Politics

This course follows the OCR specification. The course is designed to:

• Develop critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationship between political ideas, institutions and processes.
• Acquire knowledge and understanding of the political system in the UK.
• Imbue the student with a knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of individuals in order to encourage more informed participation within their society.
• Develop a student's capacity for critical thinking.

The AS course consists of 2 units:

1. Unit F851 - Contemporary Politics of the U.K.

• Political parties
• Pressure Groups
• Electoral Systems and Referenda
• U.K. Parliamentary Elections
• Voting behaviour in the U.K.

2. Unit F852 - Contemporary Government of the UK

• The Constitution
• The Executive
• The Legislature
• The Judiciary
• The European Union

The A2 course consists of 2 modules

1. Unit F853 - Contemporary U.S. Government and Politics

• Presidential Elections
• Political Parties
• Pressure Groups
• The U.S. Constitution
• The Congress
• The Presidency
• The U.S. Supreme Court
• Civil Rights and Liberties

2. Unit F855 - U.S Government and Politics

• A comparative module covering with US/UK Politics:
• Elections
• Political Parties and Pressure Groups
• Civil Rights and Liberties
• Constitutions
• Legislatures
• Executives
• Judiciaries

Mr Sandy Norton is Head of the Politics Department