Carmel College Government & Politics Course Information

government and poli tics

AS/A2 Government and Politics

What is Government and Politics?

Politics is an exciting subject because the vast majority of people do have political opinions, even if they think that they are not ‘political’! It is also perhaps the most contemporary academic subject because of its newsworthy nature. If you watch any news bulletin there are usually one or two items that are either directly or indirectly connected to politics, i.e. the economy, education, war in Afghanistan, the health service etc.

Of course there are differences of opinion on these matters and this is what actually makes it such an intriguing and interesting subject to study.

AS/A2 Government and Politics EXAM BOARD: AQA

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

meet the students ANNA GETTINGS Bellerive

Studying: Government & Politics, Combined English, History, Sociology, Critical Thinking I particularly enjoy the discussion aspect of the Politics lessons and we regularly have class debates about topical issues. The trip to London gave an interesting insight into the workings of the Houses of Parliament and put a lot of the work we’d been doing in class into context. I have also participated in the politics Enrichment Programme which provided a good opportunity to further my political knowledge and learn about issues away from the exam specification. When I leave Carmel I hope to study Politics and Sociology at university and eventually work in journalism.

meet the tutors MIKE MCLOUGHLIN MA Head of Department and AQA Examiner for Government and Politics

You will study the following modules at AS Level: Unit 1 - People, Politics and Participation (Sept - Dec) This includes the following four areas of study: Political Participation and Voting Behaviour; Electoral Systems; Political Parties; Pressure Groups and Protest Movements.

Unit 2 - Governing Modern Britain (Jan - May) This Unit includes the following four areas of study: The British Constitution; Parliament; The Core Executive (Government); Multi-level Governance (including Devolution and the European Union).

In year 1 (Lower 6th) the focus is very much on the UK and our political system, but we will also do some work on political philosophy and the origins of Western liberal democracy too. Students are also introduced to politics in the wider political and social context, within which we explore the effect of social class, gender, ethnicity etc on the political system.

At A2 Level (Upper 6th), you will progress to the following units: Unit 3a – The Politics of the USA The four areas of study include: The US Electoral Process and Direct Democracy; Political Parties; Voting Behaviour; Pressure groups.

Unit 4a – The Government of the USA In this unit the four areas are: The Constitutional Framework of US Government; The Legislative Branch of Government - US Congress; The Executive Branch of Government - The Office of President; The Judicial Branch of Government - The Supreme Court.

In year 2 (Upper 6th) the emphasis is still on acquiring political knowledge, but equal emphasis is now devoted to the development of more sophisticated critical evaluation skills. Our studies will have a more international flavour, with obvious emphasis on the USA and our "special relationship" with them. We also explore the synoptic relationship between the US and UK forms of government.

The building of basic political knowledge is the main objective of this year, and we will also make a start on acquiring important critical evaluation skills too. Europe and the development of the European Union is also given some attention too as the UK is an important member of this political institution.

How will I be assessed?

You will sit two exams per year – one in January and one in the summer. In both years the exams are one and a half hours duration each and have equal weighting.

You will be marked regularly on mostly written assignments and given a progress grade with which you will be able to monitor yourself. This will be reviewed on a regular basis between you and your tutor. As an individual student you are only judged against your individual minimum expected grade (MEG) and this determines your rate of progress on the course.

What will this course prepare me for?

The AS course will prepare you for continued study to A2 Level and from this level to university degree study and various possible career pathways thereafter. The study of politics is very useful for a number of careers and is a well established subject at our most prestigious universities in the UK.

The teaching and learning that occurs in the classroom (and full attendance is an absolute necessity to gain maximum advantage) is very wide-ranging and consists of PowerPoint presentations, handouts, exam question practice, group quizzes, watching relevant DVDs, student presentations, the analysis of quality newspaper stories, Internet site usage and research activities, discussion and debates, and textbook based activities etc.

Students will also be issued with a textbook for home study and homework purposes.

programmes about politics is an absolute necessity to keep abreast of contemporary political issues, for example the ‘Politics Show’ on BBC1 usually on Sunday at 1.00pm etc.

