Government & Politics

Course summary

A Level Government and Politics will enable you to understand how the UK and US governments work as they make day-to-day decisions about the running of the country. The course will draw on up to the minute modern politics and will challenge you to critically reflect on current political issues. You should have an interest in political matters and current affairs and a willingness to think deeply and analytically. You should be prepared for independent study and to read around the course. You do not need to have any prior knowledge of politics to study this course. This is a highly respected qualification which would open doors to any higher education degree. You will develop a broad knowledge of both UK and US political systems including a European dimension: Contemporary Government and Politics of the UK Units include: Political parties; PM and the Cabinet; election systems; voting behaviour; the EU; Parliament; the Judiciary; the Constitution; Devolution; democracy and participation; pressure groups Political Ideas Units include: Liberalism; Socialism; Conservatism; Nationalism US Government and Politics and Comparative Politics Units include: Elections; democracy and participation; civil rights; the Presidency; Supreme Court; the Constitution; pressure groups; legislature.