A-level Politics
Component 3 Revision:
Useful Resources:
Skills Booklet (Super useful for Questions and Exam Guidance)
BBC News/The Times/The Telegraph/Financial Times/The Spectator/The Economist/BBC Radio 4/The Guardian
The Politics Shed
Tutor2u
University of Oxford/Oxford Academic and the London School of Economics and Political Science
A level Politics - Specification
Home - Supreme Court of the United States
United States Congress: Facts and Figures | Think Tank | European Parliament (View PDF within website)
A Comprehensive Guide to All USA Presidents: Their Impact and Legacy
U.S. Constitution | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress (The US Constitution (referencing purposes))
The Constitution and the federal election process | Constitution Center
Trapped in a Two-Party System (Two Party System PDF)
SupremeCourt_LandmarkCases.pdf
Martin Luther King Jr.: Voice of Conscience, Vision of Freedom - Black History Month 2026
The global impact of George Floyd: How Black Lives Matter protests shaped movements around the world - CBS News
List of Interest Groups in the United States 2026
U.S. Presidential Elections: Complete Results 1789-2024
Dark Money Hit a Record High of $1.9 Billion in 2024 Federal Races | Brennan Center for Justice
, US Supreme Court and Civil Rights:
• SCOTUS is the highest appellate court in the land and is made up of 9 permanent justices who sit
for life, nominated by President and confirmed by The Senate.
• Strict Constructionist: interpret as literally written (power of individual states).
• Loose Constructionist: Liberal interpretation to modernise (federal power).
• Originalist: Interprets to the view and attitudes of society at time of writing.
• Living Constitution is a view that the const. is adaptable to modern societal views.
• Judicial Review: The power of SCOTUS to declare unconstitutionality in exec. or leg.
• Judicial Activism: Judges promote desirable social ends (based on personal opinion of ruling)
• Judicial Restraint is opposite, with deference of decisions to exec. and leg.
• Imperial Judiciary: Unelected activist judges overreaching their constitutional power.
• Stare Decisis: ‘Let the decision stand’ refer all cases where possible to past precedent.
• The court has no power to initiate a case or, it relies on public view for legitimacy.
• The Court is political: appointed by President, confirmed by Senate, decisions on electoral
issues (abortion, gun control), some rulings appear as new laws (abortion).
• The Court is not political: cannot be fired so no pressure, justices avoid party politics, judges are
Con. or Lib. not Rep. or Dem., bound by legality of constitution.
• The court has been criticised for being unelected, unaccountable, abusing power and the
inaccuracies of interpretating a ‘living constitution’.
• Civil Rights are those guaranteed to all to prevent discriminatory or arbitrary treatment by
government or individuals.
• Civil Liberties: are those laid out in the constitution that provide protection over rights.
• Affirmative Action: Drive for multiculturalism in reparation for previous discrimination.
• Adv: Diversity, rights wrongdoings, creates equality in education and employment.
• Dis: Reverse discrimination, demographic over skill, encourages social discrimination.
• Since 1965 voting rights have increased with segregation and discrimination being made illegal,
however rooted discrimination has raised questions (e.g. photo ID). [SEE REP. IN CONGRESS].
• Immigration Reform has altered by Presidential turnover (9/11, DACA, Trump/Mexico).
• Roe v Wade (1973) [Supported abortion declaring it a defended right in the constitution].
• Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) [Overturned Roe v Wade and declared
abortion was not defended by 14th amendment of due process].
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) [overturned Plessy v Ferguson declaring that racial
segregation in schools was unconstitutional].
• Marbury v. Madison (1803) [established JUDICIAL REVIEW].
• Miranda v. Arizona (1966) [established Miranda rights, 5th Amendment, interrogation cannot be
used as evidence in trial].
• Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966) [removed poll taxes from elections demonstrating
wealth should not be a deciding factor of voting rights].
• Shelby County v. Holder (2013) [removed federal power (part of VRA 1965) to inspect state
electoral actions especially those that had previously encouraged disparity in voting].
• Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (2026) [ruled Trump’s tariffs to be unconstitutional].
• On April 6, 2023, it was reported that Thomas and his wife had taken undisclosed luxury trips
from Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow for more than two decades.
• In 2024, Representative AOC drew up impeachment articles for Thomas [These related to the
expenses scandal but not passed].
• Trump v. United States (2024) [This case ruled on the immunity of a previous President and set a
boundary on executive power not necessarily defined in the constitution].
• Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) [In favour of same-sex marriage, 12 years post calls for legalisation].
• United Sates v. Nixon (1974) [Watergate files be released and no one is above the constitution].
• Affirmative Action: Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) FOR, Fisher v. Uni of Texas (2013) FOR, (2016) FOR
WITH SCRUTINY, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023) AGAINST.
• Voting Rights Act (1965)/ George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (2021) [passed in H but not S].
