Politics

Why study Government & Politics?

This course covers British politics at AS. As such it makes an excellent stand alone course. For those who continue on to A2, the syllabus broadens out. Upper sixth candidates study American politics and Government and include a comparative element toward the end of the course.

Studying politics enables you to better understand the world around you. It will empower you to think for yourself about the things that matter. You will develop a critical awareness. Politics is a mix of ideas, institutions and issues of the day. Think about some of the following:-

Should we have gone to war in Iraq?
Should we have a War Powers Act requiring parliamentary consent to go to war?
Should Prince Harry have been allowed to serve in Iraq?
Should there be a fixed term parliament?
Should there be a limit of two terms on a Prime Minister?
Should Gordon Brown become Prime Minister without a new mandate (election)?
Should we carry ID cards?

What is the Office of Deputy Prime Minister for?
What does the Queen do?
What was devolution designed to achieve?
What is 'spin'?
What is the judiciary for?

Why do Ministers resign?
Why do we need Parliament?
Why don't people vote?
Why do we have different forms of elections?
Why do MPs swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen?
Why is the Queen head of the Church of England when we live in a multi faith society?

How are laws made?
How do we prevent injustice?
How do we protect civil liberties and at the same time defeat terrorism

Do the ends always justify the means?
If you find these questions thought provoking then you might enjoy following a course in politics.

If you have made it this far you deserve a joke.

A man went in for a brain transplant operation and was offered a choice of two brains by the surgeon. He could choose either the architect's brain which would cost him £10,000 or the politician's which would cost £100,000.
"Does that mean that the politician's brain is much better than the architect's" exclaimed the puzzled man?
"Not exactly replied the surgeon, "the politician's brain has never been used".

When you follow a course of politics you will develop a broad understanding of political terminology. You will for instance examine concepts such as power and authority; the application of the rule of law and distinctions between for example procedural and substantive justice.

You will almost certainly begin to think more independently and grow to question conventional wisdom.

The politics course facilitates opportunities for independent research. We have an impressive video library which we use to show how continuity and change both explain the weave of British politics today.

The course starts with a visit to Parliament in September.

For the more serious minded there are opportunities to attend conferences run by the Adam Smith Institute.

Students who enjoy this course usually have an interest in current affairs and can expect to deepen their knowledge of the institutions of government as well as gain an insight into recent political history and events.

General Westmoreland during the Vietnam War had the following to say:-

"Without censorship things can get terribly confused in the public's mind."

Thinking about continuity and change you might ask what resonance this has for us today.
On the same theme you might be surprised to know that the quote below was not in fact a Bushism but a Quaylism (after Vice President Dan Quayle)

"I was recently on a tour of Latin America and the only regret I have was that I didn't study Latin hard enough at school so I could converse with these people."

On a serious note the tradition of satire is an excellent example of a mature democracy where a free press exists and where criticism is allowed to flow.

So what makes a democracy? What makes good governance? What makes politicians act the way they do? These questions are addressed as part of the issue based curriculum which we follow based around the focus of the core institutions of government:- the executive, the legislature; and the judiciary.

Why should I study politics?
A final thought:-
For a democracy to really flourish and for you to take your part in it we need well informed citizens. The biggest winner at the last General Election was the "Apathy" party.
Did people not vote because of the "politics of contentment";or "because the parties are the same"; or because "they are not interested in party politics"; or because of "ignorance"?
I can't give you the answers to these questions but they are surely worth asking.