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AQA GOV4A - The Government of the USA A2 Discussion
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MSc0tt
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#21
Would a question such as "The Separation of powers hinders effective government in the US." Discuss, require you to assess the positives and negatives of checks and balances basically and how each check helps or hinders government???
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ivybeetroot
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#22
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#22
(Original post by Taliahart)
It would be a really mean 30 marker but they asked about representation a few years ago which for me is even worse! :/
Definitely you could talk about committees.
I'd also mention impeachment (more of a threat than an actual power - it failed on Johnson and Clinton in the Senate)
They can also override the presidential veto - which is a major power.
Also they control the budget, stopping the executive from spending too much
For the other side of the argument you could talk about imperial presidents and how
Congress didn't act as an effective check! Especially Watergate.
You could compare to the UK where the executive IS the legislature so oversight is mainly provided by independent bodies or the shadow cabinet
It would be a really mean 30 marker but they asked about representation a few years ago which for me is even worse! :/
Definitely you could talk about committees.
I'd also mention impeachment (more of a threat than an actual power - it failed on Johnson and Clinton in the Senate)
They can also override the presidential veto - which is a major power.
Also they control the budget, stopping the executive from spending too much
For the other side of the argument you could talk about imperial presidents and how
Congress didn't act as an effective check! Especially Watergate.
You could compare to the UK where the executive IS the legislature so oversight is mainly provided by independent bodies or the shadow cabinet
In my notes checks and balances are in constitution but does this mean there'd be relevant here too?
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Taliahart
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#23
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#23
(Original post by ellamorr)
That makes a lot of sense, thankyou
In my notes checks and balances are in constitution but does this mean there'd be relevant here too?
That makes a lot of sense, thankyou
In my notes checks and balances are in constitution but does this mean there'd be relevant here too?
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ivybeetroot
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#24
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#24
(Original post by Taliahart)
Well, I'm not revising the constitution and I tend to use checks and balances a lot in my answers, so I'd say it was relevant! Even if it's not specifically "Legislature" it's still good synoptic stuff
Well, I'm not revising the constitution and I tend to use checks and balances a lot in my answers, so I'd say it was relevant! Even if it's not specifically "Legislature" it's still good synoptic stuff
Thankyou! Been a big help
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Taliahart
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#25
(Original post by ellamorr)
Yeah I just had a look around the internet and it seems to be the general consensus obviously as it is legislature on executive which is what Congress does with oversight. Makes sense now!
Thankyou! Been a big help
Yeah I just had a look around the internet and it seems to be the general consensus obviously as it is legislature on executive which is what Congress does with oversight. Makes sense now!
Thankyou! Been a big help
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safx41
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#26
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#26
Would would the for and against arguments be if a question such as ''Assess the suggestion that the US Constitution is too rigid'' were to come up? Can only think of the following...
Rigid - Difficult amendment process, much needed change can't happen as a result and it limits the scope of big government whilst favouring small government.
Flexible - Formal amendments occur, as do interpretive amendments via judicial review and at times of crisis, it can be bypassed (Executive orders, war, New Deal, Great Society programmes)
I feel as if I wouldn't be able to sustain a strong enough argument as to why it is too rigid... other than the point of a difficult amendment process.
Rigid - Difficult amendment process, much needed change can't happen as a result and it limits the scope of big government whilst favouring small government.
Flexible - Formal amendments occur, as do interpretive amendments via judicial review and at times of crisis, it can be bypassed (Executive orders, war, New Deal, Great Society programmes)
I feel as if I wouldn't be able to sustain a strong enough argument as to why it is too rigid... other than the point of a difficult amendment process.
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ivybeetroot
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#27
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#27
(Original post by safx41)
Would would the for and against arguments be if a question such as ''Assess the suggestion that the US Constitution is too rigid'' were to come up? Can only think of the following...
Rigid - Difficult amendment process, much needed change can't happen as a result and it limits the scope of big government whilst favouring small government.
Flexible - Formal amendments occur, as do interpretive amendments via judicial review and at times of crisis, it can be bypassed (Executive orders, war, New Deal, Great Society programmes)
I feel as if I wouldn't be able to sustain a strong enough argument as to why it is too rigid... other than the point of a difficult amendment process.
