The Government and Politics specification has been designed to provide a balanced education in politics for students. In the AS course there is the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and understanding by studying the politics of the United Kingdom, including its local, national and European Union dimensions and some comparison of other political systems.
In the A2 course political theory is studied, which requires more searching analysis and evaluation of many of the major political thinkers and theories which have shaped our society.
A grade B or above in English and in a Humanities subject are requirements for entry onto this course, and an interest in current affairs and debating are very useful.
Course Outline
There are two AS units to this course, both are examined through a written examination. Unit 1 titled 'People & Politics' looks at the main ways in which people express a political opinion in the UK today; Unit 2 'Governing the UK' takes a more theoritical look at concepts such as power, legitimacy and accountability. The two units studied at A2 include unit 3 'Ideological Traditions' which examine ideologies such as Socialism and Nationalism whilst Unit 4 'Other Ideological Traditions' gives students the opportunity to study ideas as diverse as environmentalism and religious fundamentalism. These are also assessed through a written examination.
Links with Other Subjects and Careers
This subject links very well to a number of subjects, and combinations of subjects. In particular there are obvious links with Economics, History, Philosophy, English and Languages. Many Key Skills can be developed and assessed through this subject including IT, communication (discussion and presentation) and working with others on various group projects This course would be useful for a wide variety of careers. These include journalism, the law, business, civil service, local government, and parliament. Please use the live feed below to keep up to date with the latest current affairs from the BBC:
