With the U.S. presidential debates in full swing and the
election just around the corner, the world is watching,
wondering which way the political winds will blow. Writer Gavin
Au-Yeung asked Assistant Professor Ryan Hurl to give U of T News
a quick review of the American electoral system, the major
political issues at stake, and why the world can't get enough of
U.S. election coverage. How does the U.S. political system
differ from ours? The most important difference is the
significance of the separation of power. This refers to the fact
that the executive in the American system doesn't depend on the
confidence of the legislature to maintain power. In a
parliamentary system, parties need to maintain the vote of
confidence – if you lose it there'll be another election. The
American system doesn't work like that; and over time it creates
more individualistic forms of party organization, where it's
easier for party members to depart from their party line because
the electoral incentives are different. The prima