Head of Department – Mr D Troake

Entry Requirements

English Language – Grade 5

Examination Board: Edexcel

Introduction/General Advice and Requirements

If you find that you have an interest in current affairs and want to understand how decisions are made, and how you can influence then, studying Government and Politics will be an ideal subject for you. The course provides a thorough grounding in British Politics, Political Ideology (Conservatism, Liberalism, and Socialism) and American Politics. If you like discussion and debate you will love the lessons.

Course Content & Assessment

Component 1: UK Politics Written examination: 2 hours; 33⅓ % of the qualification.

Content overview

1. Political Participation, students will study: Democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media.
2.  Core Political Ideas, students will study: Conservatism, liberalism, socialism.

Assessment overview

Section A: Political Participation

One 30-mark questions from a choice of two (each question is based on a quote) – students must complete one of these. Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these.

Section B: Core Political Ideas

One 24-mark question from a choice of two.

Component 2: UK Government

Written examination: 2 hours; 33⅓ % of the qualification.

Content overview

1. UK Government, students will study: The constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches.
2. Optional Political Ideas, students will study: One idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism.

Assessment overview

Section A: UK Government

One 30-mark questions from a choice of two (each question is based on a quote) – students must

complete one of these. Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete

one of these.

Section B: Optional Political Ideas

One 24-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3.

Component 3: Comparative Politics

Written examination: 2 hours; 33⅓ % of the qualification

Students study either USA or Global

Content overview

For USA, students will study: the US Constitution and federalism, US congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court, democracy and participation, civil rights.

OR

For Global, students will study: theories of Global Politics, sovereignty and globalisation, global

governance: political and economic, global governance: human rights and environmental, power and

developments, regionalism and the European Union.

Assessment overview for 3A and 3B

Section A

One 12-mark question from a choice of two.

Section B

One compulsory 12-mark question based on a source.

Section C

Two 30-mark questions from a choice of three

Career Opportunities

Government and Politics leads to a variety of degree and career choices and will also complement a number of other subjects. Typical students may go on to study Politics or International relations degrees. Careers in the civil service, global charities and pressure groups, are also common. More importantly, studying politics allows you to develop a range of aptitudes that will benefit you in any degree/career choice. These include

• The ability to write analytical essays.
• The ability to make an argument.
• The ability to discuss/debate.
• Confidence in your communications skills.

A Level Independent Learning