Government and Politics

 Linked careers:

  • Law, Politics, Journalism. 
  • A high percentage of our students go on to study Politics at some of the top universities including LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield and Manchester. 
  • Many students go on to study related subjects at university such as American Studies, Social Science or Public Policy to name just a few.
  • Past students have gone on to work as Parliamentary Researchers in the House of Commons and one has worked in the US Congress. 
 
Skills that the subject develops: 
  • Analysis
  • Evaluation
  • Debating
  • Communication.

Further Information

The A2 course examines American Government and Politics. This includes looking at Presidential elections, pressure groups, parties and how American government works. Students are asked to consider some of the following areas:
 
  • The result and outcome of the 2008 Presidential Election. 
  • What is distinctive about American culture and social structure?
  • The impact of money and the media in American Politics.
  • Abortion, gun control and religion as a political issues.
  • The impact of September 11th, 2001.

Students will find it interesting to compare this to what they have learnt at AS.  

Qualification: 
Government & Politics
Length: 
Level 3 one year course: 4 periods per week
Unit 1: 

Brief description of Unit 1:

Students investigate key concepts such as elections, representation, democracy and participation. This is done by looking at elections that people vote in and who represents us. We look at different types of representatives ranging from local councillors to MPs and MEPs. Questions are raised as to why smaller parties such as the Greens do well in some types of elections and not others, i.e. why are there no Green Party MPs? We also examine political ideas and ask questions such as ‘Why was Thatcherism dominant in the 1980s?’ and ‘What will be the lasting legacy of ‘Blairism’?’ We examine why people vote for particular parties, for example what effect does gender, class, age, ethnicity and religion have on voting behaviour. Students evaluate the role and functions of pressure groups and why some are more successful than others. e.g. Fathers 4 Justice, Greenpeace and the NFU. 

Unit 2: 

Brief description of Unit 2: 

 

This unit looks at how we are governed from the local to the European level. We look at the concept of where power lies and if it is equally distributed. This is done by looking at government, including the changing roles and powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and their relationship with parliament.  Students investigate how effectively the actions of government are scrutinised,  looking at how parliament works, how laws are made, how we are represented by MPs and the role of the unelected House of Lords. We examine Britain’s unique unwritten constitution, what rights individuals have in the UK and how effectively they are protected, for example ‘What impact has the Human Rights Act had?’ 

 

What the department specifically offers that is noteworthy...: 
  • The Department is incredibly well resourced. All students have access to up to date journals, a wide variety of text books and stimulus material from the internet, newspapers and television. 
  • Our results are outstanding. Politics students at Loreto are regularly among the top 5 achievers in the country. 
  • We also offer many course related  activities such as visits to Parliament, attending  conferences, visits from outside experts/speaker, mock elections and regular visits, including trips to the United States where we visit the White House, Congress, The Supreme Court and the Statue of Liberty.
Exam Board: 
AQA
GCSE Requirements: 
General College entry requirements.