There will also be plenty of opportunity to research your own particular political interests and issues, and to present your findings to the class initiating discussion and debate too!

As we study US politics in the A2 year, there is also the possibility of a trip to Washington DC and other East Coast cities too.

In addition you will have all of the facilities available to you in our Library, which includes additional textbooks, use of computers for politics websites, political journals, DVDs, and quality newspapers etc.

Indeed the nature of this topic is such that ‘compulsory’ viewing of selected TV

meet the students ANDREW BOARDMAN Sts Peter and Paul

Studying: Government and Politics, History, Chemistry, Law, French, Critical Thinking I’ve been interested in Politics for a long time and it’s a subject which is continually changing. It’s interesting to see the systems that run our country since politics controls so much of our lives. You get a lot of support from your tutors and they are always there to help you if you find things difficult. At Carmel you are treated like an adult and encouraged to study independently but you also have the opportunity to socialise with other students – it’s a great place to study.

The 2010 USA visit took in Boston, New York, Washington and Philadelphia

What is the Department like?

It is a fairly new department (over 4 years old now) but works very closely with all Social Sciences departments. We have access to computers and all rooms are equipped with multi-media projectors and interactive white boards. Course textbooks are complemented by our own college library and their numerous politics texts too. The department has an innovative and dynamic approach, which will promote the pursuit of excellence in all of the teaching and learning elements of the course. The department also actively attempts to cater for all learning styles with up-to-date teaching methods and resources.

Finally, the department will encourage a healthy sense of humour in its work too, with the odd touch of satire!

Students had a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament during their trip to London

Frequently Asked Questions WHAT SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?

meet the students MICHAEL COSGROVE St Edmund Arrowsmith, Whiston

There will be the opportunity to book regular support/extension tutorials, with email back up and regular communication with your tutor. You will also be encouraged to actively develop and contribute to the development of course materials and resources.

more information You can find further information on the AQA Exam Board website:

www.aqa.org.uk Another useful resource: www.bbc.co.uk/politics

Yes, no problem.

WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS WILL IT SUPPLEMENT? Law, Business, Sociology, History etc

There will also be relevant DVDs for you to watch on your own or with fellow students as part of your wider study and research commitments. You will also be guided to relevant websites and encouraged to discover additional ones too! The information and materials on politics continues to grow at an amazing rate.

Studying: Government & Politics, Law, Philosophy, Psychology, Critical Thinking I enjoy the debates that our class engages in as it’s interesting to hear other people’s points of view. We also watch film clips and news footage relevant to the topics we are studying and I find this a good way to learn and develop my understanding. I took part in the Politics enrichment which I enjoyed as it made me aware of other political issues and I also went on the trip to London where I made some new friends. Carmel has a good atmosphere which is fun to learn in. The teachers treat you like young adults and there is a good rapport between staff and students.

CAN I STUDY GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IF I HAVEN’T TAKEN IT AT GCSE?

Outside the White House, Washington DC

HOW SUCCESSFUL ARE CARMEL’S GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS STUDENTS?

2008 2009 2010

AS A2

AS A2

AS A2

A*-B 35%

A*-C

Overall Pass Rate

63%

94%

70%

53%

100%

35%

55%

40% 47% 63%

71% 83%

91%

100% 100% 98%

100%

What other opportunities will the study of Government and Politics offer me?

We invite visiting speakers into the classroom to talk with students. These visitors include Local MP Dave Watts, European MPs, Officers from the local council, and on occasions even a Government Minister, such as Andy Burnham who visited us recently. In addition, there is an annual trip to London including a guided tour of Parliament. There is also a trip to the USA to visit Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York City, which fits in really well with the second year and the study of US politics. The 2010 trip was extended to include Boston.

In addition, there are local trips to the Slavery Museum in Liverpool, and to relevant lectures at the Philharmonic Hall and Edge Hill University. As part of the Enrichment Programme, students can get involved in the Mock United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) which takes place at Liverpool Town Hall every November.

Finally, students are also encouraged to take an interest in Carmel’s Student Council body, which is elected on an annual basis and works on behalf of all the students at Carmel.