Exam-style question
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Which political example would most clearly test debates gender, class, ethnicity — awareness of how suffrage has changed from the Great Reform Act 1832 to the present, including debates about gender, class, ethnicity and age? Use the relevant political concepts and evidence from Democracy and participation.
- A.the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers; this matters because different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability.
- B.The UK and USA have identical structures for constitutional arrangements.
- C.Only political culture matters, so institutions can be ignored when comparing constitutional arrangements.
- D.Describe the UK and USA separately without identifying a similarity, difference or consequence.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The correct answer is the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers; this matters because different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability.
Explanation
Why this works
the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers; this matters because different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability. This is correct because AO2 requires an explicit institutional comparison and explains that different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability.
Apply parliamentary sovereignty, codification, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, conventions and judicial review precisely. the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers.
A structural viewpoint emphasises formal rules; however, a rational or cultural viewpoint may explain how actors use those rules. Overall, judge the evidence from an Act, convention, constitutional provision, ruling or institutional example and explain whether different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability for "Develop awareness of how suffrage has changed from the Great Reform Act 1832 to the present, including debates about gender, class, ethnicity and age.".
Common mistake
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