Introduction
Society’s dominant institution plays a crucial role in a nation’s development as they offer a necessary foundation for the growth and progress of the people. The five primary or dominant institutions in society in the USA are the family, political, economy, education and religion. All these institutions are interrelated and interact with each other to maintain the social order. The focus of this paper is to contrast the structure of primary institutions in the USA with another nation, the United Kingdom (UK).
Political Institutions in USA and UK
There are some significant differences between the political institutions of the United States and the United Kingdom. The United States of America has a federal system of government, with power divided between the federal government and the individual states (Bjørnskov & Rode, 2019). The federal government is responsible for the country, while the states are responsible for their internal affairs. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has a unitary system of government, with power concentrated in the central government.
The United States Constitution establishes a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The President is the head of the executive branch and is responsible for carrying out the laws enacted by Congress (Bjørnskov & Rode, 2019). The legislative branch is responsible for making the laws and is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The judicial branch interprets the laws and comprises the Supreme Court and lower courts.
The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution, but the principle of separation of powers is still observed. The executive branch is headed by the Prime Minister, who is responsible for carrying out the laws enacted by Parliament. The legislative branch is responsible for making the laws and is composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The judicial branch interprets the laws and comprises the Supreme Court and lower courts. Both the United States and the United Kingdom are democracies, and both countries have strong political institutions.
Educational Institution in USA and UK
The United States and the United Kingdom share a common heritage and many similarities in their educational systems. However, there are also some important differences. The United States has a decentralized educational system, with primary and secondary education overseen by state and local governments. Another difference is that the United States has a higher proportion of private schools than the United Kingdom. About 10% of students in the United States attend private schools, while the figure is about 7% in the United Kingdom (Xu, 2022). The United States also has a higher proportion of college students. In the United States, about 60% of young people attend college, while the figure is about 40% in the United Kingdom (Xu, 2022). There are also some differences in the curriculum. In the United States, students must take standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT, to gain college admission. There are no such tests in the United Kingdom, and college admission is based on grades.
In terms of funding, the United States spends more per student than the United Kingdom. In the United States, public expenditure on education was $12,201 per student in 2013, while in the United Kingdom, it was $8,843 (Xu, 2022). The United States also has a higher drop-out rate than the United Kingdom. In the United States, about 7% of students drop out of high school, while in the United Kingdom, the figure is about 4% (Xu, 2022). However, both countries are committed to providing equal educational opportunities. In the United States, the federal government has enacted laws, such as the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, to ensure that all students have access to quality education (Xu, 2022). In the United Kingdom, the national government has also enacted laws, such as the Race Relations Act of 1976, to promote equality in education.
Family Institution in USA and UK
The family is one of the most important social institutions in any society. It is the basic unit of social organization and plays a vital role in a community’s social, economic, and political life. The family institution in the United States is quite different from that in the United Kingdom. The family institution in the United States is based on the nuclear family model, which consists of a husband, wife, and children. The nuclear family is the foundation of the American family and is the primary source of emotional and financial support for its members. The extended family, which includes grandparents, cousins, and other relatives, is also an important part of the American family.
The family institution in the United Kingdom is based on the extended family model, which consists of a husband, wife, children, grandparents, cousins, and other relatives (Greenhow et al., 2020). The extended family is the foundation of the British family and is the primary source of emotional and financial support for its members. The nuclear family is also an important part of the British family, but it is not as prevalent as in the United States.
Both the United States and the United Kingdom have strong family values. The family is considered to be the cornerstone of society in both countries. In the United States, the family is seen as a source of stability and support and is often the first line of defense against social and economic problems. In the United Kingdom, the family is seen as a source of love and support and is often the first line of defense against social and economic problems.
Economy Institution in USA and UK
The United States and the United Kingdom have different structures when it comes to their economic institutions. In the United States, the economy is based on private enterprise and free market principles, while the United Kingdom has a mixed economy that includes private enterprise and state intervention. The United States also has a highly decentralized economy, with many small businesses and a relatively small number of large businesses. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has a more centralized economy, with a smaller number of small businesses and a larger number of large businesses.
The United States has a lower level of government intervention in the economy than the United Kingdom. The United States government generally relies on market forces to determine prices, production, and distribution of goods and services, while the United Kingdom government intervenes in the economy to a greater extent, often setting prices, production levels, and distribution of goods and services. Additionally, the United States has a higher level of economic inequality than the United Kingdom. This is partly because the United States has a higher poverty level than the United Kingdom. The United States also has a higher level of income inequality, meaning that there is a larger gap between the rich and the poor.
Religious Institutions in USA and UK
The United States and the United Kingdom have different approaches to religious institutions. In the United States, religious institutions are given more power and authority than in the United Kingdom. This difference is due to the history and development of the two countries. In the United States, the Constitution protects the free exercise of religion, meaning that the government cannot interfere with a person’s religious beliefs or practices (Bjørnskov & Rode, 2019). The government also cannot establish an official religion. The First Amendment also protects the right to freedom of speech and assembly; hence religious institutions can advocate for their beliefs without fear of government retribution.
In the United Kingdom, the government does not have the same level of separation from religious institutions. The Church of England is the official state church. The queen is the head of the church, and the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior religious leader in the country. The Church of England has a role in government, and the queen appoints its leaders. While the United States has a more formal separation of church and state, the two countries have different approaches to religious institutions. In the United States, religious institutions are given more power and authority. The government has a closer relationship with the Church of England in the United Kingdom. In addition, the Constitution protects the free exercise of religion in the United States. This separation of church and state has led to religious institutions having more power and authority. The government has a closer relationship with the Church of England in the United Kingdom.
Reflection
I found the section on the different types of political institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom to be the most enlightening. I was unaware that the United States has a federal system of government while the United Kingdom has a unitary system. I found it interesting to learn about the different approaches to religious institutions in the two countries. I was also surprised to learn that the United States has a higher level of economic inequality than the United Kingdom. I also learnt that the United States has a more capitalist economy, with less government intervention, while the United Kingdom has a more socialist economy, with more government intervention.
I found it most significant that the United States has a more formal separation of church and state than the United Kingdom. Interestingly, the government has a closer relationship with the Church of England in the United Kingdom. I found it enlightening that the Constitution protects the free exercise of religion in the United States. When I was younger, I had a personal experience related to what I wrote. I grew up in the United States, and my family is very religious. I went to a private religious school from kindergarten until 8th grade. I remember that our school had significant power and authority. We were able to advocate for our beliefs without fear of government retribution. I think this difference is due to the history and development of the two countries. Overall, I found the assignment to be a valuable learning experience, however it was difficult in coming with the approaches of the two states, the united states and united kingdom.
Conclusion
The United States and the United Kingdom have different political, educational, family, economic, and religious institutions. The United States has a federal system of government, while the United Kingdom has a unitary system. The United States also has a more capitalist economy, with less government intervention, while the United Kingdom has a more socialist economy, with more government intervention. The family is an important institution in both societies, and it plays a significant role in the social, economic, and political life of both countries.
References
Bjørnskov, C., & Rode, M. (2019). Regime types and regime change: A new dataset on democracy, coups, and political institutions. The Review of International Organizations, 15(2), 531-551.
Greenhow, C., Lewin, C., & Staudt Willet, K. (2020). The educational response to Covid-19 across two countries: A critical examination of initial digital pedagogy adoption. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 30(1), 7-25.
Xu, Y. (2022). The effect of explicit deduction and induction on college students’ acquisition of non-finite verbs: An empirical study. Research and Advances in Education, 1(1).