Government and Politics

Course summary

Lively, relevant, controversial… there are many ways to describe A-level Government and Politics. Covering news and current affairs from the UK and US, it helps you understand how the UK is governed and develops research, written communication and debating skills. The aim of this specification is to allow students to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the political world, to become more aware, involved and to question the society in which we live, the political system and whether we really do live in a truly democratic society. This particular course will give students a varied insight and an in-depth foundation of knowledge of the mechanics of the Governments of the UK and US; this will include looking at the two country’s electoral systems, the importance of pressure groups in the UK and the USA and whether there is a consensus between political parties in both countries. Students will then be expected to use this knowledge to identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between the politics of both countries. This will ensure students develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, political institutions and political processes. Students will also be expected to study the history and development of the major political ideologies such as Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism and Feminism.