Pearson Edexcel A Level UK Government and Politics Sixth Edition

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This Land– written by Owen Jones, a columnist for the Guardian and activist for Labour, this book looks to build a more equal society using figures from across the political spectrum. If you look across the entire Principal Examiner Reports one common theme which emerges is the demand placed on candidates to reach out and gain AO3 marks. This was a fault line across all papers. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace– a fundamental work in the realist school of international relations. The Tragedy of Great Power Politics– A newer realist perspective focusing on the inevitability of conflict between great powers. Theory of International Politics– Introduces structural realism or neorealism, focusing on the anarchic structure of the international system.

There are lots of different subjects that you can study at A-Level. Some of the most popular A-Level subjects are Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology and Business. The Act of Settlement 1701UK Government and Politics for AS/A-level Synoptic links The Act of Settlement in 1701 marked another step in the changing relationship between the crown and parliament. When it became clear that The prime minister’s neither William III nor his heir, Queen Anne, would have any children, the power of patronage succession should have gone to one of the heirs of James II or Charles I. However, these heirs were Catholic and the Protestant Westminster Today, the prime minister can parliament objected to a Catholic monarch. The Act of Settlement was appoint any MP or peer to the passed to settle the succession problem and parliament decided to offer government. A return to the the throne to George of Hanover. While there were nearly 50 closer principle of cabinet appointees relatives to Queen Anne, George was chosen as the closest relative who having to stand again in a by- was not a Catholic, despite having never been to England and not being election would limit the power of able to speak a word of English. the prime minister and perhaps force MPs to consider the wishes So when George I became king in 1714 it was the result of an Act of constituents rather than of Parliament, not through any divine right of inheritance. In addition seeking career advancement, thus to granting parliament the power to choose the monarch, the Act of improving democracy. However, Settlement also established several principles that had been suggested it may lead to a less effective during the debates over the Bill of Rights: government and make the prime Q Judges could not be removed without the consent of parliament. minister unwilling to make Q Royal pardons were to be irrelevant in cases of impeachment. necessary changes to the cabinet. Q The monarch could not take England into a war to defend their home country, without the consent of parliament. Q In governing Britain, the monarch could not make decisions alone and had to consult the full Privy Council. Q No foreign-born man could join the Privy Council, sit in parliament, hold a military command or be given lands or titles in Britain. Q The monarch had to be a member of the Church of England. Q The monarch could not be Catholic or married to a Catholic. Key term Privy Council A group of senior political advisors who have the job of advising the monarch on the use of the royal prerogative. The Act contained a provision that, after the death of Queen Anne, ‘no person who has an office or place of profit under the king, or receives a pension from the Crown, shall be capable of serving as a member of the House of Commons’. Had this clause not been repealed by the Regency Act of 1706, the UK would have seen a strict separation of power and the idea of cabinet government would not have become established. After the Act of Settlement, anyone appointed to the cabinet had to resign their seat in the House of Commons and stand in a by-election, a practice that continued until 1918. This meant the power of the monarch, and then the prime minister, to appoint cabinet ministers was limited by the fear of losing a by-election. The Act also established the principle that the monarch could only choose ministers who could command a majority of support across both Houses of Parliament. This meant the king had to choose a ‘king in parliament’ who could control both chambers, rather than appointing the minister of his choice.8

