The New AQA AS Specification Government and Politics

The New AQA AS Specification AS Unit 1 (GOVP1) People, Politics and Participation 1.Participation and voting behaviour 2.Electoral systems 3.Political parties 4.Pressure groups and protest movements. AS Unit 2 (GOVP2) Governing Modern Britain 1.The British Constitution 2.Parliament 3.The Core Executive 4.Multi-level Governance Miss Lockett – 3hrs a week Ms Pounder – 2 hrs a week

GOVP1: People, Participation and Politics (i) Participation and Voting Behaviour Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification The nature of participation in the political process Politics, Democracy, Pluralism, Elitism, Electorate, Apathy A knowledge of different forms of political involvement: who participates and how in terms of gender, class, ethnicity, age and region. Reasons for non-participation. Participation through the ballot box Abstention, Voting behaviour, Changing patterns of voting, Mass media Theories and debates concerning the long and short-term determinants of voting behaviour including partisan and class identification; stability and volatility; influence of issues; campaigns; party and leaders’ images. By-elections.

GOVP1: People, Participation and Politics (ii) Electoral Systems Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification The role of elections in a democracy Majoritarian and proportional electoral systems Representation Reform Strengths and weaknesses of first-past the post, single transferable vote and additional member systems. Likely effects of electoral system on party system Majority and coalition governments. Nature of representation Direct and indirect democracy Referendums Nature and use of referendums within the UK. Arguments for and against greater use of referendums within the UK.

GOVP1: People, Participation and Politics (iii) Political Parties Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification The role of political parties in a democracy Political Parties Pressure groups Party competition ‘Catch-all’ parties Ideology Role and function of major parties: how do parties and the party system work? Changing ideologies: how far do political ideas shape parties? Party structure; parties at local, national and EU levels Programmes, policies and manifestos Candidate and leader selection. Membership: how important are party members? Campaigning. Minority parties.

GOVP1: People, Participation and Politics (iv) Pressure Groups and Protest Movements Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification The importance of pressure groups to political communication and policy-making in a democracy Interest/cause Insider/outsider Social movements Factors likely to affect the political influence of groups including membership and resources Links with parties and government, including the EU. Pressure group behaviour Lobbying Access points Direct action Political networks/communities Internal democracy Pressure group representation The impact of groups and movements in influencing policy and changing values. Role of the media in pressure group politics Do pressure groups strengthen or weaken democracy? Possibility of some citizens being excluded from pressure group politics.

GOVP2: Governing Modern Britain (i) The British Constitution Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification The nature and sources of the British Constitution Written/unwritten Codified/uncodified Unitary/federal Rigid/flexible A knowledge of the main sources of the British constitution: statute case law, conventions, treaties, constitutional change. How far the British Constitution influences and limits the powers of government. The judiciary and its relationship to other ‘powers’ of government Judicial independence Separation of powers Judicial review The relationship of the judiciary to the executive and legislature. Judicial appointments. The impact of the Human Rights Act and European Court of Human Rights upon the British political system.

GOVP2: Governing Modern Britain (ii) Parliament Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification The role of parliament in the UK’s political system Representation Parliamentary Sovereignty Mandate The composition and main roles and functions of Parliament: representation, legislation, scrutiny. The relative powers of the House of Commons and House of Lords. Parliamentary sovereignty in theory and practice. Parliament and government relationships Accountability Executive dominance Elective dictatorship Bicameral The roles of the House of Commons and House of Lords in scrutinising legislation and holding the government to account. The influence of backbenchers, frontbenchers, whips and the Opposition.

GOVP2: Governing Modern Britain (iii) The Core Executive Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification Relations within the core executive The prime minister and the cabinet system Prime ministerial and cabinet government Presidentialism Collective responsibility The prime minister: main roles, powers and resources. The Cabinet system: composition, roles and functions of Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Cabinet Ministers. The Cabinet Office. Prime ministerial and presidential systems: a brief comparison. Do we have prime ministerial government in Britain? Policy making and Implementation Bureaucracy Political neutrality Anonymity Permanence Individual ministerial responsibility Ministers and civil servants: main characteristics, roles, resources and relationships. Special advisers. Government departments.

