The A Level syllabus covers the UK (year 12) and US (year 13) government and politics, and the study of political ideologies (year 12 and year 13). The UK government and politics course covers important political systems such as voting systems, political parties and the role of the media. The course will also cover the important political institutions such as the Parliament, the Supreme Court and the executive, and you will study and discuss questions such as ‘What is Brexit all about and why is it happening?’, ‘What powers does the Prime Minister have?’, and ‘Is Britain truly democratic?’. In year 13, you will then study US government and politics, drawing direct comparisons between the US and UK systems. You will find out the answers to questions like ‘How did Donald Trump become President?’, and ‘Why is race such a big issue in America?’. We will also explore the political ideas that have shaped our world for good or not, and which underpin our political parties. This will include ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism and socialism while assessing the impact of important political thinkers including John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Karl Marx. The government and politics course will enable you to develop a deep understanding of both US and UK political systems, providing you with insight into political beliefs which are essential to understanding the modern world. It is especially important considering today’s turbulent political climate.