Politics

Examining Body

• The examining body is Pearson-Edexcel.

Examinations

• You will sit 3 examinations at the end of Year 13: each paper is 2 hours long.
  • Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas.
  • Paper 2: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas.
  • Paper 3: Comparative Politics - The Government & Politics of the USA.

• Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas:
  • Question 1a or 1b - 30 marks - source question.
  • Question 2a or 2b - 30 marks - essay question on a UK Politics topic.
  • Question 3a or 3b - 24 marks - essay question on a core ideology.

• Paper 1: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas:
  • Question 1a or 1b - 30 marks - source question.
  • Question 2a or 2b - 30 marks - essay question on a UK Government topic requring some synopsis.
  • Question 3a or 3b - 24 marks - essay question on a non-core ideology.

• Paper 3: Comparative Politics - The Government & Politics of the USA:
  • Question 1a or 1b - 12 marks - comparison question.
  • Question 2 - 12 Marks - comparative theory question.
  • Question 3a and/or 3b and/or 3c - 60 marks - 2 x US-focused essay questions.

Topics

• Paper 1: UK Politics & Core Political Ideas:
  • Democracy & Participation.
  • Political Parties.
  • Electoral Systems.
  • Voting Behaviour & the Media.
  • Core Political Ideas: Conservatism; Liberalism; Socialism.

• Paper 2: UK Government & Non-Core Political Ideas:
  • The Constitution.
  • Parliament.
  • The Prime Minister & the Executive.
  • The Relationship between the Branches of the Government.
  • Non-Core Political Ideas: Anarchism.

• Paper 3: Comparative Politics - the Government & Politics of the USA:
  • The Constitution.
  • Congress.
  • The Presidency.
  • The Supreme Court & Civil Rights.
  • Democracy & Participation.

Building Better Learners

• UK Government & Politics:

• Political Ideas & Ideologies:
  • Political Ideologies: An Introduction. Heywood, A. Macmillan Palgrave. 2017. ISBN-13: 978-1-137-60601-3.
  • The Politics Book. Various Contributors. DK. 2013. ISBN-13: 978-1465473905

• US Government & Politics:
  • American Government 101. Sears, K. Adams Media. 2016. ISBN-13: 978-1-4405-9845-6.

Faculty Contact Details

• Mr S Tighe (Subject Leader: Politics):
  • E-mail: [email protected].
  • Classroom: EPR1.

• Mr M Hewitt (Deputy Head: Teaching & Learning):
  • E-mail: [email protected].