Government and Politics

Course summary

No matter what choices you make or subjects you take, all our lives are impacted by Politics. Whatever country you live in, the political system that surrounds you will control your health services, your taxes, the laws you have to follow, your freedoms, your rights and your security. Whatever you choose to do in life, having an understanding of our political system and how the decisions are made that impact you will benefit and enrich your life. The course studies successes and flaws of our political system. We will study the extent to which our country is truly democratic and whether the actions of the government actually represent the will of the people. We will also look at a concept called the ‘separation of powers’. This concept is supposed to make sure that neither our Prime Minister, our Parliament or our Judiciary become too powerful and dominant. You will be able to debate whether that is really the case. You will study voting behaviours, electoral systems and a look at the influence of the media. At the end of year one, there is a chance to study some of the ideologies that have helped to shape the last 300 years of civilization – Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism and Feminism. In the second year of the A Level, there is a choice between US Politics and Global Politics. Global politics will give you an insight into how international institutions (such as the UN, NATO and the ICC) function and how decisions are made that impact the entire world. This is a perfect module for anyone considering international relations at university. US Politics would give you a fabulous understanding of how the most powerful country in the world operates and you will be able to compare their Supreme Court, constitution and political institutions to our own.