Interested in studying for a distance learning A Level? Are you interested in the political system? Keen to understand the ‘rules’ and the role of government? Then this A Level in Government and Politics may be an excellent choice. Politics affects every aspect of our lives from our roads and transport, to our health care and pensions. Understanding how the Laws of our land are formed and ratified is of fundamental benefit to every career and profession.

This course covers both the USA and the UK, enabling you to contrast between the two states, whilst learning the key benefits and drawbacks of each.

Our course is designed in bite sized sections so it is easy to learn step by step and don’t forget our Tutors are here to support you throughout your A Level in Government and Politics. Start Learning today!

 

Etudiants Internationaux 

Êtes-vous intéressé par les systèmes politiques? Voulez-vous comprendre les «règles» et le rôle du gouvernement? Alors ce cours peut être le choix idéal. Les systèmes politiques affectent chaque aspect de nos vies (le transport, la sante et la retraite). Il est alors important de comprendre les lois dans nos pays, comment ils sont formés et adoptés et dans quel mesure ils affectent nos carrières et nos vies privées.

Ce cours examine les Etats-Unis et le Royaume-Uni, ce qui vous permettant de voir les différences entre les deux pays, tout en apprenant les avantages et inconvenances. 

Distance Learning Support

As a valued student of Start Learning you will have the facility to use our personal tutor service.  At Start Learning we have a friendly team of highly qualified and experienced tutors.  A tutor will be allocated to our student for 18 months, starting from when study materials are received.  The tutors are contacted via email and are responsible for marking assignments and guiding you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Home Study Entry Requirements

Basic English reading and writing skills are required. We recommend you have general skills and knowledge associated with a GCSE course or equivalent.

At Start Learning we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.  

Recommended Hours of Study

We recommended that 200 hours of your time should be allocated towards study for the AS and A2 examinations.

Distance Learning Course Contents

A Level Government and Politics consists of AS Level and A2 Level

AS Level

Unit 1 – GOVP1 – People, Politics and Participation
• Participation and voting behaviour
• Electoral systems
•  Political parties
• Pressure groups and protest movements

Unit 2 – GOVP2 – Governing Modern Britain
• The British constitution
• Parliament
• The core executive
• Multi-level governance

A2 Level

Unit 3 – either:
GOV3A – the Politics of the USA
GOV3B – Ideologies
GOV3C – Politics and Power
• The electoral process and direct democracy
• Political parties
• Voting Behaviour
• Pressure groups
• Liberalism
• Socialism
• Conservatism
• Fascism
• Power in modern society
• Executive power
• Political culture
• Britain in Europe

Unit 4 – either:
GOV4A – the Government of the USA
GOV4B – Political Issues: Ideologies in Action
GOV4C – Perspectives on Modern Politics
• The constitutional framework of US government
• The legislative branch of government: US Congress
• The executive branch of government
• The judicial branch of government: the supreme court
• Ethnicity and Gender
• The Environment
• Education
• The Economy
• Participation and Representation
• Globalisation
• Change and Continuity
• Territorial Politics

AS Level + A2 Level = A Level in Government and Politics

Recommended Reading

British Politics in Focus
Roy Bentley et all
2004

American Politics and Society
David McKay
2005

Learning Objectives

Unit 1: GOVP1 – People, Politics and Participation
This unit focuses on the theme of political behaviour in the UK. It explores how people's different patterns of participation can be explained and the forms of participation in a democracy.

The importance of voting behaviour, the influence of electoral systems in communicating political opinion and the controversies surrounding the use of referendums are crucial topics for analysis.

The principal institutions through which people's participation is achieved: political parties and pressure groups, are explored in terms of communicating views, shaping people's political ideas and the acquisition of resources which are likely to make them more powerful within the wider political system.

• Participation and voting behaviour
• Electoral systems
•  Political parties
• Pressure groups and protest movements

Unit 2: GOVP2 – Governing Modern Britain
This unit focuses on the process of governing the UK, with power dispersed from local to European levels. The extent to which Britain's unique constitution regulates the process of government and maintains the balance between individual rights and the power of the state is explored.

The role of Westminster in providing a democratic element in government is examined as well as the degree to which power rests in the hands of unelected bureaucrats. The direction which government takes is analysed at the very apex of power in arrangements within the core executive.

Academic controversies are assessed in terms of the focus on the key issue of how Britain is governed

• The British constitution
• Parliament
• The core executive
• Multi-level governance

Unit 3A: - GOV3A the Politics of the USA
At A2 there is a requirement for synoptic assessment and, in this unit, it is expected that students will draw upon and extend the political knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding gained from their AS studies and make the necessary connections between the areas studied. In the assessment of this unit credit will be given for appropriate references to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the areas covered.

• The electoral process and direct democracy
• Political parties
• Voting Behaviour
• Pressure groups

Students should study one of the Unit 3 options: either this unit, or Unit 3B Ideologies, or Unit 3C Politics and Power.

