Government and Politics

Course summary

Many people seem to think that politics is ‘something to do with the Prime Minister and the House of Commons’. Yet whenever two or more people exist together, there is a political element. Aristotle famously proclaimed that 'Man is a political animal'. But perhaps the bluntest definition is that of the American political scientist, Harold Lasswell: ‘Politics is who gets what, when, how.’ In other words, the subject is absolutely fundamental to all human interaction. In the Politics Department, our prime objective is to enable pupils to develop a knowledge and understanding of: • contemporary political structures and issues in their historical context, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and globally • the changing nature of Politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes • the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and in political life • the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups Pupils also develop the ability to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate political information, enabling them to form arguments and make judgements and develop an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics. Invaluable skills in these turbulent times.