1-3 

•Current systems of representative democracy and direct democracy. 

•Advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy and representative democracy and consideration of the case for reform. 

•A wider franchise and debates over suffrage. 

•The work of a current movement to extend the franchise. 

•Pressure groups and other influences. 

•Rights in context 

4-6 

•The functions and features of political parties in the UK and how parties are currently funded and debates on the consequences of the current funding system.  

•Established political parties.  

•Emerging and minor UK political parties.  

•UK political parties in context. 

7-9 

•Different electoral systems.  

•Referendums and how they are used.  

•Electoral system analysis. 

10-11 

•Case studies of three key general elections, the results and their impact on parties and government. 

• The factors that explain the outcomes of these elections.  

•The influence of the media. 

12-14 

•The nature and sources of the UK Constitution.  

•How the constitution has changed since 1997.  

•The role and powers of devolved bodies in the UK, and the impact of this devolution on the UK.  

•Debates on further reform. 

•The structure and role of the House of Commons and House of Lords.  

•The comparative powers of the House of Commons and House of Lords.  

•The legislative process.  

•The ways in which Parliament interacts with the Executive 

17-18 

•The structure, role, and powers of the Executive.  

•The concept of ministerial responsibility.  

•The Prime Minister and the Cabinet.  

•The powers of the Prime Minster and the Cabinet to dictate events and determine policy. 

19-20 

•The Supreme Court and its interactions with, and influence over, the legislative and policy-making processes.  

•The relationship between the Executive and Parliament.  

•The aims, role and impact of the European Union (EU) on the UK government. 

• The location of sovereignty in the UK political system. 

21-23 

•Core ideas and principles of liberalism and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and the economy.  

•The differing views and tensions within liberalism. •Liberal thinkers and their ideas. 

24-26 

•Core ideas and principles of conservatism and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and the economy.  

•The differing views and tensions within conservatism.  

•Conservative thinkers and their ideas.