Subject Leader
Mr C Cottingham – ccottingham@oriel.w-sussex.sch.uk
Teaching Staff
Mr J Smith – jsmith4@oriel.w-sussex.sch.uk

A-Level Government & Politics
Year 12 Mr Smith Mr Cottingham
Term 1 Political Parties:- Features, Functions and Funding
- Left Wing and Right Wing
- The Conservative Party
- The Labour Party
- Other Parties
- Factors affecting party success
Liberalism:- Origins of Liberalism
- Core ideas of Liberalism
- Differing views and tensions within Liberalism
- Key Liberal thinkers
Term 2 Democracy and Participation:- Direct and Representative Democracy
- Pluralism and Democracy
- How democratic is the UK?
- Political Participation
- Pressure Groups, Think Tanks and Lobbyists
- Rights in the UK
Conservatism:- Origins of Conservatism
- Core ideas of Conservatism
- Differing views and tensions within Conservatism
- Key Conservative thinkers
Term 3 UK Constitution:- Development of the UK Constitution
- Nature, Source and Principles
- Constitutional Reform
- Devolution in the UK
- Future of Devolution
- The Codification Debate
Socialism:- Origins of Socialism
- Core ideas of Socialism
- Differing views and tensions within Socialism
- Key Socialist thinkers
Term 4 Parliament:- Structure of the Commons and the Lords
- Functions of the Commons and the Lords
- Powers of the Commons and the Lords
- Parliamentary Reform
- Legislative Process
- Scrutiny and Accountability
Nationalism:- Origins of Nationalism
- Core ideas of Nationalism
- Different types of Nationalism
- Key Nationalist thinkers
Term 5 Prime Minister and Executive:- Structure of Executive and the PM
- The Cabinet and the Ministers
- Role of the Executive and Legislation
- Ministerial responsibility
- Powers of the PM and Cabinet
- Relationship between PM and Cabinet
Voting and the Media:- Case Studies [‘79,’97,’10,’17]
- Manifestos and campaigns
- Class and voting
- Other Demographic Factors
- Voting Behaviour
- Role and impact of the Media
Term 6 Electoral Systems:- Four different electoral systems
- Advantages of Disadvantages of each
- FPTP compared with others systems
- Referendums in the UK
- Electoral systems and Government
- Impact of electoral systems
Relations between Branches:- The Supreme Court
- Judicial Independence
- Supreme Court and Parliament
- Parliament VS Executive
- The European Union
- Sovereignty
Year 13 Mr Smith Mr Cottingham
Term 1 US Constitution and Federalism:- Nature of the Constitution
- Amendment Process
- Principles of the Constitution
- Characteristics of US Federalism
- Interpretations and debates
- 6. Strengths and Weaknesses
Congress:- Structure of Congress
- Functions of Congress
- Legislation
- Oversight
- Interpretations and debates
- Changing powers of Congress
Term 2 US Presidency:- Formal sources of Presidential Power
- Informal sources
- The Presidency
- Limits on presidential power
- Interpretations and debates
- 6. The President and foreign policy
Supreme court and Human Rights:- Nature and role of the S.C.
- Appointment Process
- Supreme Court and Public Policy
- Protection of Civil Liberties
- Race and Rights in the USA
- Interpretations and debates
Term 3 Comparative Approaches:- Theoretical Approaches
- Constitutions
- Legislatures
- Executives
- Judiciary and Civil Rights
- Democracy and Participation [US vs. UK]
Democracy and Participation:- Electoral systems in the USA
- Primaries and Caucuses
- Campaign Finance
- Republicans and Democrats
- Interest Groups in the USA
- Interpretation and Debates
Term 4 Revision and Exam Practice Revision and Exam Practice
Term 5 Revision and Exam Practice Revision and Exam Practice
Term 6 Course finished Course finished