Government and Politics

Course summary

Studying politics is about studying how, why and when people disagree. What makes Politics different as an academic subject is its emphasis on debate, discussion and argument; you need to enjoy thinking for yourself. Also, it changes every day so it is essential to keep up with what is going on in the world. The course provides students with an introduction to politics by developing an understanding of political and governmental processes in the UK. We aim to visit the Houses of Parliament and meet prominent politicians and political commentators during the year. Component 1: UK Politics and Political Ideas This unit focuses on the mechanisms that link people to government. Its core themes are political participation, voting behaviour and the media, political parties, and electoral systems. Component 2: UK Government and optional political ideas There will be four content areas: the constitution, parliament, the Prime Minister and the executive and the relationship between all of the different branches of government. Politics Component 3: Government and Politics of the USA This will form an in depth and detailed look at the USA, how its government is organised, and the rights of citizens.