Differences Between American vs British government

Last Updated on December 1, 2021 by QCity Editorial Stuff

In the United States, the government is separated into three branches: executive, judicial and legislative. In Great Britain, however, there are two main branches: legislature and executive. The legislative branch in America consists of a bicameral Congress that makes laws for the nation as a whole. In Britain, Parliament enacts legislation that applies to England or Wales – but not both at once – which means that each country has different laws for different parts of their respective nations. The British Executive Branch is composed of members from HM Government who serve as ministers under the Prime Minister’s direction. In contrast to this system, American cabinet officials all answer directly to President who may be impeached by Congress should he violate his oath of office or commit “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The Judicial Branch in America comprises the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

Although the United States and Great Britain are both known for their democratic forms of government, there are many differences between how each country is governed. The two nations have different political structures which affect how laws are passed, who holds power in society, and what rights citizens have. For example, the British Prime Minister is chosen by members of Parliament while in America it’s up to voters during an election to decide who will hold that position. Additionally, only Americans can vote for their President whereas all British citizens over 18 may vote for Parliament members. Overall, these countries’ governments share some similarities but also vary greatly in key areas such as lawmaking processes and voting rights.

Comparison between American and British government

Parameters of Comparison	American government	British government
Party	The United States has a two-party system	The UK has a multi-party system.
Vote	In the US, the president is elected by popular vote	In the UK, it’s done through Parliament
States	50 states	3 countries
Run	American presidents don’t run their own country	The Prime Minister runs the British government
Member	435	650

What is the American government?

Are you curious about what the American government is? Or do you want to learn more about the country that we live in and the history of our government system? If so, this blog post will help. In this blog post, I am going to talk about five things you need to know before jumping into learning more about American Government. First up: What is America’s current form of government? The United States has a federal republic form of government with separation between powers and checks and balances. This means that three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial have power over one another which helps ensure each branch does not go too far in their governing abilities. Second: What are some examples of civil rights or liberties guaranteed by law in the U.S.? The first amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees citizens the right to free speech, freedom of religion, and assembly.

The American government is the government of the United States. The U.S has a democratic form of government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch makes laws in Congress while its members are elected by citizens through voting districts. The executive branch executes laws and orders from the president who is also elected by citizens via a popular vote for four-year terms. Lastly, the judicial branch interprets law made by the other two branches when there is a dispute over their interpretation or legality of an action taken under these rules.

What is the British government?

The British government in the form of government in the United Kingdom. It consists of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature is bicameral (made up of two chambers), consisting of an upper house called the House of Lords and a lower house called the House of Commons. All bills that have received royal assent are part of British law, which has no formal constitution but instead relies on statute law and common law. This blog post will discuss four topics about what the British government is – how it’s made up, its branches, Parliament’s role in the legislation process, and constitutional issues with Britain’s system. 

The British government is a parliamentary system that consists of three different branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The legislative power is held by Parliament; this includes both houses: House of Lords and House of Commons. The executive powers are executed by members in the Cabinet (prime minister and ministers). Lastly, there’s the judiciary which includes courts such as UK Supreme Court or European Union Courts.

10 Differences Between American and British government

1. The United States has a two-party system, while the UK has a multi-party system.

2. In the US, the president is elected by popular vote and in the UK, it’s done through Parliament.

3. The President of America can veto laws passed by Congress but not in Britain.

4. There are only 50 states in America and 3 countries (England, Scotland, and Wales) in Britain.

5. The Prime Minister runs the British government while American presidents don’t run their own country – they represent their people to other nations on behalf of all Americans.

6. Members of parliament make up half or less than half of the British government while all members of congress make up the American government.

7. The United States government is a federal system in which the power to govern is divided between the national and state governments.

8. In Britain, there are three levels of government – central, regional (called “devolved”), and local.

9. The British House of Commons has 650 members who are elected by popular vote every five years.

10. There are 435 seats in the U.S House of Representatives that represent districts across America.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of American government

1. The President of the United States has a salary of $400,000.

2. There are 100 Senators in Congress.

3. America’s total debt is about $18 trillion.

4. The White House was designed by Irish architect James Hoban and built with white marble from Aquia Creek, VA.

5. In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

6. Every state has its flag except for Rhode Island and Maine.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of the British government

1. The United Kingdom has its own Parliament, Prime Minister, and currency.

2. It is one of the world’s five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

3. There are three types of government in Britain; Parliamentary Democracy (most common), Constitutional Monarchy (Queen Elizabeth II), or Direct Democracy (referendum).

4. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state for 16 Commonwealth countries including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand.

5. The UK does not have a written constitution but it has an unwritten one that was established by Acts of Parliament.

6. North America shares borders with two British Overseas Territories – Bermuda and Cayman Islands.

Conclusion

The information that has been shared in this blog post is informative and helpful. It may not be enough to answer all of your questions about the difference between the American government and the British government, but it should help you at least understand some of the major differences. For more detailed information on these topics, please visit our website or contact us so we can provide you with suggestions for further reading material. Our experts are here to walk alongside you as you learn.

The American government is a democracy while the British have an unwritten constitution. The United States was founded on principles of individual liberty and equality, whereas Great Britain’s system more closely resembles a monarchy with its rulers having absolute power over their subjects. In terms of size, population-wise the US would be considered one of the smaller countries in Europe while it’s significantly larger than any European country by area. Lastly, there are three branches to America’s national government: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Supreme Court).

References:

Resource 01: https://www.usa.gov/
Resource 02: https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works