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A-Level Politics
lucagupta.com/politics
"I'm a fighter and not a quitter. I am resigning"
Hello and welcome to this revision page on Luca's site for all other Mayfield Grammar School sixth formers studying A-Level Politics. This page has most of the content for the qualification in note format which has been gathered in class, from Wills library's books or from other sites on the internet.
If any information on this page is incorrect please approach me in the common room or email me at 18GuptaL@mgsg.kent.sch.uk
About the A-Level
Here at Mayfield Grammar School, Edexcel is the selected exam board for A-Level Politics which requires pupils to study UK Politics, Uk Government & Comparative Politics and is examined in three papers taken in May and June.
The A-Level's Content:
• UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
• UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas
• Comparative Politics: US Politics and Government
Qualification Aims & Objectives
The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:
• develop knowledge and an informed understanding of contemporary political structures and issues in their historical context, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and globally
• develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes
• develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the influences and interests which have an impact on decisions in government and politics
• develop knowledge and an informed understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups
• develop the ability to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate political information to form arguments and make judgements
• develop an interest in, and engagement with, contemporary politics.
Content
Here's all the content and their notecode. Click on your desired paper or topic that's listed below which will redirect you to all the lessons and notes written about the subject.
UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
A. Democracy and Participation
B. Political Parties
C. Electoral Systems
D. Voting Behaviour and the Media
E. Conservatism
F. Liberalism
G. Socialism
UK Government and Non-Core Political Ideas
H. The Constitution
I. Parliament
J. Prime Minister and Executive
K. Relations between the Branches
L. Feminism
Comparative Politics: US Politics and Government
M. The US Constiution and Federalism
N. US Congress
O. US Presidency
P. US Supreme Court and US Civil Rights
Q. US Democracy and Participation
R. Comparative Theories
UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
There are two compulsory sections to this component: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas
UK Politics
This section explores the nature of politics and how people engage in the political process in the UK.
Students will investigate in detail how people and politics interact. They will explore the emergence and development of the UK’s democratic system and the similarities, differences, connections and parallels between direct and indirect democracy. They will focus on the role and scope of political parties that are so central to contemporary politics, including the significance of the manifestos they publish at election time and their relevance to the mandate of the resulting government.
This section allows students to understand the individual in the political process and their relationship with the state and their fellow citizens. Students will examine how electoral systems in the UK operate and how individuals and groups are influenced in their voting behaviour and political actions. This component will further examine the role of the media in contemporary politics. It will also give students an understanding of voting patterns and voting behaviour.
There are four content areas in UK Politics:
A. Democracy and Participation
B. Political Parties
C. Electoral Systems
D. Voting Behaviour and the Media
Core Political Ideas
This section allows students to explore the three traditional political ideas of conservatism, liberalism and socialism. Students will learn about the core ideas and principles and how they apply in practice to human nature, the state, society and the economy, the divisions within each idea and their key thinkers.
There are three content areas in Core Political Ideas:
E. Conservatism
F. Liberalism
G. Socialism
Skills
• Students must comprehend and interpret political information in relation to areas of UK politics and core political ideas.
• Students must fully understand, and critically analyse and evaluate areas of UK politics and core political ideas.
• Students must identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between the content studied, providing a basis for comparing the UK with the USA and appreciating the UK’s position in global politics.
• Students must construct and communicate arguments and explanations with relevance, clarity and coherence, and draw reasoned conclusions about UK politics and core political ideas.
• Students must develop knowledge and understanding of key political concepts. The content supports these skills by presenting the main content for learning on the righthand side of the content tables.
• Students must use appropriate vocabulary. The content supports this skill by listing key terminology in each content area on the left-hand side of the content table. The lists are to support the teaching of the main content and help students to use appropriate vocabulary in assessment. Students should, therefore, familiarise themselves with the definitions of key terminology for each section.
Paper 1
Written examination: 2 hours
33.3% of the qualification
84 marks
Assessment overview
Section A: Political Participation
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.
Section B: Core Political Ideas
One 24-mark question from a choice of two.
UK Government and Non-Core Political Ideas
There are two sections within this component, UK Government and Political Ideas. Students study UK Government and one political idea from a choice of five from the Political Ideas section.
UK Government
Politics is ultimately about people, but most political decisions are made by a branch of government whose roles and powers are determined by a set of rules: the constitution.
