Politics

Course summary

Politics looks at the very heart of how Britain and the USA are governed and who truly has power. In this A Level we follow the Edexcel specification. Paper 1 looks at UK politics, examining the main political parties, the systems we use to vote and the way we make our decision to vote – or not – in the first place. In a world where Brexit shocked the political establishment, where Prime Ministers often have more to fear from their own backbenchers than the opposition, and where voter turnout continues to decline, it is crucial to understand the principles underlying these issues and the shifts in the traditional patterns. Paper 2, entitled UK government, considers the roles of Parliament and the Prime Minister, examining how the relationship between the two has shifted, and whether our constitution is fit for purpose in the 21st century. Paper 3 involves an examination of US government and politics, including the similarities and many contrast with the British system - particularly intriguing in a presidential election year! Politics is an ever changing subject that is based upon the party conferences, manifestos and newspapers as much as it is the core textbooks and key words of the specifications.