Government and Politics

Course summary

Politics is offered in the Sixth Form at A Level. Groups will typically be eight to ten in number and the Edexcel examination specification is followed. Papers 1 and 2 provide an understanding of how the UK political system works and how it is linked to contemporary political structures and issues in their historical context. We look firstly at how people are involved in politics and democracy through political parties, electoral systems and voting behaviour and the media. Secondly we study how the UK is governed which takes in topics on the constitution, parliament, prime minister and relations between institutions. Both papers focus on the political ideas of nationalism, socialism, liberalism and conservatism. This encourages a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes. In Paper 3 students will explore the US Constitution and Federalism, US Congress, US Presidency, US Supreme Court, democracy and participation and civil rights. Students will study the impact of the US government on the world beyond its borders by comparing and contrasting politics and institutions in the US with those in the UK. This will develop a wider understanding of politics as a discipline, underpinned by the theoretical concepts of comparative politics.