A Level Government & Politics

Now available as a 12 month FAST TRACK course at no extra cost!! Just select the option at the bottom of this page.

Guaranteed exam place: venues in Bristol, Harrogate, Birmingham & London.

Specification
Government & Politics AQA (2150) AS/A2

Course Overview
Politics shapes our lives – what we can do, the type of society we live in, the chances we have to succeed. This course is for people who want to understand more about how politics and government actually work. You will learn about the grand ideas and vibrant movements that are transforming the world around us, and also see how seemingly arcane customs and obscure committees hold enormous power.

In the AS section, we start by looking at politics in the UK: who has the power? How important are elections? What are the limits on Parliament and the prime minister? We will learn how laws are made, and about the ever-changing influence of political parties, the European Union and devolved government. We’ll also see some of the ways ordinary people interact with the government - and the power they can wield.

In the A2 section, we use the concepts and ideas we’ve learned in AS to explore the wider world of politics. You will be able to study the colourful, larger-than-life politics of the United States – learning about its almost sacred constitution, the horse-trading in Congress and the surprising powers of the White House.  You can choose to look at the thinkers who have changed history with their ideas on what politics and people are really like – and what they should become. There are opportunities to learn about movements like fascism and socialism, to debate different ideas about what really decides how governments are run, and to understand more about how changes in our society and in Europe affect all our futures. 

In summary, this course explains ‘the rules’ of how politics works and looks at how people and politicians operate within – and bend – these rules. Both sections are examined in two ninety-minute written exams. To excel, you will need to put aside any preconceptions about politics and keep your eyes open to the world around you – the things you’ll learn about in this course are happening all around you, every day.

Course Content
AS Exams.
Unit 1: GOVP1 – People, Politics and Participation.
50% of AS, 25% of A level.

90 minutes written exam.

80 marks.

2 structured source questions based on a choice of 4.

Unit 2: GOVP2 – Governing Modern Britain.
50% of AS, 25% of A level.

90 minutes written exam.

80 marks.

2 structured source questions based on a choice of 4.

A2 Exams.

Unit 3: GOV3A – The Politics of the USA.
25% of A level.

90 minutes written exam.

80 marks.

2 structured source questions based on a choice of 4.

Unit 4: GOV4C – Perspectives on Modern Politics.
25% of A level.

90 minutes written exam.

80 marks.

2 structured source questions based on a choice of 4.

Course topics
?Defining ‘democracy’ and ‘politics’
?voting behaviour and elections
?voting systems
?political parties
?pressure groups and lobbying
?The British Constitution
?the judiciary
?Parliament and law making
?the Cabinet and prime minister
?policy-making
?local government and devolution
?the European Union
?Democracy in the USA
?primaries and voting
?American party system
?lobbyists and corporate power
?Political ideologies
?liberalism
?conservatism
?socialism
?Marxism
?fascism
?totalitarianism
?Political authority and legitimacy
?leadership
?sources of power
?corruption
?Executive powers and function
?ministers and special advisers
?presidentialism
?patronage
?collegiate government
?Evolution of the European Union
?integration and sovereignty
?euroscepticism
?European citizenship
?US Constitution
?federalism
?individual rights and government limits
?constitutional sovereignty
?interpretation and controversy
?The US Congress
?law-making in America
?committee system
?‘pork-barrel’ politics
?gridlock and presidential relations
?The White House
?changing power of presidency
?unique role of US president
?domestic and political limitations
?The US Supreme Court
?Constitutional interpretation and judicial review
?judicial activism and power
?evolving conceptions of Court’s power and role
?Gender and minority groups
?ethnicity
?race relations and discrimination
?feminism and the women’s movement
?multiculturalism
?Environmental politics
?approaches to environmental threats
?quality of life issues
?environmental movements
?international agenda
?Education
?state provision and policies
?curriculum and targets
?‘social engineering’
?teaching methods
?The Economy
?approaches to economics
?public spending
?inflation and unemployment
?the tax system
?globalisation
?Participation and Representation
?types of democracy
?enfranchisement
?organising shared interests
?changing role of elected officials
?Globalisation
?cultural and economic aspects of globalisation
?future of nation-states
?trans-national business
?challenges of global governance
?Change and Continuity
?nature of political changes
?UK’s evolving constitution
?modernisation
?competing theories of change management
?Territorial Politics
?the unitary state
?devolution
?localism and subsidiarity
?devolution
Study Time

To complete a full A level it will take in the region of 200 study hours.

Pre-requisites
To take an A Level you should have a GCSE grade C or above, or the equivalent and preferably in your chosen subject.

Support
You will have access to tutor via email who will mark your work and guide you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Examination Centres
The examination board can provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.

Testing Centres
http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

Suggested reading
There are a number of textbooks that cover the AS and most parts of the A2 course (Units 1 and 2). Some of the best include:

British Politics in Focus, by Roy Bentley et all, 2004 – comprehensive and straight-forward

AS UK Government and Politics, by Mark Garnett and Phil Lynch, 2005

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do your courses meet the latest syllabus changes?
A. yes, all our course materials meet any changes and will be updated free of charge if further changes are made.

Q. Why do I have to find a centre myself?
A. We have students all over the UK and Europe and it is impossible for us to arrange dates and times for individual students.

Q. What if I cannot find an examination centre in my home town?
A. If you wish to gain the qualification then be prepared to travel it is worth it!

Q. How much are exam fees?
A. These vary from centre to centre so please check with your local centre.

Q. Are the courses paper based or on-line?
A. All our courses are paper based and come in attractive sturdy folders.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. Tutors are all working Teachers or Lecturers so contact is by email only.

Q. Why can I not take my exams when I have completed the course and why do I have to wait?
A. Exams are taken at the same times as schools and colleges and are not flexible.

Q. I want to take my exams but there are only a few months to study, is this possible?
A. Depending on the time of year, it is sometimes impossible to complete your studies in a short space of time as your work has to be marked and checked. More importantly the examination boards have cut off times which are not flexible. See our web site for further information.

Q. Will I receive UCAS points on completion of this course?
A. Yes all of our A Levels carry UCAS points. The number of points awarded will depend on the grade you achieve.