Government and Politics

Course summary

The A-level Government and Politics course is unique, as it is the only subject which truly changes overnight. The key ideas of power, influence, authority and control are important as we study the workings of the British Government and the United States of America. If you have a genuine interest in why things are, as they are, and how you can influence the world around you, then this is the course for you. At a time when politics has never been as important: the debate over how and when to make cuts in the UK, the resurgence of the right in US Politics; now is the time to take control and find out what is going on. COMPONENT 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas • Why are political participation and democracy important? • Do elections guarantee democracy? • What is the role of political parties? • How important are pressure groups? • Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism. COMPONENT 2: UK Government • What is the nature of the UK constitution? • What is the role and significance of Parliament? • Who has power within the executive? • Do judges deliver justice and defend freedom? • Optional Political Ideas, Anarchism. COMPONENT 3: Comparative Politics US This component mirrors components 1 and 2, but we turn our gaze across the Atlantic to study, arguably, the most important political nation of our times: the USA.