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
THE GOVERNMENT 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
● Democracy and participation
● Elections and referendums
● Political parties
● Pressure groups
● The European Union
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE USA
THE GOVERNMENT 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 explain these similarities and differences.
POLITICAL IDEAS
CORE IDEOLOGIES & OTHER IDEOLOGIES
Liberalism
Ecologism
Conservatism
Socialism
DEPARTMENT STAFF
Mr I Kelly
