Government and Politics A level

General Information: Politics is a constantly changing subject and is therefore exceptionally interesting to study. This also means that as an A Level student of the subject you will need to be closely following politics in the media at all times throughout the course and refer to recent examples in the exam. Preparation includes reading a quality newspaper, watching reliable news and documentary programmes, using reputable websites and listening to appropriate radio stations. It also requires a significant amount of wider reading from textbooks and other sources. Below is a guide for the kind of sources you should be reading through the year. Newspapers: The Independent. The Guardian. The Observer. The Telegraph. The Times. Websites: Radio: Radio 4, particularly the today programme and PM. Television: BBC and Channel 4 news. BBC news 24. Question time. Newsnight. Recommended supplementary texts to the core ones: Heywood, A. Essentials of UK Politics Cole, M. Democracy in Britain. Heywood, A. Political Ideologies. Storey, W. US Government and Politics McKay, D. American Politics and Society. 2 What you will study: Unit 1: UK Politics Written examination: 2 hours 33 % of the qualification ⅓ 84 marks Content overview: Political Participation, students will study: • democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media. Core Political Ideas, students will study: • conservatism, liberalism, socialism. Assessment overview: Section A: Political Participation One 30-mark question from a choice of two (each question uses a source). Plus one 30-mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these. All questions assess AO1, AO2 and AO3. Section B: Core Political Ideas One 24-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3 Unit 2: UK Government Written examination: 2 hours 33 % of the qualification ⅓ 84 marks Content overview: UK Government, students will study: • the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, relationships between the branches. Non-core political ideas students will study: anarchism. Assessment overview: Section A: UK Government One 30-mark question from a choice of two (each question uses a source) – students must complete one of these. Plus one 30- mark question from a choice of two – students must complete one of these. • All questions assess AO1, AO2 and AO3. Section B: Non-core Political Ideas One 24-mark question from a choice of two, which assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3. 3 Unit 3: Comparative Politics Written examination: 2 hours 33 % of the qualification ⅓ 84 marks Students study USA