Component 2

In this course, you'll study the way the country is governed, and how your votes make a government. The course is based on two democratic countries, and their similarities and differences. The first year focuses on the UK political system, and the roles that key people play, such as the Prime Minister and judges. The course will also look at Britain as a political nation: how people vote, whether or not we have a constitution, and why this might be. The second year is focused on the USA as a political model. Key issues here are the role of the President, the Supreme Courts, and the judicial process. Furthermore, you'll look at the role of the entrenched rights that Americans have over those of other countries, as well as evaluating the role of the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution. Course Details The study of politics is an interesting and thought-provoking subject to study at A Level. Not only will you learn key concepts and ideas, but you will apply these to current world issues both at home and across the world. You will study the Edexcel syllabus in which is broken up into three components. The first two centre on the politics and the government of the UK. In the third you will study the US political system directly complementing the UK components. Component 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas Key focus: You will study democracy and participation in the UK alongside a section on the evaluation and understanding of key Political Parties. You will also look at how different electoral systems function within the UK. Additionally, you will study pressure groups and movements, as well as how the influence of the media effects voting behaviour. Component 1 also includes three key ideological concepts which you will use to consolidate political ideas. The ideologies you will study are Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism. Component 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas Key focus: You will look at the origins of the UK Constitution and the various sources and features it is made up of. One of our main debates will discuss whether the UK should adopt a modern codified constitution or not. You will also analyse the power of the Houses of Parliament, the Commons and the Lords and how this has developed. In the second part of Component 2 you will look at the relative power of the executive, the Prime Minster. This section will also look at the other external influences on government including the Supreme Court and the impact of leaving the EU and what this means for the UK. The final part of component 2 is the study of the fourth political ideology, Feminism. Component 3: Comparative Politics: Government and Politics of the USA Key focus: The study of US politics involves the understanding of the constitution and its historical significances as well as how it functions today. Additionally, you will learn how Federalism works but also the importance of state autonomy on key issues. You will also consider the three main branches of government, the Executive, Congress and the Supreme Court. This will involve the study of significant cases and rulings, as well as an analysis of the powers of the President and the congressional houses. The second section of this component is a study of how democracy works in the USA, with specific refence to pressure group and voting systems. There will also be an emphasis on the two-party system but explore how this is actually much more complex. The final section focuses on comparative politics and how the USA and the UK political systems are similar but also very different.

• All Loughborough College Sixth Form courses have minimum entry requirements of at least five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English Language and Maths.
Subject Specific Entry Requirements
• GCSE English Language at grade 5.
Your next steps... Politics is a subject which you may not have studied before. However, you will find that there will be some cross over with other subjects you may be familiar with like history or sociology. Politics is a good subject to have as part of your study programme, with many universities valuing it. Universities, including most of those in the Russell Group, offer a degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics). Having this background will help you if this is you chosen pathway after you A Levels. Alternatively, you might want to study a higher apprenticeship.