TAMANA GUPTA

Sem 6, 22BBAP035
Submitted to: Sneha

Worksheet 1

Parameters for UK US Brazil

comparison

Historical The UK has a long The US emerged Despite extreme

Background history of from a revolution inequality and poverty,
constitutional against British Brazil has avoided
monarchy, gradually colonial rule and major revolutions or
evolving into a adopted a written widespread political
parliamentary Constitution in 1787, violence. Its elite have
democracy. The which established a maintained control
United Kingdom is federal republic with through a mix of weak
one of only a handfulclear separation of democracies and
of democracies powers between military rule. From
without a written branches of 1964 to 1985, a
constitution. government. The dictatorship suppressed
political history of opposition, but the
Early Foundations the US includes country transitioned
(1215–1600) significant events peacefully to
Magna Carta (1215) , such as the Civil War democracy. Since the
Model Parliament and Civil Rights 1980s, Brazil has held
(1295), Reformation movements, shaping regular elections and
(1530s) and English its current democratic maintained civil
Civil War (1642– structure. liberties. The 2002
1648): Conflict election of Lula, a
between the working-class
monarchy and •The colonial Era president, marked a
Parliament, which (1607–1776): British milestone. However,
ended with the Colonies and challenges remain:
execution of King Expansion, State deep inequality, crime,
Charles I, Building (1776- corruption, and of
 1865): Declaration of Brazil's democracy
establishing Independence raise concerns about its
Parliament’s (1776),Division long-term stability and
supremacy. between north and capacity for reform.
Rise of Constitutional south and Article of
Monarchy (1600- Confideration in • Colonial Era (1500–
1700) 1781 and new 1822)
constitution ratified • Empire and
-Glorious Revolution in 1788. American Independence (1822–
(1688): Led to the evolution (1775– 1889)
overthrow of King 1783): • Old Republic (1889–
James II and the 1930)
establishment of a • Reconstruction and •Vargas Era and
constitutional Growth( 1865-1945):
monarchy with Authoritarianism
Civil war ended (1930–1945)
William and Mary. (1865), Great • Second Republic and
- Bill of Rights Depression(1929) Populism (1945–1964)
(1689): Established and New Deal(1903- • Military Dictatorship
parliamentary 1920) (1964–1985)
sovereignty and • Return to Democracy
• Pax Americana
guaranteed individual (1985–Present)
(1945- onwards ):
rights, further
limiting royal the u.s. played key
authority. roles in world war i
-Act of Union (1707): and world war ii.
Unified England and after world war ii, it
Scotland into Great emerged as a global
Britain. superpower and took
a leadership role in
Expansion of establishing
Parliamentary international
Democracy (1700– institutions like the
1800)
united nations. after
Industrial Revolution the cold war, the u.s.
(Late 1700s), Reform became the world’s
Acts (1832-1867) leading power. it has
faced new challenges
 such as terrorism,
The British Empire political polarization,
and Global Power technological change,
(1800–1900) and debates over
Post-WWII: Welfare healthcare,
state established, but immigration, and
economic decline climate policy.
leads to
Thatcherism in the
1980s, favoring
market reforms.

Late 20th-21st
centuries: Devolution
grants regional
powers; Brexit in
2016 challenges the
UK’s relationship
with the EU.

•Along history of
The historical authoritarianism and
Implications: development of the oligarchic control
- Shift from absolute u.s. shaped a weakened democratic
monarchy to democratic political institutions and
constitutional culture emphasizing excluded marginalized
democracy. liberty, federalism, groups.
-Legacy of empire and constitutional
•Legacy of slavery,
and global influence. governance. its
expansion, civil unequal land
-Social and economic conflict, and global distribution, and
transformations role continue to limited political access
shaped modern UK influence domestic continue to shape
politics. policy and Brazil’s social and
economic inequalities.
-Regional autonomy international
and Brexit raise relations. the •Economic
questions about country’s founding Dependence and
 ideals are central, but Regional Imbalance,
national unity. so are the ongoing Military Influence,
struggles to fully Populism and
realize them for all Patronage, Economic
citizens. Dependence and
Regional Imbalance
followed by Political
Instability.

