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 Sawtry Community College
Department: Government & Politics

Department – Government and Politics

Government & Politics Staff

 

Mrs M Sharp

 

Head of Department

 

Maria.sharp@sawtrycc.org.uk

 

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Government and Politics has its own dedicated teaching room equipped with the very latest teaching resources from specialist providers of Government & Politics materials. These are provided free of charge to students at the start of the course. Students are also given the very latest updates in the form of specialist workbooks published by ZigZag.

 


Only the key AS and A2 textbooks need to be purchased by the students themselves.


2        3     Available through Amazon.

 

Curriculum


Key Stage 5 Year 12-13


Why do people vote? Does it make any difference? Are the parties all the same? Aren’t pressure groups more effective than political parties? Aren’t parties all the same these days anyway? What actually goes on in the House of Commons? Does the PM have too much power? What about the USA? How do these things differ across the Pond? Is the President really more powerful than the Prime Minister?

If those are the sort of questions that interest you then the curriculum content below will give you a fuller flavour of the course:

 

AS Level Unit 1

 

AS Level Unit 2

50% written exam 1 ½ hours

  • A knowledge of different forms of political involvement.
  • Reasons for non participation
  • Partisan and class dealignment in voting
  • Stability, volatility and swing in elections
  • Issues, campaigns, party leaders
  • By elections
  • First Past The Post voting system and its weaknesses
  • Alternative electoral systems
  • Use of referendums
  • Role and function of political parties
  • Changing party ideologies
  • Candidate and leader selection
  • Importance of pressure groups
  • Arguments surrounding pressure groups and democracy

50% written exam 1 ½ hours

  • The British Constitution – sources of, limits of.
  • Arguments for and against the case for  a codified constitution
  • Relationship of the Judiciary to the executive and legislature
  • Judicial appointments
  • Impact of the Human Rights Act and the European Court of Human Rights on the British Political system
  • The functions of Parliament
  • Parliamentary sovereignty in theory and practice
  • Influence of Party Whips and backbenchers
  • Prime Minister - roles resources and powers
  • Cabinet system – Cabinet Committees and Cabinet Ministers
  • Theories of Prime Ministerial Power

 

A2 Level Unit 3a

 

A2 Level Unit 4a

50% Written Exam 1 ½ hours

  • Presidential and congressional elections
  • Primaries and Caucuses
  • The Electoral College
  • Significance of money in Presidential campaigns
  • Referendums, Initiatives, propositions and recall elections.
  • Democrat & Republican party ideologies
  • Debates over decline/renewal of parties
  • Voting trends and patterns in the US
  • Causes and consequences of split ticket voting
  • Significance of religion, ethnicity age and wealth in US elections

50% Written exam 1 ½ hours

  • Declaration of Independence
  • US Constitution
  • Bill of Rights
  • Amendment process
  • Relationship between federal government and the states.
  • Constitutional role and powers of Congress
  • Role of Senators and Congressmen
  • Relationship between Congress, President & Supreme Court
  • Presidential power and models of different presidencies
  • Role of the federal bureaucracy
  • Supreme Court Cases and interpretation of the Constitution
  • Selection and appointment of Supreme Court Justices

 

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To view the transition pack – which gives a taste of the AS course CLICK HERE


Careers and Future Opportunities


 The study of Government and Politics  enables students to understand how the country is run, and the dispersal of power and resources between competing individuals and groups.  The study of the constitution, and the functions of parliament make Government and Politics an ideal A level option for those considering going on to study law, Politics or international relations.
You develop great analytical and critical thinking skills as well as the ability to marshall evidence and arguments from a range of sources. You get to write essays on some pretty complex material – thus demonstrating your competence as a cutting edge political scientist.
Universities LOVE the skills that a Politics student brings to their studies – and employers will love them too!


List of Careers


The study of Government and Politics is an excellent springboard into higher education and the typical politics graduate can be found in a range of occupations:

  • Political researcher
  • Policy analyst (think tank)
  • MP’s assistant
  • Teacher
  • Barrister
  • Solicitor
  • Advocacy work
  • Media production
  • Journalism
  • Trade Union researcher
  • Civil Service

The above list is only a sample of the range of jobs open to Government and Politics graduates!
Want to know where YOU stand politically? – Check out www.political.compass.org and complete their on line questionnaire. You can add yours to the wall display in J4!


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Caption Competition – all entries to J4

 

Exam board:http://web.aqa.org.uk/