There are three broad areas of study in this specification: • The Government and politics of the UK • The Government and politics of the USA • Political ideas. Module 1: The Government & Politics of the UK In this module you look at what makes people take part in the electoral process, especially in the UK. We analyse various factors that make people vote, and vote in different ways. Over time, for example, the influence of social class has declined, and now people seem influenced more by the image of a political party, and especially its leader. The unpredictable nature of voting behaviour will be studied in the context of Britain’s economic difficulties since 2008 and in the light of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Students will evaluate the impact that these circumstances have had on the perception of Britain’s major political parties in the 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2024 General Elections. By re-working recent General Election results using digital analysis of different voting systems we are able to investigate how Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair might never have become as powerful as they did. Students look at the factors that make some pressure groups much more successful than others, why they are different from political parties, and analyse whether pressure groups and protest movements help or hinder past and present governments. Specific pressure groups, unions and protest movements studied include ‘Planestupid’, Stonewall, Greenpeace, the BMA, teachers’ unions, RMT, and Fathers4Justice. Students also have the option of studying the main political parties, their ideas, how their leaders are elected, their different traditions and the ideas on issues like crime and the environment. This module is also a study of power in Modern Britain. It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of Britain’s uncodified constitution in a rapidly changing society. In doing so, we investigate how many of the ‘rules’ that govern the political system in this country are not actually written anywhere, but have developed as traditions or ‘conventions’. Significant changes made by the Blair, Brown and Cameron governments are an integral part of this study. We also look at the court system, or judiciary, and the application of justice, with special attention given to the balance between national security and civil liberties in the modern world. Students move on to examine the role and functions of Parliament — the House of Commons and the House of Lords — and see that power of Parliament, and individual MPs, is fluid and depends on many factors. Recent reforms to the workings of Parliament are studied in some depth as well as controversies concerned with public trust and confidence. The role and effectiveness of ministers and Prime Ministers are studied in detail. Students look at all the factors that make the power of individual Prime Ministers vary a great deal over time using case studies including Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron, May & Johnson. Students also have the option of studying governance at different levels. As Britain’s political system continues to evolve with ongoing devolution to Scotland and Wales, a changing relationship between Westminster and the localities, and an uncertain relationship between the UK and the EU, the course examines the challenges this brings for British citizens. Module 2: The Government & Politics of the USA This module concentrates on the USA. It considers the extent to which a Constitution written over two hundred years ago by the Founding Fathers can still be effective in governing a country of some 315 million citizens. It also uses the latest events and news from the USA to develop an understanding of the nature of the relationship between the 50 states and the national government in Washington, workings of Congress on Capitol Hill, and the changing roles and powers of the Presidency over time. The role and political influence of the Supreme Court in the United States is also an essential part of this module. Analysing the successes and failures of Barack Obama and Donald Trump in the highly partisan arena of modern American politics is an important aspect of this course. “I have found it really interesting actually watching the news and being able to apply it to a theory about politics I learned that day in the classroom. In some ways it’s like History, only it’s actually right now. Teaching it certainly keeps the teachers on their toes”. Beyond the framework of US Government we will also be analysing the rise of Donald Trump and what this says about the post-war liberal consensus, modern Republicanism and the future for political discourse. Has hyper partisanship combined with social media to make populism and extremism viable in political life and can American democracy withstand such a development? Module 3: Political Ideas In this module students explore in depth the ideas behind politicians and political parties, looking at the various different forms of Conservatism, Socialism, Liberalism and Feminism that have developed over the last century. They discover in depth how and why David Cameron’s form of Conservatism is developed from, but different to, the ideas of Conservatives like Margaret Thatcher, and how traditional socialist ideas were marginalised under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown but are regaining prominence under Jeremy Corbyn.
About Education Provider
| Region | North West |
| Local Authority | Liverpool |
| Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| Address | Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 9EE |
There are three broad areas of study in this specification: • The Government and politics of the UK • The Government and politics of the USA • Political ideas. Module 1: The Government & Politics of the UK In this module you look at what makes people take part in the electoral process, especially in the UK. We analyse various factors that make people vote, and vote in different ways. Over time, for example, the influence of social class has declined, and now people seem influenced more by the image of a political party, and especially its leader. The unpredictable nature of voting behaviour will be studied in the context of Britain’s economic difficulties since 2008 and in the light of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Students will evaluate the impact that these circumstances have had on the perception of Britain’s major political parties in the 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2024 General Elections. By re-working recent General Election results using digital analysis of different voting systems we are able to investigate how Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair might never have become as powerful as they did. Students look at the factors that make some pressure groups much more successful than others, why they are different from political parties, and analyse whether pressure groups and protest movements help or hinder past and present governments. Specific pressure groups, unions and protest movements studied include ‘Planestupid’, Stonewall, Greenpeace, the BMA, teachers’ unions, RMT, and Fathers4Justice. Students also have the option of studying the main political parties, their ideas, how their leaders are elected, their different traditions and the ideas on issues like crime and the environment. This module is also a study of power in Modern Britain. It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of Britain’s uncodified constitution in a rapidly changing society. In doing so, we investigate how many of the ‘rules’ that govern the political system in this country are not actually written anywhere, but have developed as traditions or ‘conventions’. Significant changes made by the Blair, Brown and Cameron governments are an integral part of this study. We also look at the court system, or judiciary, and the application of justice, with special attention given to the balance between national security and civil liberties in the modern world. Students move on to examine the role and functions of Parliament — the House of Commons and the House of Lords — and see that power of Parliament, and individual MPs, is fluid and depends on many factors. Recent reforms to the workings of Parliament are studied in some depth as well as controversies concerned with public trust and confidence. The role and effectiveness of ministers and Prime Ministers are studied in detail. Students look at all the factors that make the power of individual Prime Ministers vary a great deal over time using case studies including Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron, May & Johnson. Students also have the option of studying governance at different levels. As Britain’s political system continues to evolve with ongoing devolution to Scotland and Wales, a changing relationship between Westminster and the localities, and an uncertain relationship between the UK and the EU, the course examines the challenges this brings for British citizens. Module 2: The Government & Politics of the USA This module concentrates on the USA. It considers the extent to which a Constitution written over two hundred years ago by the Founding Fathers can still be effective in governing a country of some 315 million citizens. It also uses the latest events and news from the USA to develop an understanding of the nature of the relationship between the 50 states and the national government in Washington, workings of Congress on Capitol Hill, and the changing roles and powers of the Presidency over time. The role and political influence of the Supreme Court in the United States is also an essential part of this module. Analysing the successes and failures of Barack Obama and Donald Trump in the highly partisan arena of modern American politics is an important aspect of this course. “I have found it really interesting actually watching the news and being able to apply it to a theory about politics I learned that day in the classroom. In some ways it’s like History, only it’s actually right now. Teaching it certainly keeps the teachers on their toes”. Beyond the framework of US Government we will also be analysing the rise of Donald Trump and what this says about the post-war liberal consensus, modern Republicanism and the future for political discourse. Has hyper partisanship combined with social media to make populism and extremism viable in political life and can American democracy withstand such a development? Module 3: Political Ideas In this module students explore in depth the ideas behind politicians and political parties, looking at the various different forms of Conservatism, Socialism, Liberalism and Feminism that have developed over the last century. They discover in depth how and why David Cameron’s form of Conservatism is developed from, but different to, the ideas of Conservatives like Margaret Thatcher, and how traditional socialist ideas were marginalised under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown but are regaining prominence under Jeremy Corbyn.