The House of Commons and House of Lords both have a range of tools with which to hold government to account, most notably the various forms of questioning that takes place on the floors of both chambers and the valuable committee work takes place off from them. Yet the House of Lords is hindered by its lack of legitimacy and the restrictions placed upon it, and with the restoration of a large majority in the House of Commons, the advantage now rests with the executive. 

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The appointment process for a Supreme Court justice starts with politicians and ends with politicians. The power of judicial review and the inability to overturn them, unless through the unlikelihood of a constitutional amendment, means that the nation’s top court is never far from controversy. Yet the limits it faces, not least from those filling its bench, means the Supreme Court is rooted in a judicial response to the cases it hears. However, it’s impact, intended or otherwise, will always be political.

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While most feminists accept that the state can play a role in ending gender inequality, they disagree on how the state should go about it, and some even question whether they should even try. Most feminists, however, believe that women’s liberation cannot be imposed without women taking action themselves to bring it about.

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At its best, the devolved bodies established after 1997 have enhanced local decision making, tested fairer electoral systems and promoted representative democracy. Yet it is also right to acknowledge that asymmetry, coupled with the long-standing Barnet formula, has not produced universal love for the new political landscape.

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The 2019 General Election again showed that a person’s age is a good indicator of how they vote. Yet class is perhaps just as important in determining election strategy. There are of course some social factors that don’t appear to matter at all. It would also be foolhardy to ignore non-social factors, particularly valence. Image is not everything but it is most things. Ultimately, each election is decided by a unique set of factors. After all, Brexit wasn’t an issue in 1979! And the young voted Tory in 1983. (PAPER 1)

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It is tempting to look at the impeachment charges levied against President Trump - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - as evidence that an all-powerful, imperial presidency exists that is associated with illegality and secrecy. Yet the fact that Trump is about to be impeached is the best argument against that argument. Too many constitutional constraints exist to allow for an imperial presidency. Power is not fixed. It varies according to approval ratings, the type of government, national events and electoral mandates. (PAPER 3)

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While traditionally the states in the US had far greater control over their affairs than the regions in the UK, devolution is beginning to change things. Scotland, in particular, is no longer playing nice with Westminster. While in the US, federal institutions have as much chance as influencing policy as the states. (PAPER 3) Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations and no hidden costs. Just lots of learning. Just click⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ to get started. If you like reading as well as listening, then you can also try my revision book, which can be purchased from ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Oh, and don't forget to leave a nice review wherever you listen to your podcasts, so that more people can find out about us. Thanks for your support.

AN UPDATE TO THIS EPISODE IS AVAILABLE - check out episode 162

While FPTP is held up as promoting strong government and stability, the evidence of the past few years has shown otherwise. While the 2019 General Election may yet see a return to strong, single party government with a clear mandate, the alternatives on offer would provide the UK with a chance to heal the wounds of Brexit. The electoral system we currently have cannot sever us from tribalism. Rather, it is the cause of it. Thus, electoral reform is an idea whose time has come. (PAPER 1) Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations and no hidden costs. Just lots of learning. Just click⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ to get started. If you like reading as well as listening, then you can also try my revision book, which can be purchased from ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Oh, and don't forget to leave a nice review wherever you listen to your podcasts, so that more people can find out about us. Thanks for your support.