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Topic 1: Democracy and
Political Participation |
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Key concepts |
Content explanation |
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democracy
legitimacy
representation
direct democracy
representative
democracy
liberal democracy
parliamentary democracy
political participation
referendum
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Nature of
democracy — a knowledge and understanding of the idea of democracy, of the
forms that democratic governance has taken, particularly the difference
between direct and representative forms of democracy and their strengths
and weaknesses, and the nature of liberal democracy.
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Democracy in the
UK — a knowledge and understanding of the main features of democracy in
the UK; an awareness of both the strengths of the UK democratic system and
why it has been criticised, including reasons for and the extent of the
‘participation/legitimacy crisis’ in UK politics; how far the UK system
conforms to liberal democratic principles; and the implications of
developments such as devolution and EU membership.
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Enhancing
democracy — a knowledge and understanding of reforms of the UK democratic
system that would extend participation and strengthen accountability, such
as the wider use of referendums, lowering the voting age, compulsory voting
and digital democracy and an assessment of their implications and possible
benefits.
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Topic
2: Party Policies and Ideas |
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Key concepts |
Content explanation |
political party
left/right
liberalism
conservatism
socialism
factionalism
consensus politics
adversary politics |
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Nature of political
parties — a knowledge and understanding of political parties, of their
distinctive features and of their key functions within the political system.
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Traditions and
policies of parties — a knowledge and understanding of the central
ideas, traditions and policies of the major UK political parties, and the
development of party policies in recent years and of factors that influence
ideological and policy development, including policy and ideological
differences within parties. (Although extended questions will not be set
solely on political traditions, they may be set on sub-traditions such as
‘new’ Labour or ‘Thatcherism’.)
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Comparing party
policies and ideas — a knowledge and understanding of similarities and
contrasts between the ideas and policies of the major parties and of the
ideological relationship between and amongst them
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Topic
3: Elections |
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Key concepts |
Content explanation |
election
majoritarian representation
mandate
proportional representation
electoral reform
party system
strong government
stable government |
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Elections and
democracy — a knowledge and understanding of how and why elections
promote democracy, and of the limitations of this democratic role.
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Elections in the
UK — a knowledge and understanding of the workings of the voting systems
used for elections to the House of Commons, to devolved bodies and local
authorities, and to the European Parliament, and an awareness of their
implications for party representation and government.
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Debating
electoral systems — a knowledge and understanding of the advantages and
disadvantages of the UK electoral systems and, in particular, of the
benefits or otherwise of changing the Westminster electoral system. ( Extended
questions will not be set on particular electoral systems, except for the
simple plurality system.)
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Topic
4: Pressure Groups
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Key concepts |
Content explanation |
pressure group
sectional/promotional groups
insider/outsider
groups
pluralism
elitism
functional
representation
pluralist democracy |
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Nature of
pressure groups — a knowledge and understanding of the features and
functions of pressure groups; of how and the extent to which they differ from
political parties; and an awareness of the different kinds of pressure
groups.
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Pressure group
power — a knowledge and understanding of how pressure groups exert
influence and of the extent of their influence, and an awareness of the
distribution of power amongst pressure groups, including the factors that
influence this.
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Pressure groups
and democracy — a knowledge and understanding of the relationship
between pressure groups and democracy and, in particular, of the extent to
which they promote political participation and responsive government.
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