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A Level - Government and Politics

Course Information

Course TypeLevel 3

Duration2 Years

Awarding BodyEdexcel

A Level Government and Politics

What does the course involve?

Government and Politics is all about who governs us, how we are governed, who has power and how citizens can change the government and the laws.

In the first year, you will study British politics and then an introduction to core political ideology. You will learn how the UK is governed, who has the power to make change, how citizens can participate in political change through pressure groups and political parties. In addition, you will look at the various electoral across the UK including the devolved assemblies of Northern Ireland and Scotland as well as the relationship between the judiciary and the executive and how our rights are protected.

In the second year, you will study American politics and further dynamics of political ideology. You will look at the US constitution and its mechanisms for distributing power and limiting the power of the president. You will understand and be able to critically analyse Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court and look at the complicated relationship between federal and state governments.

As part of the course students will study conservatism, socialism and liberalism and anarchism, looking at the key scholars, and analysing each of these political ideas through the views taken on human nature, society, economy and the state.

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Entry Requirements

Standard Entry Requirements, plus:

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language or a humanities subject

Can I take additional qualifications?

If you choose to study Government and Politics, you will usually take it alongside two other A levels. Subjects which complement Government and Politics include: History, Philosophy, Economics, English Literature, English Language, Business Studies, Film Studies, Psychology and Sociology.