowns (2018–19) due to budget disputes.

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4. India: Federal Parliamentary Republic with Strong Judiciary

Key Features

How It Works

1. Parliamentary System (like UK):

   • President (e.g., Droupadi Murmu) is ceremonial (elected by Electoral College).
   • Prime Minister (e.g., Narendra Modi) is leader of majority party in Lok Sabha.

2. Legislature:

   • Parliament:
     • Lok Sabha (lower house, 543 members, elected by people).
     • Rajya Sabha (upper house, 250 members, represents states).
   • State Legislatures: Each state has its own governor, chief minister, and assembly.

3. Judiciary (like USA):

   • Supreme Court can strike down unconstitutional laws (e.g., Kesavananda Bharati case 1973).
   • Judicial Activism: Courts intervene in social issues (e.g., right to privacy, environmental cases).

4. Federalism (like USA):

   • Power is shared between Union (central) and States.
   • Concurrent List: Both Union and States can make laws (e.g., education, forests).
   • State Autonomy: States have their own constitutions, police, and education systems.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Solved Example: How Is India’s System Different from the UK’s?

Question: "Compare India’s and the UK’s legislative structures." Answer:

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5. Comparison Table: UK vs. USA vs. India