Government and Politics

Course summary

• UK Government - Understand where power lies in the country, what limits there are on the power of a Prime Minister, and explore the extent to which we are actually free and democratic within the UK system. You’ll study the major branches of government and come to understand the relationships between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the UK government. • UK Politics- Why are things the way they are? Who has power in this country? How do we bring about change? How different are the main parties? Why don’t young people seem to care about politics? All of these are pertinent questions to explore through the study of UK politics. From the very origins of democracy and the struggles to obtain the vote, through to how Boris Johnson won in December 2019, all will be explored. • US Government and Politics - Where does power lie in the US? How does it contrast with the UK? How can someone get the most votes, but not become president? The interplay between the great institutions of state will be explored and using comparative theory contrasted with their UK counterparts. • Ideologies - What is the role of the state? Are people fundamentally good? For whom should government work? Is radical change good? The answer to many of these questions, and more, form the foundation stones of the ideas that have shaped the world for centuries. We will endeavour to unravel them.