Would would the for and against arguments be if a question such as ''Assess the suggestion that the US Constitution is too rigid'' were to come up? Can only think of the following...
Rigid - Difficult amendment process, much needed change can't happen as a result and it limits the scope of big government whilst favouring small government.
Flexible - Formal amendments occur, as do interpretive amendments via judicial review and at times of crisis, it can be bypassed (Executive orders, war, New Deal, Great Society programmes)
I feel as if I wouldn't be able to sustain a strong enough argument as to why it is too rigid... other than the point of a difficult amendment process.
I think it is probable that 'does the US Constitution still work?' would be a potential question which is similar.
Federalism is a concept that is implicit in the Constitution so you could add bits about that in.
For rigid:
- It's good that it's a struggle because this prevents ill-decided amendments/legislation coming through.
- Constitution prevents tyranny and therefore needs to be rigid so that not one person can pass through lots of bills and there is equal share of power [Line-item veto act showed how the President could be perhaps too powerful and was declared unconstitutional]
- Some parts would be difficult to change and are no longer relevant e.g. 2nd amendment
For flexible:
- Allows for diversity and because of the implicit concept of federalism, is flexible in that it allows interpretation by different states and they can create their own legislation.
Just basic ideas, I think it's a complicated question so unlikely to come up.
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Endless Blue
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#28
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#28
(Original post by MSc0tt)
Would a question such as "The Separation of powers hinders effective government in the US." Discuss, require you to assess the positives and negatives of checks and balances basically and how each check helps or hinders government???
Would a question such as "The Separation of powers hinders effective government in the US." Discuss, require you to assess the positives and negatives of checks and balances basically and how each check helps or hinders government???
For:
- explain s.o.p and contrast to uk govt due to divisions etc
- go into checks and balances (plenty of examples) & how they hinder effective govt eg gridlock
- split-ticket voting + partisanship has exacerbated problem, use Obama govt as example
Against:
- failure of separation of powers to prevent concentration of power, ie Nixon arguably governed effectively as he controlled huge power
- they encourage a spirit of bipartisanship = positive for electorate and bills still get passed etc
- the founding fathers set out govt in this manner to prevent autocratic rule/tyranny and therefore it is 'effective' in terms of their aims
Badly written but those would be my key points either side.
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safx41
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#29
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#29
(Original post by ellamorr)
Think those are good points but you'd obviously have to flesh them out a bit and you'd feel a bit more confident about your argument.
I think it is probable that 'does the US Constitution still work?' would be a potential question which is similar.
Federalism is a concept that is implicit in the Constitution so you could add bits about that in.
For rigid:
For flexible:
Just basic ideas, I think it's a complicated question so unlikely to come up.
Think those are good points but you'd obviously have to flesh them out a bit and you'd feel a bit more confident about your argument.
I think it is probable that 'does the US Constitution still work?' would be a potential question which is similar.
Federalism is a concept that is implicit in the Constitution so you could add bits about that in.
For rigid:
- It's good that it's a struggle because this prevents ill-decided amendments/legislation coming through.
- Constitution prevents tyranny and therefore needs to be rigid so that not one person can pass through lots of bills and there is equal share of power [Line-item veto act showed how the President could be perhaps too powerful and was declared unconstitutional]
- Some parts would be difficult to change and are no longer relevant e.g. 2nd amendment
For flexible:
- Allows for diversity and because of the implicit concept of federalism, is flexible in that it allows interpretation by different states and they can create their own legislation.
Just basic ideas, I think it's a complicated question so unlikely to come up.
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MSc0tt
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#30
(Original post by safx41)
It does seem like a handful to be honest. I'm just trying to make out what would be the 30 mark since we've had one on federalism, limited govt and rights. What else could it be?
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It does seem like a handful to be honest. I'm just trying to make out what would be the 30 mark since we've had one on federalism, limited govt and rights. What else could it be?
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Endless Blue
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#31
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#31
(Original post by safx41)
It does seem like a handful to be honest. I'm just trying to make out what would be the 30 mark since we've had one on federalism, limited govt and rights. What else could it be?
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It does seem like a handful to be honest. I'm just trying to make out what would be the 30 mark since we've had one on federalism, limited govt and rights. What else could it be?
