The Constitution and federalism
How an entrenched constitution divides authority between national and state government — and why constitutional rules become political battlegrounds.
Free live online seminar · Part two
What to Expect from
A-level Politics: The USA
A practical introduction to the American side of the course: what students study, why the US system works so differently from Westminster and what to do now to arrive ready in September.
Monday 10 August7.30–8.15 pm
YouTube LiveOptional Q&A until 8.30 pm
FreeStudents and parents welcome
THE COMPARATIVE QUESTION
Why is America different?
The US course is not simply a list of unfamiliar institutions. It asks why presidential government, federalism, separated powers and constitutional supremacy produce politics unlike the British system.
The useful question is not merely “what happens?” but “why does the same political problem produce a different answer?”
What the course entails
Washington, properly connected.
Congress and the presidency
Separated institutions sharing powers: law-making, appointments, budgets, foreign policy and the recurring problem of divided government.
The Supreme Court and civil rights
Why judges possess greater constitutional authority than their UK counterparts, and how rights disputes become contests over interpretation, legitimacy and power.
Elections, parties and participation
Primaries, candidate-centred campaigning, pressure groups, turnout and the forces shaping representation in a vast federal democracy.
The comparative spine
Seven differences that unlock the course.
Entrenched v flexible
A codified, higher-law constitution compared with the UK’s largely uncodified and politically flexible arrangements.
Federal v unitary
Constitutionally protected state power compared with a formally unitary UK state modified by devolution.
Separation v fusion
Independent branches checking one another compared with an executive normally drawn from and sustained by Parliament.
President v prime minister
A separately elected head of the executive compared with a premier whose authority depends upon party and Commons support.
Senate v House of Lords
A powerful elected second chamber with equal state representation compared with a weaker, unelected revising chamber.
Constitutional v parliamentary supremacy
Courts able to invalidate legislation compared with a UK Supreme Court operating beneath parliamentary sovereignty.
Candidate v party politics
Weaker party discipline and highly personalised elections compared with the stronger party structures of Westminster.
What to do now
Prepare intelligently, not exhaustively.
Learn the institutional map
Know the basic relationships among the Constitution, states, Congress, president and Supreme Court before chasing detail.
Follow one reliable US news source
Build the habit of asking which institution is acting, what power it is using and what constrains it.
Create a UK–US comparison table
Organise differences around structure, political incentives and culture rather than collecting two unrelated sets of notes.
Begin an examples bank
Record developments beneath course headings and add one line explaining what each example might prove.
Reserve a USA place
Register for the USA seminar.
This registration is separate from the UK seminar. Registering for one does not automatically register you for the other.
Submit the form and the private YouTube joining link will be sent by email before the event.