This component is fundamental to understanding the nature of UK government, since it enables students to understand where, how and by whom political decisions are made. The component also gives students a base of comparison to other political systems.
The component introduces students to the set of rules governing politics in the UK, the UK constitution, which is different in nature from most of the rest of the world. It further introduces students to the specific roles and powers of the different major branches of the government – legislative, executive, and judiciary – as well as the relationships and balance of power between them, and considers where sovereignty now lies within this system.
Students will explore the following key themes: the relative powers of the different branches of UK government; the extent to which the constitution has changed in recent years; the desirability of further change; and the current location of sovereignty within the UK political system.
There are four content areas in UK Government:
H. The Constitution
I. Parliament
J. The Prime Minister and Executive
K. Relations between the Branches
Non-Core Political Ideas
This section allows students to explore one of five additional political ideas. Students will learn about the core ideas and principles and how they apply in practice to human nature, the state, society and the economy, the divisions within each idea and their key thinkers.
The five non-core political ideas to choose from are:
L. Anarchism
L. Ecologism
L. Feminism
L. Multiculturalism
L. Nationalism
Skills
• Students must comprehend and interpret political information in relation to areas of UK government and one non-core political idea.
• Students must fully understand, and critically analyse and evaluate areas of UK government and one non-core political idea.
• Students must identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between the content studied, providing a basis for comparing the UK with the USA and appreciating the UK’s position in global politics.
• Students must construct and communicate arguments and explanations with relevance, clarity and coherence and draw reasoned conclusions about the UK government and one non-core political idea.
• Students must develop knowledge and understanding of key political concepts. The content supports these skills by presenting the main content for learning on the right-hand side of the content tables.
• Students must use appropriate vocabulary. The content supports this skill by listing key terminology in each content area on the left-hand side of the content tables. The lists are to support the teaching of the main content and help students to use appropriate vocabulary in assessment. Students should, therefore, familiarise themselves with the definitions of key terminology for each section.
Paper 2
Written examination: 2 hours
33.3% of the qualification
84 marks
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.
Section B: Non-Core Political Ideas
One 24-mark question from a choice of two.
Comparative Politics: US Politics and Government
There are two optional sections within this component, Government and Politics of the USA and Global Politics. Students must study one of these.
Government and Politics of the USA
The USA has been considered by some to be a ‘beacon of democracy’. As a world power, understanding the nature of US democracy, and the debates surrounding it, is crucial given the considerable impact that the USA has on UK, European and global politics.
Students will explore the US Constitution and the arguments surrounding this guiding document of US democracy. In learning about the key institutions of government in the USA and analysing the manner in which they achieve this power and exercise it over their citizens, students will judge ultimately whether ‘liberty and justice for all’ have been achieved in the USA. Students will be expected to highlight the debates on the nature of democracy in the USA and evaluate the extent to which it remains an issue.
The impact of the US government on the world beyond its borders is increasingly a feature of international politics. Students will begin to engage with this interaction by comparing and contrasting politics and institutions in the US with those in the UK. This will develop a wider understanding of politics as a discipline, underpinned by the theoretical concepts of comparative politics.
There are six content areas in the Politics and Government of the USA:
M. The US Constitution and Federalism
N. US Congress
O. The US Presidency
P. The US Supreme Court and US Civil Rights
Q. US Democracy and Participation
R. Comparative Theories
Skills
• Students must comprehend and interpret political information in relation to areas of US politics.
• Students must fully understand and critically analyse and evaluate areas of US politics.
• Students must identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between the content studied, providing a basis for comparing the UK with the US.
• Students must construct and communicate arguments and explanations with relevance, clarity and coherence and draw reasoned conclusions about US politics.
• Students must develop knowledge and understanding of key political concepts. The content supports these skills by presenting the main content for learning on the righthand side of the content tables.
• Students must use appropriate vocabulary. The content supports this skill by listing key terminology in each content area. The lists are to support the teaching of the main content and help students to use appropriate vocabulary in assessment. Students should, therefore, familiarise themselves with the definitions of key terminology for each section.
Paper 3
Written examination: 2 hours
33.3% of the qualification
84 marks
Assessment overview
Section A
One 12-mark question from a choice of two.
Section B
One compulsory 12-mark question focused on comparative theories.
Section C
Two 30-mark questions from a choice of three.
How to Answer Exam Questions
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Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
lucagupta.com/politics
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