Unit
AS 1
Govt. &
Politics of
NI
AS 2
British
Political
Process
Assessment
format
Externally assessed
exam based on 1
Source and 3 questions
Duration
1hr 15mins
Weightings
and marks
40% of AS
20% of A Level
Externally assessed
exam based on 5
questions
1hr 45mins
60% of AS
30% of A Level
A2 1
Comparative
Government
Externally assessed
paper based on UK &
US political systems.
There is 1 source and 5
questions
A2 2
Political
Power
Externally assessed
paper based on
Political Power.
There is 1 source
with 3 questions.
Questions 1&2
require textual
analysis & evaluation
2hr 15mins
60% of A2
Exam
Summer
(Repeats in
Winter)
Summer
(Repeats in
Winter)
Summer
30% of A Level
1hr 30mins
40% of A2
20% of A Level
Summer
Content
Learning Outcomes
The Government
of Northern
Ireland
Students should be able to:
The Northern
Irish Political
Parties
Students should be able to:
•Show knowledge and understanding of the Government
of NI since 1994, including political arrangements like
Direct Rule and Devolution of power to the NI Assembly
•Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a wide
range of political concepts such as Democracy ; Power,
Authority ; Democratic Deficit and power sharing and be
able to apply these to NI.
•Show knowledge and understanding of the role of
Political parties and their strategies and policies
•Analyse how the strategies and policies of the
political parties have developed and changed since
1994
•Assess how and why the support for the main
political parties has changed since 1994
Northern Irish
Electoral
systems
•Assess the political impact of the different
electoral systems in NI
Content
1) The
British
Political
Process
Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to:
•Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant
political concepts
For example
-
Cabinet Government.,
Prime Ministerial versus Presidential Power.
Ministerial and Collective Responsibility
Parliamentary Sovereignty.
Scrutiny
Representation.
Judicial Independence
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
operation of the EXECUTIVE ; LEGISLATURE and
JUDICIARY
•Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
ideological basis and policies of the main British Political
parties
Content
(2)
The Interrelationships
of the
Executive ,
Legislature
and Judiciary
Learning Outcomes
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
the
inter-relationships of the Executive, Legislature and
Judiciary
•Analyse political issues relating to this:
For example
- The ability of the Legislature and Judiciary to scrutinise
the Executive.,
- The degree to which Parliament influences legislation.
- The significance of the House of Lords
- Judicial Reviews and Inquiries.
• Assess the extent to which the Executive Dominates
the Legislature and judiciary
For example
- The degree to which Parliament is independent of the
Executive.
- The degree to which the Judiciary is independent of the
Executive
Content
Learning Outcomes
3) The UK
Executive
Students should be able to:
4) The EU
• Demonstrate Knowledge and understanding of the impact of
the EU on the British Political Process.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relationships
within the Executive
• Analyse a number of political issues relating to the
relationships within the executive
For example
-The role of the Ministers,
-The role of the Cabinet.
-The role of the Cabinet Committees
• Assess the distribution of power within the UK Executive
For example:
-The Powers of the Prime Minister;
-The degree to which the PM controls the Cabinet
- The degree to which the UK is considered to
have a Presidential system