UK vs US Executive

US President

- 4 years

- Limited to two terms e.g. Obama couldn't run in 2016 having been president for two years

UK Prime Minister

- 5 years (since Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011)

- No limit to number of terms e.g. Thatcher was in power for 11 years - from 1979 to 1990

US President

- Can select anyone, even from outside politics, but they must be confirmed by the Senate

- Few cabinet meetings - cabinet members are not political rivals

UK Prime Minister

- Can select anyone from their party in parliament and can reshuffle at will with no need for parliamentary approval

- Weekly cabinet meetings - cabinet members can be potential rivals

US President

- Very limited as they are not a member of legislature and the opposing party may have a majority

- Weak party discipline means that even having a majority of the same party means that presidents' policies are not guaranteed to pass

UK Prime Minister

- Uses their majority to control parliament 

- Strong party discipline through the whipping system means that their policies are likely to pass

- Control depends on size of majority - e.g. Theresa May minority/Boris Johnson majority

US President

- Powerful due to ineffective congressional oversight of war and treaty-making powers

UK Prime Minister

- Powerful although they generally seek parliamentary approval for wars and treaties

US President

- Nominates Supreme Court justices and other federal judges subject to Senate confirmation

- Supreme Court has the power to strike down presidential actions and Acts of Congress

UK Prime Minister

- Judges appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission

- Supreme Court can only issue Declarations of Incompatibility