Government & Politics

This course will appeal to those students who: enjoy debating current affairs and politics, and keeping up to date by reading a newspaper or using other news media – internet, news programmes, BBC Question Time, etc. Have a keen appreciation of the need to participate in the democratic decision making process and enjoy studying a subject that affects their everyday lives. It also suits those considering progressing into a career in politics. As this is an essay based subject, the ability to write extended written responses is a must.

A grade 6 or above in GCSE English Language and grade 6 or above in History (if taken).

You will learn about the UK politics - democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media. You will also study the UK government, including the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive and the relationships between the branches. You will also study three compulsory ideologies – Liberalism, Socialism and conservatism (core ideas and key thinkers) and one module on feminism. You will learn about the US Constitution and federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation, comparative theories. You will also analyse how politics works in the USA and to what extent it may differ from those of other political systems studied – for example The UK.

Politics can be a useful choice for a wide range of careers, such as politics, journalism. Law, teaching and research, as well as management training programmes that require three good A levels/a degree of any discipline.