Government and Politics

Course summary

Politics enables students to develop knowledge and an informed understanding of contemporary political structures, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and USA. The course simultaneously allows students to develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes and an understanding of the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and politics. Students cover a wide range of topical and engaging areas within politics to develop knowledge and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups to foster an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics. To develop crucial thinking and an appetite for independent thinking, which challenges the accepted norms and asks questions of what we are exposed to. Themes/Units • Political Participation: democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media. • Core Political Ideas: conservatism, liberalism, socialism • UK Government: the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches. • One idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism. • US Constitution and Federalism, Congress, US Presidency, The Supreme Court and Civil Rights , Democracy and Participation and comparative Approaches between the UK and USA