My Learning Journey

STUDE NT:

TUTOR GROUP:

SUBJECT Edexcel GCE A2 Government & Politics :

This year I will be studying UNIT OF WORK UNIT 3 Key Themes in Political Analysis Topic B: Introducing Political Ideologies September January Liberalism 1. Individualism 2. Freedom 3. Justice 4. Rationalism 5. Equality 6. Liberal Democracy 7. Constitutionalism 8. Consent Conservatism 1. Tradition 2. Organic Society 3. Hierarchy 4. Authority 5. Property 6. Paternalism 7. Libertarianism 8. Authoritarianism 9. Neo-liberalism 10. Neo-conservatism TOPIC Socialism 1. co-operation 2. fraternity 3. collectivism 4. social equality 5. communism 6. social democracy 7. social justice 8. third way Anarchism 1. autonomy 2. utopianism 3. mutualism 4. egoism 5. anarcho-communism 6. anarcho-capitalism 7. anarcho-syndicalism

UNIT 4 Extended Themes in Political Analysis Topic C: Governing the USA January - May

The Constitution A. Separation of powers B. Checks and balances C.Constitutional rights Congress Representation Government gridlock C. The committee system of Congress

Presidency A. presidential system B. imperial presidency C. Executive Office of the President (EXOP) D. Cabinet E. Federal Bureaucracy F. new federalism Supreme Court A. Judicial review B. Judicial independence C. Due process

My exam/coursework will look like UNIT 3 Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes Key Themes in This paper is worth 50% of your overall A2 grade. Political Analysis (25% of your GCE grade) Topic B: Introducing Political There are two parts Ideologies 1. You are required to answer three short answer questions from a choice of five JANUARY EXAM (15 marks each). 2. Then you required to answer one essay question from a choice of three (45 marks). UNIT 4 Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes Extended Themes in This paper is worth 50% of your overall A2 grade. Political Analysis (25% of your GCE grade) Topic C: Governing the USA There are two parts A. You are required to answer three short MAY EXAM answer questions from a choice of five (15 marks each). B. Then you required to answer one essay question from a choice of three (45 marks). I will be assessed on

My AS qualification is made up of

Marks into Grades UNIT 3 MARKS GRADE 90 100 A* 80 89 A 70 79 B 60 69 C 50 59 D 40 - 49 E 0 39 U My exam dates are EXAMINATION DATES: UNIT 3 You will sit the People in politics exam in January. Key Themes in Dates are TBA by the examination board. Any rePolitical Analysis sits we be sat in the May/June. Dates are TBA by the examination board. UNIT 4 You will sit the Governing in the UK exam in the Extended Themes in Summer Term, usually in May/June. Dates are TBA Political Analysis by the examination board. UNIT 4 MARKS GRADE 90 100 A* 80 100 A 70 79 B 60 69 C 50 59 D 40 - 49 E 0 39 U TOTAL A2 GRADE MARKS GRADE 180 200 A* 160 180 A 140 159 B 120 139 C 100 119 D 80 99 E 0 79 U

Exemplar Exam Questions & Answers

Unit 3B- Example Question Question 2- On what grounds have liberals defended constitutionalism? (15)
This question was both popular and generally answered well. A key descriminator was the extent to which constitutionalism was understood, with some less successful candidates merely defining a codified constitution. On the other hand, successful candidates were often able to convey a clear understanding of constitutionalism, but also recognised that it encompasses the idea of both establishing external checks on government and not introducing internal checks through fragmenting power among a number of bodies or institutions. The extent to which candidates were able to explain a specifically liberal concern about government power, especially concentrated government power, was another important discriminator. Typical features of a level 2 response were as follows:

Awareness of nature of constitutionalism, probably demonstrated by a knowledge of

constitutional devices, such as written constitutions, the separation of power, parliamentary government etc.

Some awareness of the corrupting nature and its implications for constitutionalism
Typical features of a level 3 response were as follows:

Clear, and probably explicit, understanding of the nature of constitutionalism, with an

awareness of both its legal and institutional forms.

Sound explanation of specifically liberal concerns about the corrupting nature of power
and the implications of unchecked government power.