POLITICS DEPARTMENT HANDBOOK
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What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
You do not need to have studied Government and Politics at GCSE in order to take an AS or Advanced GCE course in the subject. It is more important that you should have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in politics and current affairs, a desire to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate your ideas effectively.
What
will I learn on this Advanced GCE course?
How to develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationship between political ideas, institutions and processes; What the structures of authority and power are within the political system of the United Kingdom, and how these may differ from those of other political systems; What the rights and responsibilities of individuals are in order to encourage participation by citizens within society; How to develop personal effectiveness through a critical awareness of political events and issues, an empathetic understanding of the main political viewpoints and the skills required to argue a case with relevance and coherence; A clear understanding of the theories, motives and values that underpin political processes and governmental decision-making and the role of institutions in resolving conflicts and allocating scarce resources.
What kind of student is this course suitable for?
This course will appeal to you if you: enjoy debating current affairs and politics generally; have a keen appreciation of the need to participate in the decision-making process; like doing a subject that affects your everyday life; like doing a subject that offers the opportunity to progress to a career in politics; want to keep your options open – Politics can be a useful choice for a wide range of careers and can be combined with a wide range of science, social science and humanities subjects.
What examinations will I have to take to get my qualification?
AS is short for Advanced Subsidiary. This is the first half of the Advanced GCE course. It is a stepping-stone to the full Advanced GCE qualification. You can take just the AS on its own, if you and your teacher agree that this is best for you. You can even decide at the end of the AS course whether to continue to take the full Advanced GCE qualification. The AS in Government and Politics consists of three units of assessment based on the following content:
THE COURSE
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Unit 1 People and Politics AS 33.34% Advanced GCE 16.67%
Studying these topics will enable you to understand the answers to important questions in government and politics such as:
Assessment An exam lasting 1 hour and , consisting of 2 structured questions from a choice of 4. |
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Unit 2 Governing the UK AS 33.34% Advanced GCE 16.67%
Assessment An exam lasting 1 hour and, consisting of 2 structured questions from a choice of 4. |
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Unit 3 The changing UK system AS 33.34% Advanced GCE 16.67% This Unit examines key issues affecting the development of the UK system and considers the impact and desirability of political and constitutional change. Studying these topics will enable you to understand the answers to important questions in government and politics such as:
Assessment An exam lasting 1 hour, consisting of 1 stimulus question from 2. |
Advanced GCE - A2
The full Advanced GCE qualification is made up of the AS units plus three more units which are studied at a higher level. You don’t necessarily have to take the full Advanced GCE qualification; you can still get a certificate just for the AS, and your teacher will advise you on what is best. If you do decide to take the second half of the course, there are four Routes available and you take allthree units from whichever route you choose.
ROUTE A KEY POLITICAL ISSUES
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Unit 4C Representation in the USA This unit examines the representative processes of the US political system and considers their adequacy in terms of popular participation and full democracy.
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Unit 5C Governing the USA This unit examines the institutional framework of US government and considers the interrelationships between its legislative, executive and judicial processes and the health of US federalism.
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Unit 6A Comparative UK and USA politics This unit compares and contrasts the UK and US political systems, drawing together knowledge and understanding developed in the AS and in Units 4C and 5C
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