Do you have an interest in contemporary politics? Do you want to understand how the US electoral system works? Do you want to learn about the forces that contributed to the recent UK election result? If so, Politics is the course for you.
Politics looks at the working of the political system in the UK and the USA and investigates the underlying structures of government, the ideologies that underpin it, and the interaction of people with the political process. The party systems of the UK and USA are assessed, alongside the voting systems. The emphasis is on contemporary politics, so information is constantly being updated and views changed.
The Politics course looks at the UK political system, including the role of Parliament, the Prime Minister, local government, parties, electoral systems and their development, and political participation. Political ideologies are explored, from socialism to conservatism, liberalism to feminism. Students will also conduct case studies of three UK general elections. When studying the USA, students will examine the role of Congress, Senate, the President, and the Supreme Court alongside the impact of federalism on the US constitution. US political parties are also studied.
Students use a variety of materials to explore the political systems and realities of the UK and the USA. A fundamental understanding of the constitutions of both countries is developed and this is used to explore historical and contemporary issues that influenced those systems and the politics of each country. Students also explore the development of feminism in politics. Though a mixture of textbooks, contemporary articles, newspapers, documentaries and news reports, students build their knowledge of events and political developments. Students are taught how to write analytical essays, how to structure answers, and how to respond to a variety of sources and interpretations.