Government and Politics

Course summary

Students will be introduced to the Government and Politics of the UK and the USA, including Parliament, Congress and the legislative processes in both countries. In addition, the specification now includes the opportunity to study the development of political ideas from John Stuart Mill and Mary Wollstonecraft to Marx and Crosland. You will develop the skills of research, problem solving, analysis and evaluation. You will strengthen your ICT, communication and team-working skills. Opportunities to visit parliament and meet MPs and prospective candidates bring the process to life and enhance understanding of core concepts. What will I learn on this course? Paper 1: The Government and Politics of the United Kingdom: the system of ruling the United Kingdom, the role of politicians, pressure groups and the party system and how these groups affect the outcome of elections. Paper 2: The Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics: a study of politics in the USA, the Federal Government system and how the role of the individual states affects the National Government, the Presidential Election. This paper includes a section on comparing the systems of the UK and the USA. Paper 3: Political Ideas: Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Feminism.