GOVP2: Governing Modern Britain (iv) Multi-level Governance Issues, debates and processes to be addressed Key concepts Content and amplification Elected local and devolved government in the UK Elected representatives Local democracy Devolution The main powers of elected local government, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Relations between the Westminster Parliament and elected local and devolved government. Debates on the nature and extent of devolved power. The European Union Supranational ‘Democratic deficit’ The composition and main powers of the European Parliament, the European Council and Council of Ministers, the Commission. Where does power lie? Is there a ‘democratic deficit’? The impact of EU institutions on the Westminster Parliament.

The New AQA AS Examinations AS Unit 1 (GOVP1)AS Unit 2 (GOVP2) 1½ hours (80 marks) Two three-part structured questions from a choice of four. Each question accompanied by an extract. Two three-part structured questions from a choice of four. Each question accompanied by an extract.

What this means in practice

Additional guidance Each of the four questions on the paper will relate to one of the four sections of the Specification content for the Unit i.e. one question per section. The order of questions on each paper will correspond to the order in which the various sections appear in the Unit content. The section heading to which each question relates will appear on the question paper above the relevant question. The part ‘c question will not normally relate directly to the extract but will instead focus on a broader theme. The extracts will normally be between 130 and 150 words long, in order to give candidates enough to go on in the part ‘b’ questions.

Assessment Objectives Q ‘a’ Q ‘b’ Q ‘c’ ‘AS’ AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant institutions, processes, political concepts, theories and debates % AO2 Analyse and evaluate political information, arguments and explanations, and identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between aspects of the political systems studied % AO3 Construct and communicate coherent arguments making use of a range of appropriate political vocabulary %

Tackling AS Questions Candidates are strongly advised to scan through all three parts of the question before they start writing. This makes sense for two main reasons: Firstly, even on the current (legacy) Specification it is common for candidates to spend far too much time answering the shorter ‘part-a’ questions, because they become side-tracked discussing material that is more relevant to the longer ‘part-b’ questions. Secondly, candidates often jump into answering a question based on what is being asked on part ‘a’ even though they later find that they have no idea whatsoever as to how to answer part ‘b’

Answering part ‘a’ questions Part ‘a’ answers (5 marks) 1.Provide a clear definition of the term in question. 2.Explain the significance of the term in the context of the extract. 3.Introduce your own knowledge as a means of developing your answer. Remember, all 5 marks available are awarded on the basis of AO1 (knowledge and understanding) so there is no real need for detailed analysis at this stage.

Answering part ‘b’ questions Part ‘b’ answers (10 marks) 1.There is no need to provide a formal introduction but it is important to address the question explicitly from the outset. 2.Remain focused throughout, linking each point that you make back to the terms of the question set. 3.If the question asks you to consider two factors or areas don’t waste time dealing with more. If the question is more open make sure that you develop at least two areas. 4.Make sure that you use material from your own knowledge as well as the extract. Remember, there are as many marks available for AO2 here as there are for AO1. You will therefore need to analyse and evaluate as well as demonstrating your knowledge.

Answering part ‘c’ questions Part ‘c’ answers (25 marks) 1.Offer a short introduction outlining the scope of the answer. 2.Try to make sure that you identify and define and key terms early in your answer. 3.Impose a clear analytical structure on your discussion. Ideally, deal with around three or four main points. 4.Try and make sure that your answer is balanced. 5.Support each point that you make with appropriate examples drawn from your own knowledge. 6.Make effective use of political theory and subject specific vocabulary. Remember, there are a significant number of marks available for AO3 (communication) on these part ‘c’ questions. You would normally need to make effective use of political vocabulary and bring your answer to a reasoned conclusion in order to secure all of these marks.