In term 1 the students will examine the principles and the nature of the United States Constitution. This will include: the debates around the constitution and the main characteristics of US federalism. Moreover, there will be a detailed comparison with the uncodified UK constitution. In addition, the students will examine the structure, the functions and the distribution of powers with the US Congress. There will also be a detailed comparison study with the UK Parliament.
30 mark essay question.
A collection of rules, principles and conventions which outlines a political system.
The national government of the USA, consisting of three branches - Congress, the presidency and the judiciary.
A system of government in which power and sovereignty are shared between the federal government and individual states.
The power of one branch to directly prevent the action of another branch, thus 'checking their action. That all branches can do this to each other provides a 'balance' of power.
The ability of two or more parties to work together to achieve an outcome. This is enforced by the supermajorities required in the Constitution.
Oppressive for cruel rule.
A legislature made up of two chambers.
The time period over which elections occur.
A political system in which only two parties have a realistic chance of forming a government alone.
Elections for the US Congress that take place in the middle of a full presidential term.
The students develop their comparison essay skills.
Individuals will be able to learn the concept of legislature and the importance of the role of public assemblies in modern democracies.
In Term 2, the students learn about the US presidency and the formal and informal powers that the United States president holds and how the president's powers fit into the overall United States Constitution. The students will also study the nature and role of the Supreme Court in the United States and its importance in the American judiciary. The students will be expected to make links between the Supreme Courts of the United States and the United Kingdom and judge the effectiveness of both as well as explore their weaknesses.
Edexcel exam-style 30-mark exam question.
The administrative bodies of the US presidency, consisting of departments, agencies and commissions which act under the president's direction.
Powers that are specifically laid out in the Constitution. A synonym for enumerated powers.
Issues and policies that concern affairs within the borders of a nation, such as healthcare, immigration and education.
Issues and policy concerning how one country deals with another, such as treaties, agreements, diplomacy and military action.
The annual address delivered by the president in Congress outlining his legislative agenda for the coming year.
The presiding member of the Supreme Court, but who holds no additional voting power to eight other members of the Court.
A member of the US Supreme Court who is not the chief justice.
A court of appeals, accepting cases for review from the courts beneath it.
A justice who is in the ideological middle of the nine justices on the US Supreme Court.
Policy and law created by the branches of government that have an effect on the US population.
It helps the individual understand how Congress is organised in the US and how it compares with that in the UK. It helps understand how the power of the presidency or congress work to ensure the separation of powers and check and balances in the US.
It supports students in analysing and evaluating ideas within a contextual setting enabling them to compare the US with the UK.
In Term 3, the students continue with the study of the United States presidency. There is a focus on the modern and historic role of the president and there is a study of recent debates about the powers and position of the president in United States Constitution, which the students will explore. Furthermore, the students will study democracy in the United States, including the electoral systems, the current political parties and interest groups. In addition, the students will compare the democratic systems of both the United Kingdom and the United States, and make judgements on the effectiveness and weaknesses of both.
Students will be able to understand what encourages participation in the political process in the US and compare it to that of the UK. They will also develop an understanding for the different parties in the US.
The current holder of a political office.
The power of stopping a bill from becoming law.
The concept that the president has become too powerful and is acting outside the guidelines of the constitution
The concept that there are two different presidents depending on whether they are dealing with national or foreign affairs
The idea that the president is too weak and can not control the bureaucracy of the office
A body of people who cast votes on behalf of their states to formally elect the president and vice president of the USA.
The time between a candidate formally announcing their intention to run for presidential office and the first official primary or caucus.
An intraparty election to determine who will compete on the ballot for that party in the presidential election.
An intraparty town-hall style meeting in which voters physically exercise their preferences in order to decide who will represent their party on the ballot in the presidential election.
The movement of primaries to an earlier point in the calendar in order to give more significance to a primary or caucus within a state.
It helps the individual understand how the congress is organised in the US and how it compares with that in the UK. It helps understand how the power of the presidency or congress work to ensure the separation of powers and check and balances in the US
Students will be able to form discussions on political engagement on ways that this could be improved both globally (US in this case) but also locally.
In Term 4, the students revisit and revise the content learned in Year 12, which includes the government and politics of the United Kingdom as well exam skills, with an emphasis on source questions. The students will also revise the ideologies of socialism, liberalism and conservatism.
Two essays, one on affirmative action and another on the supreme court
It is the highest court in the US that has the responsibility to listen to cases of constitutional importance
The branch of government in charge of interpreting and applying the law in the US
The name given to a member of the Supreme Court in the US
The process where congress presents charges against an official in the government
A power given to the Supreme Court to allow it to decide whether a law passed by Congress is constitutional
The concept that a judges judgment is bound by the decision made by other judges in the past. This is commonly referred to as precedent
The idea that a judge makes decisions based on a conservative view of the constitution which leads to conservative policy outcomes
The idea that a justice supports the liberal interpretation of the constitution which as a result leads to liberal policy outcomes.
The idea that a justice votes both in a conservative and a liberal way depending on the case
The idea that a court is likely to change the interpretation of the law in a way that it will have wide ranging effects on society
The idea that the court avoids changing the interpretation of the constitution in a way that changes the policy and therefore has an effect on society
Any right that is given to a person as a citizen. These often include the right to vote and equality
The action by public institutions to positively discriminate in favour of a group that has historically been disadvantaged.
The idea that the judicial branch is so powerful that other branches of government ineffectively conduct checks and balances
The students develop their source analysis skills.
Students revise in groups and pairs, using peer assessment. This reinforces resilience and a caring supportive community.
In Term 5, the students revisit and revise the content learned in Year 13, which includes the government and politics of the United States as well exam skills, with an emphasis on essay questions. The students will also revise the ideology of anarchism.
Mock examination
The way the public chooses who represents them by voting
The mainly right wing party in the US
The mainly left wing party in the US
The official way to vote for the presidential candidate for each party
An informal process where candidates must win support and funding in order to become a candidate in the presidential primaries
The official meeting for each party where delegates vote for the candidates that will represent their party in the presidential election.
Money spent indirectly to support a particular candidate's campaign
Money that is donated directly to a political candidate
A political action committee that is created to donate money to a particular campaign by any organisation or institution
A super political action committee is an organisation that can spend money on their own campaigning for a cause of candidate they believe in, but who can not donate that money to a particular campaign
A set of laws and regulations put in place to control the funding of political campaigns
A Tuesday during the campaign season when a large number of states hold their primaries
The concept where there are groups within individual parties that have similar ideological positions. E.g. Progressive Democrats, Moderate Democrats, Conservative Democrats
Any group whose aim is to influence policy in order to give an advantage to the people they represent
The way interest groups try to influence the options of the government or law makers
The part of an interest group that is made up by members of the public who work together to raise the status of an issue or cause
The students develop their essay writing skills.
Students revise in groups and pairs, using peer assessment. This reinforces resilience and a caring supportive community.
St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School - an inclusive Christian secondary school in North London with high academic standards.
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