Government and Politics

Course summary

Paper 1: Government and Politics of the UK Politics affects everything we do in life and the Government and Politics course at A Level takes a look at the major functions of government and politics in Britain and beyond. The political aspect covers the major components of the democratic process: parties, pressure groups and elections. The government aspect focuses specifically on how a country is run and the various arms of government: executive, legislature, and judiciary, as well as the study of the UK constitution. Politics is a topical A Level which means staying up to date with recent and current issues and case studies; for example, the power of the Prime Minister and Cabinet since 1945 is covered alongside recent debates regarding ‘Brexit’ and the role of Europe. Paper 2: Government and Politics of the USA This is a comparative unit that looks at the political systems in place in the USA in contrast to the UK. Students will study the nature and significance of the US Constitution; the structure, roles, and power of Congress; presidential power, and the Supreme Court. This paper also looks at the electoral process and democratic systems in the USA: presidential election campaigns (including the recent 2016 race); voting behavior and the variables that affect the decisions people make; why there is such two-party dominance in US politics and how pressure groups work. Paper 3: Political Ideas In this unit students will study the history and main ideas behind three core political ideologies that have shaped modern politics: liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. In addition, students will have the option to study the core ideas and principles of feminism, nationalism, multiculturalism, anarchism and ecologism.