Component 3 Revision:
Useful Resources:
Skills Booklet (Super useful for Questions and Exam Guidance)
BBC News/The Times/The Telegraph/Financial Times/The Spectator/The Economist/BBC Radio 4/The Guardian
The Politics Shed
Tutor2u
University of Oxford/Oxford Academic and the London School of Economics and Political Science
A level Politics - Specification
Home - Supreme Court of the United States
United States Congress: Facts and Figures | Think Tank | European Parliament (View PDF within website)
A Comprehensive Guide to All USA Presidents: Their Impact and Legacy
U.S. Constitution | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress (The US Constitution (referencing purposes))
The Constitution and the federal election process | Constitution Center
Trapped in a Two-Party System (Two Party System PDF)
SupremeCourt_LandmarkCases.pdf
Martin Luther King Jr.: Voice of Conscience, Vision of Freedom - Black History Month 2026
The global impact of George Floyd: How Black Lives Matter protests shaped movements around the world - CBS News
List of Interest Groups in the United States 2026
U.S. Presidential Elections: Complete Results 1789-2024
Dark Money Hit a Record High of $1.9 Billion in 2024 Federal Races | Brennan Center for Justice
, US Supreme Court and Civil Rights:
• SCOTUS is the highest appellate court in the land and is made up of 9 permanent justices who sit
for life, nominated by President and confirmed by The Senate.
• Strict Constructionist: interpret as literally written (power of individual states).
• Loose Constructionist: Liberal interpretation to modernise (federal power).
• Originalist: Interprets to the view and attitudes of society at time of writing.
• Living Constitution is a view that the const. is adaptable to modern societal views.
• Judicial Review: The power of SCOTUS to declare unconstitutionality in exec. or leg.
• Judicial Activism: Judges promote desirable social ends (based on personal opinion of ruling)
• Judicial Restraint is opposite, with deference of decisions to exec. and leg.
• Imperial Judiciary: Unelected activist judges overreaching their constitutional power.
• Stare Decisis: ‘Let the decision stand’ refer all cases where possible to past precedent.
• The court has no power to initiate a case or, it relies on public view for legitimacy.
• The Court is political: appointed by President, confirmed by Senate, decisions on electoral
issues (abortion, gun control), some rulings appear as new laws (abortion).
• The Court is not political: cannot be fired so no pressure, justices avoid party politics, judges are
Con. or Lib. not Rep. or Dem., bound by legality of constitution.
• The court has been criticised for being unelected, unaccountable, abusing power and the
inaccuracies of interpretating a ‘living constitution’.
• Civil Rights are those guaranteed to all to prevent discriminatory or arbitrary treatment by
government or individuals.
• Civil Liberties: are those laid out in the constitution that provide protection over rights.
• Affirmative Action: Drive for multiculturalism in reparation for previous discrimination.
• Adv: Diversity, rights wrongdoings, creates equality in education and employment.
• Dis: Reverse discrimination, demographic over skill, encourages social discrimination.
• Since 1965 voting rights have increased with segregation and discrimination being made illegal,
however rooted discrimination has raised questions (e.g. photo ID). [SEE REP. IN CONGRESS].
• Immigration Reform has altered by Presidential turnover (9/11, DACA, Trump/Mexico).
• Roe v Wade (1973) [Supported abortion declaring it a defended right in the constitution].
• Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) [Overturned Roe v Wade and declared
abortion was not defended by 14th amendment of due process].
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) [overturned Plessy v Ferguson declaring that racial
segregation in schools was unconstitutional].
• Marbury v. Madison (1803) [established JUDICIAL REVIEW].
• Miranda v. Arizona (1966) [established Miranda rights, 5th Amendment, interrogation cannot be
used as evidence in trial].
• Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966) [removed poll taxes from elections demonstrating
wealth should not be a deciding factor of voting rights].
• Shelby County v. Holder (2013) [removed federal power (part of VRA 1965) to inspect state
electoral actions especially those that had previously encouraged disparity in voting].
• Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (2026) [ruled Trump’s tariffs to be unconstitutional].
• On April 6, 2023, it was reported that Thomas and his wife had taken undisclosed luxury trips
from Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow for more than two decades.
• In 2024, Representative AOC drew up impeachment articles for Thomas [These related to the
expenses scandal but not passed].
• Trump v. United States (2024) [This case ruled on the immunity of a previous President and set a
boundary on executive power not necessarily defined in the constitution].
• Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) [In favour of same-sex marriage, 12 years post calls for legalisation].
• United Sates v. Nixon (1974) [Watergate files be released and no one is above the constitution].
• Affirmative Action: Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) FOR, Fisher v. Uni of Texas (2013) FOR, (2016) FOR
WITH SCRUTINY, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023) AGAINST.
• Voting Rights Act (1965)/ George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (2021) [passed in H but not S].
