GCE Getting Started



5778511684000AS and A level Politics 2017 Course Planner – A level – 2 year course (with hours)March 2017Contents TOC \t " A head,1,B head,2,C head,3 " Overview3Year One5Year Two7Course planner – with hoursTopicHoursWeeksTerm UK 170 hours14 weeksAutumn 1 & 2 = 14 weeks (on paper)UK 270 hours14 weeksSpring 1& 2 = 14 weeks (on paper)Ideas60 hours12 weeksSummer 1& 2 = 12 weeks (on paper)Option115 hours24 weeksAutumn 1 & 2, Spring 1 & 2 = 24 weeks (on paper)OverviewYear OneAutumn 1Democracy and participationElectoral systemsAutumn 2UK Political Parties Voting behaviour and the mediaSpring 1The constitutionPrime Minister and CabinetSpring 2ParliamentRelations between institutions, including devolution and Parliament checking the executiveSummer 1Ideas - Liberalism Ideas – ConservativismSummer 2Ideas – SocialismIdeas – OptionalYear TwoComparative politics - USAComparative politics - GlobalAutumn 1The US Constitution and federalismUS presidencyComparative theoriesThe state and globalisationGlobal governance: politicalAutumn 2US democracy and participationGlobal governance: economicGlobal governance: environmental Spring 1US Supreme Court and civil rightsGlobal governance: human rightsPower and DevelopmentsSpring 2US CongressUS FederalismRegionalism and the European UnionComparative theoriesSummer 1RevisionRevisionSummer 2ExaminationExaminationYear OneAutumn 1 – 7 weeksAutumn 2 – 7 weeksDemocracy and participationCurrent systems of representative democracy and direct democracyA wider franchise and debates over suffragePressure groups and other influencesRights in contextUK Elections and VotingDifferent electoral systemsReferendums and how they are usedElectoral systems analysis Political partiesPolitical partiesEstablished political partiesEmerging and minor UK political parties UK political parties in contextVoting Behaviour and MediaClass voting and other social factors influencing voting patternsCase studies of three key general electionsThe influence of the mediaSpring 1 – 6/7 weeksSpring 2 – 6/7 weeksThe ConstitutionThe nature and sources of the UK constitutionHow the constitution has changed since 1997The role and powers of devolved bodies in the UK, and the impact of this devolution on the UKDebates on further reformUK Prime Minister and CabinetThe structure, role and powers of the ExecutiveThe concept of ministerial responsibilityThe Prime Minister and the CabinetParliamentThe structure and role of the House of Commons and House of LordsThe comparative powers of the House of Commons and House of LordsThe legislative processThe ways in which Parliament interacts with the ExecutiveRelations between InstitutionsThe Supreme Court and its interactions with, and influence over, the legislative and policy-making processThe relationship between the Executive and ParliamentThe aims, role and impact of the European Union (EU) on UK governmentThe location of sovereignty within the UK political systemSummer 1 – 6 weeksSummer 2 – 6 weeksIdeas:LiberalismCore ideas and principles, and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and economyTensions between classical and modern liberalismIdeas of key thinkers - Locke, Wollstonecraft, Mill, Rawls, FriedanConservatismCore ideas and principles, and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and economyTensions between traditional, one nation and new rightIdeas of key thinkers - Hobbes, Burke, Rand, Oakenshott, NozickIdeas:SocialismCore ideas and principles, and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and economyTensions between revolutionary, social democracy and the third wayIdeas of key thinkers - Marx, Engels, Webb, Luxemburg, Crosland, GiddensOptional Idea – Nationalism, Feminism, Multiculturalism, Anarchism or EcologismCore ideas and principles, and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and economyTensions between differing types of this ideologyIdeas of key thinkersYear TwoAutumn 1 – USA – 7 weeksAutumn 1 – Global – 7 weeksUS ConstitutionThe nature of the US ConstitutionThe principles of the US ConstitutionInterpretations and debates around the US ConstitutionComparisons to the UK - Similarities and differences between each constitution, their nature, sources, provisions, separation of powers, checks and balancesUS PresidencyFormal sources of presidential power as outlined in the US Constitution and their rmal sources of presidential power and their use:The presidency.Interpretations and debates of the US parisons to the UK – role and power and limitations of the President and Prime Minister, extent of accountability to legislatureComparative theoriesMain ideas of realismMain ideas of liberalismDivisions between realism and liberalismMain ideas of the anarchical