SUBJECT OVERVIEW
Students will study AQA’s brand new GCE Politics curriculum from September 2017. The course will enable students to develop a wide range of skills including the ability to comprehend, synthesise and interpret political information; analyse and evaluate political knowledge; identify connections, similarities and differences between the areas studied; select relevant material and construct and communicate arguments clearly and coherently using appropriate political vocabulary. In an ever-changing world, A level politics provides an engaging, thought-provoking and current perspective upon British and American politics as well as political ideologies.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE UK
Students will study each of the prescribed sections below.
● The nature and sources of the British Constitution
● The structure and role of Parliament
● The Prime Minister and Cabinet
● The judiciary
● Devolution
THE POLITICS OF THE UK
Students will study each of the prescribed sections below.
● Democracy and participation
● Elections and referendums
● Political parties
● Pressure groups
● The European Union
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE USA
Students will study each of the prescribed sections below.
● The constitutional framework of US government
● The legislative branch of government: Congress
● The executive branch of government: President
● The judicial branch of government
● The electoral process and direct democracy
● Political parties
● Pressure groups
● Civil rights
COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Students will study the following three theoretical approaches to the study of comparative politics:
• structural • rational • cultural
Students will use the above theoretical approaches to analyse key similarities and differences between the USA and UK and evaluate the extent to which they exp_lain these similarities and differences.
POLITICAL IDEAS
- Liberalism
- Ecologism
- Conservatism
- Socialism
