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Which institutional feature most directly affects legislation, oversight power purse — the functions, powers and effectiveness of Congress in legislation, oversight and the power of the purse? Use the relevant political concepts and evidence from The legislative branch of government Congress.
- A.Define constitutional arrangements, compare the UK and USA through the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers, test evidence, then judge how far different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability.
- B.Define constitutional arrangements, then write two separate country descriptions with no connection.
- C.Start with a judgement and omit the institutional evidence.
- D.Assume UK and US constitutional institutions are directly interchangeable and avoid evaluating the difference.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The correct answer is Define constitutional arrangements, compare the UK and USA through the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers, test evidence, then judge how far different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability.
Explanation
Why this works
Define constitutional arrangements, compare the UK and USA through the UK constitution is uncodified and retains parliamentary sovereignty, whereas the US Constitution is codified, federal and based on a formal separation of powers, test evidence, then judge how far different constitutional rules alter institutional checks and accountability. This is correct because the structure links AO1 knowledge, AO2 comparison and AO3 judgement to constitutional arrangements.
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 "Analyse and evaluate the functions, powers and effectiveness of Congress in legislation, oversight and the power of the purse.".
Common mistake
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