Government and Politics

Course summary

Students are encouraged to use critical thinking to interpret, evaluate and debate the nature of politics and explore differences in other political systems. This subject is best suited to students who have an interest in politics and current affairs and read extensively to broaden their knowledge. Teaching begins in September (January for 18-month courses) In the first year you will cover the following topics: UK Politics • Democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media. UK Government • The Constitution, Parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches. • Students may take the AS exam at the end of the first year. The second year then builds on this foundation for the completion of the full A level. In the second year you will focus on the following topics: UK Politics • Political Participation: democracy and participation; political parties; electoral systems; voting behaviour and the media. • Core Political Ideas: conservatism; liberalism; socialism. UK Government • The Constitution, Parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches. • Non-core Political Ideas: choose one from anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, and nationalism. Comparative Politics • USA: the US Constitution and federalism; US Congress; US presidency; US Supreme Court and civil rights; democracy and participation; comparative theories. • Global: sovereignty and globalisation; global governance; political and economic, global governance; human rights and environmental, power and development; regionalism and the European Union; comparative theories.