Government & Politics

What board do we do? Edexcel, A level code: 9GP01

What is Government and Politics?  
Government and Politics attempts to analyse, understand and explain the relationship between political ideas, institutions and processes. The A Level focus is on: parliament, government  and the people; representative democracy; participation; the structures of authority and power; the rights and responsibilities of individuals; engagement with contemporary politics in the UK; current political debates; and the links between  political ideologies and political action.  

Which subjects combine well with Government and Politics? 
History, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, and Law.

What can Government and Politics lead to?
A good grade in Government and Politics at A level is valued by universities and employers, since it requires the development of analytical skills and demonstrates the ability to evaluate political, social and economic issues. This course also lays an appropriate foundation for further study of government and politics or related subjects in higher education.

AS 

AS Unit 1 (6GP01): 50% of AS,  25% of A level 
People and Politics.
Candidates examine the key channels of communication between government and the people. More specifically, it focuses on:  the various concepts of democracy in the UK context and suggestions on how democracy can be enhanced; party policies and ideas; elections; and pressure groups.

AS Unit 2 (6GP02): 50% of AS,  25% of A level  
Governing the UK
Candidates can develop a critical understanding of the role and effectiveness of key   institutions, with a particular focus on: the relationship between Parliament and government; the Prime Minister and Cabinet; the Judiciary and civil liberties; and the wider context of sovereignty and the reform of the British Constitution.  

A2

A2 Unit 3 (6GP03/3B): 25% of A level 
Key Themes in Political Analysis. Option B: Introducing Political Ideologies. 
This unit introduces candidates to the subject of political ideology and examines the major ideas of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and anarchism. The focus is on each ideological perspective on the state, society and the economy, and in particular,  the views, tensions and divisions within each ideology.

A2 Unit  (6GP04/4B): 25% of A level 
Extended Themes in Political Analysis.  Option B: Other Ideological Traditions  
This unit examines the ideological traditions that have developed out of, or emerged in opposition to, liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. The focus is on nationalism, feminism, ecologism, and multiculturalism, and in particular, the range of traditions, types, tensions and views involved.

Book List AS & Intensive

*Government and Politics for AS (4^th Edition): Neil McNaughton
(Hodder Education: ISBN 978-1444178807)  

 *Political Ideologies: An Introduction (5^th Edition): Andrew Heywood 
(Palgrave Macmillan: ISBN 978-0230367258)