Published resources

Case study Majoritarian or consensual democracy? Dutch political scientist Arend Lijphart located main parties with opposing ideological positions. Power liberal democracies on a spectrum with majoritarian sharing is the norm in a consensual democracy. democracy at one extreme and consensual democracy at the other (see Table 2.1). The UK Westminster model is the archetypal majoritarian democracy, while Switzerland is a In a majoritarian democracy, political power is leading example of consensual democracy. The Blair concentrated at the centre and there are few limits to its governments’ constitutional reforms introduced exercise. Common features include a flexible constitution, elements of consensual democracy (e.g. devolution a plurality electoral system, a two-party system, a and the Human Rights Act), while multiparty politics dominant executive and a unitary state. In a consensual and coalition government have also become more democracy, political power is diffused. Typical features apparent. But the UK is still close to the majoritarian are a rigid constitution, proportional representation, position. Parliamentary sovereignty remains the guiding multiparty politics, the separation of powers and a constitutional principle, the fusion of the legislature and federal system. There are also important differences in executive has not been disturbed greatly, and the first- political culture. Politics is adversarial in a majoritarian past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system is still used for democracy, characterised by conflict between two Westminster elections. Questions Q What are the main differences between a majoritarian and a consensual democracy? Q Is the UK still a majoritarian democracy? Table 2.1 Majoritarian and consensual democracyUK Government and Politics for AS/A-level Aspect of political Majoritarian democracy Consensual democracy system Flexible constitution is easily amended Rigid constitution can only be amended through Constitution special procedures Executive is dominant and controls the legislature There is a balance of power between the Executive–legislative executive and legislature relations Courts cannot challenge the constitutionality of Constitutional court can strike down legislation Judiciary legislation Unitary state with power concentrated at the Federal system with power divided between tiers Territorial politics centre of government Majoritarian system produces single-party Proportional representation produces coalition Electoral system government government Adversarial two-party system Cooperative multiparty system Party system Activity Key term Using the information in Table 2.1 and the rest of this chapter, assess the extent to which the UK has moved from the majoritarian democracy extreme towards the consensual democracy end of the spectrum. Constitution The laws, rules and practices which determine the The constitution institutions of the state, and the The British constitution is highly unusual as it is uncodified. This means relationship between the state that the major principles of the political system are not found in a single, and its citizens. authoritative document. Instead they are located in various Acts of20 Prisoners of Geography– a book detailing the big powers in global politics, and how maps can explain them. This is some general advice from our examiners on the issue of how to approach essay writing and ensuring sufficient evaluation in A level Politics essays.

harder to explain precisely what politics is. This is not surprising, given the Chapter 2 The UK political system range of definitions and interpretations in common usage. Definitions of politics One of the most memorable and effective definitions of politics is found in the title of a book by US political scientist Howard Lasswell: Politics: Who Gets What, When and How (1935). Politics is, in essence, the process by which individuals and groups with divergent interests and values make collective decisions. It exists because of two key features of human societies: Q Scarcity of resources. Certain goods, from material wealth to knowledge and influence, are in short supply, so disputes arise over their distribution. Q Competing interests and values. There are competing interests, needs and wants in complex societies, as well as different views on how resources should be distributed.Key terms Power or conciliationAuthority The right to take a There are two broad perspectives on the conduct of politics: particular course of action. Q Politics is about power. Power is the ability to achieve a favouredPower The ability to do outcome, whether through coercion or the exercise of authority. The something or make something study of politics thus focuses on the distribution of power within a happen. society: who makes the rules and where does their authority come from? Q Politics is about conciliation. Here the focus is on conflict resolution, negotiation and compromise. Politics can be a force for good, a way of reaching decisions in divided societies without resorting to force.In focusPowerPower is the ability to do something or make something happen. It can be subdivided into four forms:Q Absolute power is the unlimited ability to do as one wishes and this exists only in theory.Q Persuasive power is the ability to persuade others that a course of action is the right one.Q Legitimate power involves others accepting an individual’s right to make decisions, perhaps as a result of an election.Q Coercive power means pressing others into complying, using laws and penalties.In a democracy, governments exercise legitimate power, with elements of persuasive and coercive power.In focusAuthorityAuthority is the right to take a particular course of action. The German sociologist Max Weber (1864–1920) identifiedthree sources of authority:Q Traditional authority is based on established traditions and customs.Q Charismatic authority is based on the characteristics of leaders.Q Legal–rational authority is granted by a formal process such as an election.Only parliament has the authority to make and unmake laws in the UK. This legal–rational authority is legitimisedthrough free and fair elections.Authority and power may be held independently of one another: a bomb-wielding terrorist may have power withoutauthority; a teacher might have authority without genuine power; and a police officer in a tactical firearms unit mayhave power and authority. 17

Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to start with A-Level revision. But there’s no need to worry, because CGP is here to help! In support material and examiner reports there are some good examples where we try to spell out best practice and give insights in how to maximise mark potential and reflect on the past series of exams.

Conservatism: The Fight for a Tradition– an exploratory book that looks at the history of conservatism and the different strands that it encompasses. Essentials of Political Ideas– an A Level book that looks into the political ideas, their thinkers and other revision tips. Political Ideas You Really Need to Know– a book that includes many of the political ideas covered in the course (though many also don’t apply).The American Political Tradition– offers a critical perspective on the American political system and its leaders. Politics Classics– a great book that helps to condense the main ideas of many key thinkers, including Thomas Hobbes, Mary Wollstonecraft and more.

After Victory– A liberal perspective on how international institutions can create a lasting peace after conflicts.

Useful documents

We’re Living Through the Breakdown– this book is written by Tatton Spiller of Simple Politics, and looks at how we can understand politics in an age of huge change. The Power of Geography– the sequel to Prisoners of Geography that discusses the future of global politics and power.