Government and Politics

Assessment

The two-year A level A-level course in Politics consists of three units of assessment based on the following content: Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas 2 hours, 33.3% of the qualification, 84 marks. Section A: Political Participation Students will study Democracy and political participation, political parties, voting patterns and behaviour, two or more recent general elections, and the role of the media. Section B: Core Political Ideas Students will study the principle background ideas of modern politics – the ideologies of Conservatism, Socialism and Liberalism, with emphasis on five of the most important thinkers behind each political idea. Component 2: UK Government and Non-Core Political Ideas 2 hours, 33.3% of the qualification, 84 marks Section A: UK Government Students will study the main institutions of the UK system: The features and evolution of the Constitution, the Prime Minister and the Core Executive, Parliament, and the relationship between the branches of Government. Section B: Non-core Political Ideas Students will study one idea from the following: Anarchism. Ecologism, Feminism, Multiculturalism, and Nationalism with emphasis on the main thinkers behind each political idea. Component 3 (Option A): The USA and Comparative Politics 2 hours, 33.3% of the Qualification, 84 marks Section A: The Government of the USA Students will study: The US Constitution and Federalism, the US Congress, the US Presidency, the US Supreme Court, Civil Rights, Democracy and Participation. Section B: Comparative Theories Students will study theoretical methods of comparison between the UK and US systems, using rational, cultural and structural approaches to evaluate the similarities and differences between the two systems.