Why study A Level Government and Politics? You will not have studied Government and Politics before as an academic discipline; however, this does not matter. This A Level is for you if you have an interest in the world around you and the society in which you live. You will need to be curious about how decisions that affect our lives are made and be able to think independently. What makes this different as an academic subject is its emphasis on debate, discussion and well-structured argument. You will look at big ideas and ideologies and consider how Britain’s political structure differs from others. What will I be studying? Part of the course deals with UK politics and looks at the themes of democracy and political participation, party policies and ideas as well as the role of pressure groups and the media. You will also learn what the roles of parliament, the Prime Minister, cabinet and Supreme Court entail. You will study different political ideologies that have inspired both philosophers and political parties. These include liberalism, socialism and feminism. A comparative study of the USA political system will be taught. This will give you an understanding of American politics and will address questions such as ‘How powerful is the US President?’ and ‘Why do Americans carry guns?’ How will I be studying? You will need the ability to think critically, to analyse and weigh evidence and argue conclusions. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is essential. You must also be able to work independently and contribute to group discussion and presentation. It is vital that you are prepared to follow both national and international news and monitor political debate regularly. This should include regular reading of newspapers and listening to the news and political debates on television and radio as well as listening to relevant podcasts. How will A Level Government and Politics help me in the future? Studying A Level Government and Politics can lead to a variety of careers within areas such law, journalism and broadcasting, international relations, accountancy, business and management, interest groups and the charity sector, as well as within politics itself. It also provides an excellent background to courses in modern languages. The analytical skills you will have developed through the study of this subject will be invaluable, whatever career path you eventually choose.