Department of Politics
Why is politics important?
Whether we like it or not politics affects virtually every thing we do in our day-to-day lives. The type of education we receive, the quality of housing we live in, the amount of money in our pockets and the quality of life we have in the future is a result of politics. Frankly, we cannot avoid it. So it is better that we understand it.
What is politics?
It is not just about men in suits. Politics is about the decisions that are taken on our behalf and how they affect all aspects of our lives. From parish council decisions to prevent dogs fouling the pavement to Tony Blair deciding to invade Iraq, politics is about power. Who has power and who does not is probably one of the most profound questions to face us in the twenty-first century.
AS-level course outline
At Greenhead we will be following the specification offered by EDEXCEL. The AS course covers the following two modules:
Unit 1: People and Politics
Content:
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Democracy and Participation - different types of democracy, the idea of political participation, and the role of citizenship. - Elections - the different electoral systems in the UK, their effect on politics in the UK and the role of referendums
- Political parties - what are they for, what do they stand for and what political ideologies are there in the UK today?
- Pressure Groups - what are they, what tactics do they use, how successful are they, and are they harmful to democracy?
Unit 2: Governing the UK
Content:
- The UK Constitution - what is it, what are the key principles, is it any good?
- Parliament - what is it, what does it do, is it any good?
- The Prime Minister and Cabinet - what does the PM do, where does the PMs power come from, what is the Cabinet, do they have any power?
- The Judiciary - who are they, are they independent, are they neutral, does it matter?
A-level course outline
Topic B: Political Ideologies
Unit 3: Introducing Political Ideologies
- This Unit introduces students to the subject of political ideology and examines and major ideas of liberalism, conservatism and socialism.
Unit 4: Issues in Global Politics
- Conflict, war and terror
- Poverty and development
- Environmental issues
- Human rights
What can you do with a politics A-level?
As well as offering you insights into the ways in which the British political system works, a Politics A-level will help you to develop an enquiring and critical mind, enabling you to evaluate the world around you. You will be able to weigh up arguments and assess evidence and examine issues from a variety of different views. As such, an A-level in Politics provides an excellent background for careers in law, journalism, the caring professions, teaching, and a range of management and business areas. You might, of course, also become Prime Minister!
