Barack Obama has been US president for a year. His critics are already proclaiming his presidency a failure, while those who have taken a more measured approach can see solid successes such as the stabilising of the financial system and the improvement in America’s image abroad. Many expected more, because the Democrats control not just the White House but both houses of Congress — what commentators call united government. In his article on Congress, Anthony Bennett asks whether Congress is a watchdog or a lapdog in this period of united government, looking, in particular, at congressional oversight in the Obama era.
We have a number of articles that will interest those of you preparing for AS unit tests. Paul Whiteley follows up his article in the first issue of this volume (‘Is there a participation crisis in the UK?) by reviewing how political participation might be improved. Philip Lynch provides up-to-date information about Conservative Party policy developments under David Cameron, showing how policy has changed since 2005. Mark Garnett asks whether the new UK Supreme Court will breathe new life into the judiciary or result in more rivalry between ministers and judges. Last, but by no means least, Vernon Bogdanor explains how devolution over the last 10 years has established constitutional relationships between the different parts of the UK that are wholly new in Britain. He asks, and answers, the question: is the UK a quasi-federal state?
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