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So it could be a similar take on any of the previous ones, or maybe a different federalism one about state vs federal power.
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safx41
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#32
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#32
(Original post by Endless Blue)
It could be anything that they've already asked. It's the only topic I've found where they've asked entirely different questions every year.
So it could be a similar take on any of the previous ones, or maybe a different federalism one about state vs federal power.
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It could be anything that they've already asked. It's the only topic I've found where they've asked entirely different questions every year.
So it could be a similar take on any of the previous ones, or maybe a different federalism one about state vs federal power.
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ivybeetroot
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#33
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#33
(Original post by Endless Blue)
So it could be a similar take on any of the previous ones, or maybe a different federalism one about state vs federal power.
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So it could be a similar take on any of the previous ones, or maybe a different federalism one about state vs federal power.
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State vs federal power wouldn't be too bad though.
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Endless Blue
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#34
(Original post by ellamorr)
Do you think it's unlike to be about the phases of federalism? I just find that so boring I can't revise
State vs federal power wouldn't be too bad though.
Do you think it's unlike to be about the phases of federalism? I just find that so boring I can't revise
State vs federal power wouldn't be too bad though.
If federalism does come up I think it would be something like
'Federal govt increasingly dominates state governments.' Discuss.
Or maybe pros/cons, although highly unlikely.
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ECO_LAB
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#35
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#35
(Original post by safx41)
Would would the for and against arguments be if a question such as ''Assess the suggestion that the US Constitution is too rigid'' were to come up? Can only think of the following...
Rigid - Difficult amendment process, much needed change can't happen as a result and it limits the scope of big government whilst favouring small government.
Flexible - Formal amendments occur, as do interpretive amendments via judicial review and at times of crisis, it can be bypassed (Executive orders, war, New Deal, Great Society programmes)
I feel as if I wouldn't be able to sustain a strong enough argument as to why it is too rigid... other than the point of a difficult amendment process.
Would would the for and against arguments be if a question such as ''Assess the suggestion that the US Constitution is too rigid'' were to come up? Can only think of the following...
Rigid - Difficult amendment process, much needed change can't happen as a result and it limits the scope of big government whilst favouring small government.
Flexible - Formal amendments occur, as do interpretive amendments via judicial review and at times of crisis, it can be bypassed (Executive orders, war, New Deal, Great Society programmes)
I feel as if I wouldn't be able to sustain a strong enough argument as to why it is too rigid... other than the point of a difficult amendment process.
E.G
RIGID- it can become outdated not being able to adapt and change organically-elastic clauses- due to the const being rigid
Limits Gov- Elected by people but restricited by the states=undemocratic- the rigid const causes this
Flexible- on the other hand it entrenches the rights and protects them better if its rigid.
Prevents overpowered Gov
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ECO_LAB
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#36
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#36
i dont understand how to answer a question on this part:
The Supreme Court’s role as guardian of the Constitution through
constitutional interpretation.
How does SC protect the constituion?
The Supreme Court’s role as guardian of the Constitution through
constitutional interpretation.
How does SC protect the constituion?
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MSc0tt
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#37
(Original post by ECO_LAB)
i dont understand how to answer a question on this part:
The Supreme Court’s role as guardian of the Constitution through
constitutional interpretation.
How does SC protect the constituion?
i dont understand how to answer a question on this part:
The Supreme Court’s role as guardian of the Constitution through
constitutional interpretation.
How does SC protect the constituion?
PROTECTS:
*Judicial review, ensuring rights are not taken from citizens that go against the BoR etc
*Strict constructionists obstruct it from evolving too drastically
DOESN'T PROTECT:
*Loose constructionists alter the meaning rather drastically
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ECO_LAB
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#38
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#38
(Original post by MSc0tt)
PROTECTS:
*Judicial review, ensuring rights are not taken from citizens that go against the BoR etc
*Strict constructionists obstruct it from evolving too drastically
DOESN'T PROTECT:
*Loose constructionists alter the meaning rather drastically
PROTECTS:
*Judicial review, ensuring rights are not taken from citizens that go against the BoR etc
*Strict constructionists obstruct it from evolving too drastically
DOESN'T PROTECT:
*Loose constructionists alter the meaning rather drastically
BOR? stands for?
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Endless Blue
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#39
MSc0tt
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#40
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