22.4.3 Rational, Cultural, and Structural Approaches: Comparing UK and US Executive Branches

Rational, Cultural, and Structural Approaches to the UK and US Executive Branches

The executive branches of the UK and US have both similarities and differences that can be analysed through the lenses of rational, cultural, and structural approaches. Each approach offers a distinct perspective on why these branches operate as they do, and how their similarities and differences can be explained.

1. Rational Approach

Application to the Executive Branches:

UK:

• The Prime Minister often makes decisions based on political survival, balancing the interests of different factions within their party, and managing public opinion to remain in power.

• Cabinet reshuffles, policy decisions, and the timing of elections are often made with a view to maximizing political advantage, such as calling a snap election when the ruling party is ahead in the polls.

• The Prime Minister also engages in strategic relationships with key party members and influential backbenchers to maintain support within the party. US:

• The President often makes decisions that reflect electoral calculations, such as prioritizing policies that will appeal to key voter demographics or swing states, especially in the lead-up to elections.

• Executive orders and foreign policy decisions may be driven by the need to fulfill campaign promises or to achieve quick wins that boost approval ratings.

• The President's appointments to the Supreme Court or other key positions often reflect an effort to secure long-term influence, ensuring that appointees align with their ideological preferences. Similarities and Differences:

• Both the UK Prime Minister and the US President make decisions to maximize political advantage, but the mechanisms differ. The Prime Minister operates within a parliamentary system where maintaining party support is crucial, while the President operates within a system of checks and balances where electoral and legislative support are key.

2. Cultural Approach

Application to the Executive Branches:

UK:

• The UK's political culture emphasizes the "collective responsibility" of the Cabinet, where all ministers must publicly support government decisions or resign. This tradition fosters a sense of unity and discipline within the executive.

• The Prime Minister is often seen as "first among equals", reflecting a culture of collegiality and consensus within the Cabinet, although this can vary depending on the leadership style of the Prime Minister.

• The role of the Prime Minister has evolved within the context of the UK's long-standing tradition of parliamentary sovereignty, where the executive is accountable to Parliament. US:

• The US political culture places a strong emphasis on the separation of powers and checks and balances, which shapes the behavior of the executive. The President is expected to act independently of Congress but also within the constraints imposed by it.

• The "imperial presidency" is a concept that reflects the growing power of the executive in the US, particularly in foreign policy. This cultural expectation has developed over time, especially during and after the 20th century.

• The US also has a strong tradition of individualism, which is reflected in the President's ability to act unilaterally through executive orders, vetoes, and other powers. Similarities and Differences:

• Both systems are influenced by deep-seated political cultures, but the UK emphasizes collective decision-making and parliamentary accountability, while the US emphasizes individual executive power and independence from the legislature.

3. Structural Approach

Application to the Executive Branches:

UK:

• The UK's parliamentary system structures the executive's power, with the Prime Minister and Cabinet drawn from the majority party in the House of Commons. This creates a close link between the executive and legislature.

• The Prime Minister's power is largely dependent on maintaining the support of Parliament, especially the House of Commons, which can remove the government through a vote of no confidence.

• The lack of a written constitution allows for flexibility in the structure and powers of the executive, leading to a system where precedent and convention play significant roles. US:

• The US has a presidential system with a clear separation of powers, where the executive branch is distinct from the legislature. The President is independently elected and does not sit in Congress.

• The structure of checks and balances ensures that the President's power is limited by Congress (through legislation and budget control) and the judiciary (through judicial review).

• The fixed-term system for the Presidency provides stability but also limits flexibility, as the President cannot be easily removed from office except through impeachment. Similarities and Differences:

• Structurally, the UK and US executive branches operate under different systems—parliamentary versus presidential. The UK system ties the executive more closely to the legislature, while the US system emphasizes separation and independence.

Conclusion:

The rational, cultural, and structural approaches each offer valuable insights into the similarities and differences between the UK and US executive branches. The rational approach highlights the strategic decisions made by political leaders; the cultural approach emphasizes the traditions and norms that shape executive behavior; and the structural approach focuses on the formal rules and institutions that define the powers and limitations of the executive. Together, these approaches provide a comprehensive understanding of how the executive branches function in both countries and why they differ in key respects.

Examine the ways in which the UK PM and the US Presidents can seek to influence foreign policy

Paragraph 1:

• Commander-in-chief of the armed forces

• Both the UK PM and US President are the head of the army

• Eg UK, Blair supported the Iraq War and Thatcher ordered troops to defend the Falkland Islands

• Eg US, Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani

• Both Biden and Sunak launched airstrikes on the Houthi rebels Paragraph 2:

• Through treaties and trade agreements

• Eg US, Trump removed the US from the Paris Accord on climate change which Obama initially joined

• Eg UK, Johnson signed the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which Sunak had to update through the Windsor Framework Paragraph 3:

• Immigration control

• Eg UK, Rishi Sunak wanted to 'stop the boats' to prevent immigration. He wanted to send the immigrants to Rwanda to control immigration into the UK

• Eg US, Trump's 'Build a Wall' project. This is where a wall will be built between the US-Mexico border to prevent mass immigration into the US from Mexico