Political Science 103 – Assignment 1: Compare & Contrast Syn…

Goal: Write a 1,2501,500 word Synthesis Essay comparing the political systems of the United States and the United Kingdom.

Core Analysis (The 4 Pillars):

Compare and contrast the USA and UK across these four specific areas:

1. Systems of Governance:(Presidential vs. Parliamentary)
2. Electoral Systems: (Plurality/First-Past-the-Post vs. proportional elements)
3. Political Party Systems: (Two-party dominance vs. Multi-party influence)
4. Balance of Power: (Separation of powers vs. Fusion of powers)

Critical Thinking & Synthesis:

• Thesis: Provide a clear, compelling thesis in the intro comparing the stability/efficiency of both.
• Development: Evaluate the causes and effects of how these systems evolved (e.g., US Constitution vs. UK Unwritten Constitution).
• Policy Impact: Explain how these systems affect real-world policy-making (e.g., how the UK passes healthcare laws faster than the US due to fusion of powers).
• Structure: Use a thematic approach (compare both countries pillar-by-pillar) rather than two separate mini-essays.

Technical Requirements:

• Length: Minimum 1,250 words(approx. 5 double-spaced pages).
• Format: APA Style (In-text citations and a full Reference list).
• Sources: Minimum of 6 Scholarly/Peer-Reviewed sources.
• Voice: Natural undergraduate level. 0% AI tolerance.

***PLEASE REVIEW THOROUGHLY THE TEMPLATE INCLUDING THE GRADING RUBRIC***