Government and Politics

Assessment

There are 3 externally examined units. 1. UK Politics and Core Political Ideas 2. UK Government and Optional Political Ideas 3. Comparative Politics – Government and Politics in the USA Year 12 Students will study Political Participation and Government in the UK. Students will investigate in detail how people and politics interact. They will explore the emergence and development of the UK’s democratic system and the similarities, differences, connections and parallels between direct and indirect democracy. The second component is fundamental to understanding the nature of UK government, since it enables students to understand where, how and by whom political decisions are made. It will give students a base of comparison to other political systems. Year 13 – A2 Outline In year 13 students use the basis of their study in year 12 to examine a range of political ideas and complete a comparative study on politics in the USA. Students to explore the traditional political ideas of conservatism, liberalism and socialism in addition to a modern idea such as multiculturalism or feminism. Students will learn about the core ideas and principles and how they apply in practice to human nature, the state, society and the economy, the divisions within each idea and their key thinkers. The second component will explore the US Constitution and the arguments surrounding this guiding document of US democracy. In learning about the key institutions of government in the USA and analysing the manner in which they achieve this power and exercise it over their citizens, students will judge ultimately whether ‘liberty and justice for all’ has been achieved in the USA. Students will be expected to highlight the debates on the nature of democracy in the USA and evaluate the extent to which it remains an issue.