Political Systems UK has a The US operates as Constitution: Adopted

parliamentary a federal in 1988, Brazil’s
system, where the republic with constitution ensures
legislature a presidential system. democratic rights,
(Parliament) is The President is both federalism, and
supreme, and real the head of state and separation of powers. It
power is concentrated government, and the strictly limits
in the Prime Minister system operates emergency powers and
and the cabinet. under a strict is difficult to amend.
separation of powers Government Structure:
• The Crown (executive, Brazil is a presidential
Symbolizes the unity legislative, and federal republic with
of the state and the judicial branches). three branches:
continuity of The US has a two-
government. The party system, where - Executive:President
monarch's role is the Democrats and is both head of state
mostly ceremonial. Republicans and government;
powerful but often
Prime Minister: Head dominate, though constrained by weak
of Government and third parties exist.
party alliances.
leader of the majority
party in the House of l - Legislature: National
Commons. Congress with two
houses (Chamber of
Cabinet: A group of
senior ministers Deputies & Federal
chosen by the Prime Senate); uses
Minister, typically proportional
from the House of representation, leading
Commons, who are to many small parties.
responsible for
specific government - Judiciary:
functions. Independent courts,
including the Supreme
Parliament: Consists Federal Tribunal and
of two chambers: the Electoral Court
House of Commons which helps ensure fair
(The lower house) elections.
with 646 Members of
Parliament (MPs) - Electoral System:
elected through the Voting is mandatory for
first-past-the-post literate adults; elections
system. And House are competitive but
of Lords: The upper fragmented due to a
house large number of
political parties.
The Judiciary: The
Supreme Court of the - Local Government:
UK is the highest Federalism allows for
court, and judicial significant state and
independence ensures local autonomy.
that legal decisions - Military and Police:
are free from political Historically powerful,
influence. the military played a
Devolution: While major political role,
the UK is especially during the
traditionally a unitary dictatorship (1964–
state, there have 1985)
been recent moves
toward devolution,
giving more powers
to the regions
 (Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland).

The UK’s unwritten

constitution allows The proportional
for quick adaptability electoral system
as constitutional produces many weak
changes can be made parties, making it
easily through acts of difficult to build stable
Parliament. This legislative coalitions.
provides political - States and local
flexibility but has governments have
been criticized for significant power,
Implications : lacking clear, formal which can enhance
protections of rights. representation. It also
Parliamentary creates disparities in
Supremacy: With public services and
Parliament holding governance quality.
supreme power, the - Greater legitimacy of
government can pass elections, but slow
laws and make legal processes and
changes more corruption persist.
efficiently than in
countries with rigid,
written constitutions.
Executive Power:
The Prime Minister is
one of the most
powerful heads of
government in the
world, with
significant authority
due to party
discipline and
 majority support in
Parliament.

Civil Liberties:
Broad freedoms
(speech, press,
religion, privacy) are
protected, mainly Civil Liberties : Since
through the Human the 1988 Constitution,
Rights Act (1998). Brazilians enjoy broad
However, Parliament civil liberties, including
can limit rights since freedom of speech,
there’s no entrenched press, and religion.
constitution.
Political Culture:
political Right to Protest:
Right to Protest, Right
Protected and widely
freedoms(civil to Association has
practiced, though
liberties, right to empowered various
recent laws have
protest, right to groups—unions,
increased police
form women’s movements,
powers, raising
and religious
associations and concerns about
organizations.
role of the freedom of
judiciary) expression.
Right to Form Role of the Judiciary:
Associations: Strong
tradition of political The judiciary is
independent in theory
parties, unions, and but often perceived as
NGOs. Civil society slow, politicized, and
is active and biased in favor of the
influential. wealthy. Electoral
courts, however, have
maintained transparent
Role of Judiciary: elections.
Independent with the
Supreme Court as the
highest authority. But
courts cannot
overturn laws passed
by Parliament.

