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US President & British Prime Ministers; A Comparison | For CSS, PMS, UPSC and Other Competitive Exams

US President

British Prime Minister

TENURE

The U.S. President is elected for 4 years.

British Prime Minister is elected for 5 years.

DEPENDENCY

The American President’s term of office is secured constitutionally: He cannot be removed before the expiry of a period of 4 years unless impeached earlier by the Congress, but it is a very difficult and impracticable procedure.

The British Prime Minister, on the-other hand, depends for his term of office upon House of Commons. He continues in office as long as he enjoys the support of the majority party in the House. He must vacate his office, as soon as the confidence reposed in him by the majority is withdrawn.

MODE OF ELECTION

The American President is directly elected by the people.

The British Prime Minister is appointed by the Monarch from the majority party in the House

DESIGNATION

The US President is the head of the State as well as of the government.

But the Prime Minister is only the head of the government.

ANSWERABILITY

The President is not responsible to the legislature for his acts, conducts and policies. The US President, moreover, does not guide the course of legislation, nor is he a member of the Congress.

The Prime Minister is answerable and accountable to the House of Commons. The British Prime Minister, on the other hand, is the leader of the House and actively participates in the proceedings for legislation.

POWER OVER LEGISLATION

The American President is helpless if the majority in the Congress is against him. He cannot get all the necessary legislation enacted.

The British Prime Minister is always the leader of the majority party and can get the necessary legislation passed. In this respect he is more powerful than the American President.

POWER OVER CABINET

The American President, on the other hand, is the boss and the cabinet members are his subordinate assistants. He is the master of his cabinet. The cabinet members are mere advisers. The adviser only advice. The President makes the decisions alone.

The Prime Minister is only the head of his cabinet. Since the cabinet includes the leading party members with considerable backing, he cannot easily afford to ignore the advice of the cabinet.

POWER OVER MAKING APPOINTMENTS

The American President’s powers of making appointments and conclusion of treaties with foreign states are shared by the Senate.

There is no restraint on the powers of the Prime Minister. All high appointments are made by the Prime Minister although formally they are made under the signature of the Monarch nor he is responsible for the conclusion of treaties with foreign states to anybody.

DERIVATION OF POWERS

The American President derives all his powers from the constitution of the USA.

The Prime Minister of Britain on the other hand, derives his powers from constitutional conventions. Theoretically all power is vested in the British Monarch and the Prime Minister and his colleagues are appointed only to aid and advise the Monarch.

 

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