If you enjoy discussing and learning about political issues and current affairs, then A Level Politics will provide you with the tools to analyze and understand politics in depth. You do not have to be an expert in politics to enjoy and succeed with this course as we take you through each stage of the specification developing your knowledge. We start by looking at what democracy means and assessing whether it could be improved and reformed. You will learn many new concepts as you progress such as the meaning of direct democracy, liberal democracy, power, and participation, and whether voting counts! We will then look at how government operates in Britain and how well it performs. This involves debates about the ‘presidential’ approach taken by Prime Ministers and an analysis of whether Parliament performs its functions adequately. We then turn our attention to the role of the courts and how well judges uphold civil liberties and discuss the nature of the UK Constitution. Next, we analyze political parties’ ideals and policies and why parties differ from each other in their approaches. You will also study the election systems used in the UK and find out why there are debates about reform. You will also look at alternative forms of political activity such as pressure groups, and direct action, and discuss whether there is a participation crisis in Britain. In the second year, we study the fascinating area of US politics, Trump’s Presidency, and the unique character of democracy in America. What will I learn? • Participation through the ballot box • The role of elections in a democracy • The nature of representation • The role of political parties in a democracy