UK political culture
supports democratic
values, but
The U.S. has a rights-
Parliamentary
based political Widespread civil
sovereignty can make
culture rooted in its liberties and active
rights more Constitution. protest culture indicate
vulnerable to political
a strong potential for
shifts. Strong protections for
democratic
political freedoms
Devolved engagement.
create space for
governments in active democratic Social Inequality
Scotland, Wales, and participation. Persists: Despite legal
Northern Ireland
The judiciary is freedoms, racial,
may protect rights
differently, central in interpreting gender, and economic
and enforcing these inequalities remain
potentially leading
rights. deeply entrenched,
to inconsistent
limiting the impact of
standards across the However, rights formal rights.
UK. debates (e.g., over
gun control, free Empowered Civil
The right to form
speech limits, or Society: Social
associations protest laws) often movements like
Implications: encourages active Landless Workers
public reflect deep political Movement MST and
engagement and polarization. the influence of
helps balance liberation theology
government authority show that civil society
through activism, remains a powerful
watchdogs, and force for change.
advocacy.

Central to
Government
Formation: In the
Role of Political UK’s majoritarian Fragmented Multiparty
Government
Parties parliamentary System: Brazil has a
organization: The
system, the majority highly fragmented
U.S. operates a two-
party forms the party system, with over
party system
government. The 20 parties in the
dominated by the
party’s manifesto legislature. No single
Democratic and
often guides policy party has enough
Republican parties.
direction. power to govern alone.
These parties help
structure government Major Political Parties
Dominance of Two
leadership at local, such as:
Parties.Traditionally,
the Conservative state, and national Brazilian Democratic
Partyand the Labour levels. Movement Party
Party have dominated (PMDB), Liberal Front
Policy formation:
since WWII, creating Party (PFL) , Workers’
Political parties
a two-party or two- Party (PT), Brazilian
create platforms that
and-a-half-party Social Democracy
guide the legislative
system. Party (PSDB)
agendas and
Regional Variations: executive policies Weak Ideological
In Scotland, Wales, when they are in Identity: Parties are
and Northern Ireland, power. often personalistic,
regional parties like based on charismatic
Electioneering:
the SNP, Plaid leaders rather than
Parties recruit
Cymru, and DUP
 play a key role and candidates, fundraise,
sometimes influence run campaigns, and consistent ideologies.
national coalitions. mobilize voters,
Frequent Party
playing a central role Switching: Politicians
Party Ideologies: in electoral politics. frequently switch
Conservatives Representation: They parties or create new
(Tories): Blend ones, undermining
offer citizens a way
pragmatic party cohesion and
to express political voter trust.
conservatism and preferences and align
neoliberal reforms, with broader Low Public
especially under ideologies like Confidence: Voter
Thatcher and later liberalism or loyalty and party
Cameron. conservatism. identification are low.
Many citizens view
Liberal Democrats: Checks and balances: parties as corrupt or
Centrist, advocate Party competition ineffective.
individual rights, fosters accountability,
equality and electoral especially when Coalition
reform. different parties Politics: Presidents must
control different form broad
coalitions with multiple
branches of
parties, often through
government
negotiations and
. patronage ("pork-barrel
politics").

Policy Stability with Polarization, Limited

Majority choices, Stable
Government,Underre governance, National Political Instability,
presentation of cohesion, Weak Governance,
Smaller Parties, Personality-driven Corruption and
Regional Tensions politics, Influence of
and Nationalism ,
clientelism, Low
Implications: interest groups: The
Shifting Voter Voter Engagement
high cost of
Alignments, and Limited
campaigning means
Traditional class- both parties often Representation for
based voting (e.g., rely on large donors
working class and lobbyists, raising Marginalized group.
Labour) has concerns about
weakened, leading to unequal influence
less predictable over policy.
elections and party
rebranding efforts.