Unit 3B: - GOV3B Ideologies
At A2 there is a requirement for synoptic assessment and, in this unit, it is expected that students will draw upon and extend the political knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding gained from their AS studies and make the necessary connections between the areas studied.

 In the assessment of this unit credit will be given for appropriate references to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the areas covered.

• Liberalism
• Socialism
• Conservatism
• Fascism

Students should study one of the Unit 3 options: either this unit, or Unit 3A The Politics of the USA, or Unit 3C Politics and Power.

Unit 3C: - GOV3C Politics and Power
At A2 there is a requirement for synoptic assessment and, in this unit, it is expected that students will draw upon and extend the political knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding gained from their AS studies and make the necessary connections between the areas studied.

In the assessment of this unit credit will be given for appropriate references to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the areas covered.

• Power in modern society
• Executive power
• Political culture
• Britain in Europe

Students should study one of the Unit 3 options: either this unit, or Unit 3A The Politics of the USA, or Unit 3B Ideologies.

Unit 4: GOV4A the Government of the USA
At A2 there is a requirement for synoptic assessment and, in this unit, it is expected that students will draw upon and extend the political knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding gained from their AS studies and make the necessary connections between the areas studied. In the assessment of this unit credit will be given for appropriate references to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the areas covered.

• The constitutional framework of US government
• The legislative branch of government: US Congress
• The executive branch of government
• The judicial branch of government: the supreme court

Students should study one of the Unit 4 options: either this unit, or Unit 4B Political Issues: Ideologies in Action, or Unit 4C Perspectives on Modern Politics.

Unit 4B: GOV4B Political Issues: Ideologies in Action
At A2 there is a requirement for synoptic assessment and, in this unit, it is expected that students will draw upon and extend the political knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding gained from their AS studies and make the necessary connections between the areas studied.

 In the assessment of this unit credit will be given for appropriate references to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the areas covered

• Ethnicity and Gender
• The Environment
• Education
• The Economy

Students should study one of the Unit 4 options: either this unit, or Unit 4A The Government of the USA, or Unit 4C Perspectives on Modern Politics.

Unit 4C: GOV4C Perspectives on Modern Politics
At A2 there is a requirement for synoptic assessment and, in this unit, it is expected that students will draw upon and extend the political knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding gained from their AS studies and make the necessary connections between the areas studied.

 In the assessment of this unit credit will be given for appropriate references to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the areas covered.

• Participation and Representation
• Globalisation
• Change and Continuity
• Territorial Politics

Students should study one of the Unit 4 options: either this unit, or Unit 4A The Government of the USA, or Unit 4B Political Issues: Ideologies in Action.

Qualification

AS +A2 = A level in Government and Politics.
Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

Language of Examination

English

Examination Centre

You can find a full list of private candidate centres here: AQA Private Candidate Centres

Start Learning will provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.
In some cases you should be prepared to travel to another town or city to take your exams.

Start Learning provides expertise support and advice for students in their studies through their comprehensive course packs and tutoring system. However, we do stress that it is the student’s responsibility to find a centre to register and take their exams with. We are aware that sometimes this is difficult or even impossible to arrange.

Now we have come to an arrangement with a centrally located centre where Start Learning students will be able to take their exams. It is the English Maths Science Tuition & Educational Centre, located in Birmingham, right in the centre of England.

We realise this may still involve a good deal of travelling for some students but the long-term benefits of being able to gain A Levels far outweigh the short-term  expense and inconvenience.

For further information, please go to:
http://www.englishandmaths.com/Index.php

or: English Maths Science Tuition Centre Ltd.
40 Showell Green lane
Sparkhill
Birmingham,
B11 4JP
England
United Kingdom

Tel: 0121-771-1298

The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre.

Summary of Examinations

Unit 1 – GOVP1 – People, Politics and Participation
Percentage: 50% of AS Level, 25% of A Level
Examination Time: 2 hour 30 minutes written examination
Total Marks: 80 marks
Format: Two structured source-based questions from a choice of four

Unit 2 – GOVP2 – Governing Modern Britain
Percentage: 50% of AS Level, 25% of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 30 minutes written examination
Total Marks: 80 marks
Format: Two structured source-based questions from a choice of four

Unit 3 – either:
GOV3A – the Politics of the USA
GOV3B – Ideologies
GOV3C – Politics and Power
Percentage: 25% of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 30 minutes written examination
Total Marks: 80 marks
Format: Two questions from a choice of four

Unit 4 – either:
GOV4A – the Government of the USA
GOV4B – Political Issues: Ideologies in Action
GOV4C – Perspectives on Modern Politics
Percentage: 25 % of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 30 minutes written examination
Total Marks: 80 marks
Format: Two questions from a choice of four