society and society of states theoryThe state and globalisationThe state: nation-state and of national sovereigntyGlobalisationDebates about the impact of globalisation including its advantages and disadvantagesThe ways and extent to which globalisation address and resolves contemporary issues, such as poverty, conflict, human rights and the environment.Global Governance - Political and Economic:Political – 10 hoursThe United NationsStructure, work of and controversies relating to the UN Security CouncilNorth Atlantic Treaty OrganisationAutumn 2 – USA – 7 weeksAutumn 2 – Global – 7 weeksUS Democracy and participationElectoral systems in the USAPresidential elections and their significanceCampaign financeDebates surrounding elections in the USA including the electoral college and the role of incumbencyThe key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican partiesThe distribution of power and changing significance of the partiesThe current conflicts and tendencies and changing power and influence that exist within the partiesCoalition of supporters for each partyDebates surrounding party unity, party policy and voting groupsInterest groups in the USATheir significance, resources, tactics and debates about their impact on democracyComparisons to the UK – nature of the party system, degree of unity within major parties, policy profiles, debates around campaign finance, methods and extent of influence of pressure groupsGlobal Governance - Political and Economic:EconomicThe International Monetary FundThe World BankThe World Trade OrganisationThe G7/G8The G20The ways and extent to which these institutions address and resolve contemporary global issues, such as those involving conflict, poverty, human rights and the environment.Global Governance – Human rights and Environmental:EnvironmentalThe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeSpring 1 – USA – 6 weeks (often including mocks)Spring 1 - Global – 6 weeks (often including mocks)US Supreme Court and civil rightsNature and role of the Supreme CourtThe appointment process for the Supreme Court The Supreme Court and public policyThe protection of civil liberties and rights in the US todayRace and rights in contemporary US politicsInterpretations and debates of the US Supreme Court and civil rightsComparisons to the UK – the basis for their power, impact on government and policy, relative independence of each Court, effectiveness of rights protection in each country, impact/effectiveness of interest groups in protecting rightsGlobal Governance – Human rights and Environmental:Human rightsOrigins and development of international law and institutionsThe key issues of these institutions in dealing with human rightsThe ways and extent to which these institutions address and resolve contemporary global issues, such as those involving conflict, poverty, human rights and the environment.Power and developmentsDifferent types of powerDiffering significance of states in global affairs and how and why state power is classifiedPolarityDifferent systems of governmentDevelopment and spread of liberal economies, rule of law, and democracyThe ways and extent to which the changing relationships and actions of states in relation to power and developments address and resolve contemporary global issues, such as those involving conflict, poverty, human rights and the environment.Spring 2 – USA – 6 weeksSpring 2 – Global – 6 weeksUS CongressThe structure of CongressThe functions of CongressInterpretations and debates around CongressComparisons to the UK – membership of each House in each country, power of each House, relationship between the two houses in each systemFederalismThe main characteristics of US federalismInterpretations and debates around the US Constitution and federalismComparisons to the UK – how far the UK model of devolution parallels the US federal systemRegionalismRegionalismDevelopment of regional organisations, excluding the EUFactors that have fostered European integration and the major developments through which this has occurredThe significance of the EU as an international body/global actorThe ways and extent to which the changing relationships and actions of states in relation to power and developments address and resolve contemporary global issues, such as those involving conflict, poverty, human rights and the parative theoriesAn evaluation of the extent to which realism and liberalism explain recent developments (since 2000) in global politics – feed this through entire courseSummer 1 – USA – 6 weeksSummer 1 – Global – 6 weeksRevisionStudy LeaveRevisionStudy LeaveSummer 2 - USASummer 2 - GlobalExaminationExamination ................
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