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A Level
Political Studies
Edexcel
Top Grade AO3/4 - Electoral Systems

Top Grade AO3/4 - Electoral Systems

Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 3.1.4

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Previous topic3.1.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral Systems Next topic3.2.1 Case For & Against Referendums

Political Studies: Edexcel A Level contents

1 Democracy & Participation
- 1.1 Representative & Direct Democracy
  1.1.1 Direct Democracy
  1.1.2 Pros & Cons of Direct Democracy
  1.1.3 Representative Democracy
  1.1.4 Pros & Cons of Representative Democracy
  1.1.5 Comparing Types of Democracy
  1.1.6 Case for Democratic Reform
  1.1.7 End of Topic Test - Types of Democracy
  1.1.8 Top Grade AO3/4 - Types of Democracy
- 1.2 Wider Franchise & Suffrage
  1.2.1 History of the UK Franchise
  1.2.2 Campaigns for Suffrage
  1.2.3 End of Topic Test - Franchise & Suffrage
- 1.3 Pressure Groups & Other Influences
  1.3.1 Types of Pressure Group
  1.3.2 Functions of Pressure Groups
  1.3.3 How Pressure Groups Influence
  1.3.4 Case-Study Examples
  1.3.5 Other Collective Orgs & Groups
  1.3.6 End of Topic Test - Pressure Groups & Influences
  1.3.7 Application Questions - Pressure Groups
- 1.4 Rights in Context
  1.4.1 Development of Rights in the UK
  1.4.2 The UK's Rights-Based Culture
  1.4.3 End of Topic Test - Rights in Context
2 Political Parties
- 2.1 How Political Parties Work
  2.1.1 Functions & Features of UK Political Parties
  2.1.2 Funding of UK Political Parties
  2.1.3 UK Funding Reform
  2.1.4 End of Topic Test - Political Parties
  2.1.5 Top Grade AO3/4 - Political Parties
- 2.2 Established Political Parties
  2.2.1 The Conservative Party: History
  2.2.2 The Conservative Party: Recent Leaders
  2.2.3 The Labour Party
  2.2.4 The Liberal Democrat Party
  2.2.5 Ideas & Policies of UK Parties
  2.2.6 End of Topic Test - Established Parties
  2.2.7 Application Questions - Established Parties
- 2.3 Emerging & Minor Political Parties
  2.3.1 Minority Parties
  2.3.2 Minority Parties Case Studies
  2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Minor Parties
- 2.4 UK Political Parties in Context
  2.4.1 Different Party Systems
  2.4.2 Political Spectrum
  2.4.3 Factors Affecting Party Success
  2.4.4 End of Topic Test - Parties in Context
  2.4.5 Application Questions - Parties in Context
3 Electoral Systems
- 3.1 Different Electoral Systems
  3.1.1 FPTP & STV
  3.1.2 AMS & SV
  3.1.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral Systems
  3.1.4 Top Grade AO3/4 - Electoral Systems
- 3.2 Referendums & How They Are Used
  3.2.1 Case For & Against Referendums
  3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Referendums
  3.2.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Referendums
- 3.3 Electoral System Analysis
  3.3.1 Electoral System Analysis
  3.3.2 End of Topic Test - System Analysis
  3.3.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Electoral System Analysis
4 Voting Behaviour & the Media
- 4.1 General Election Case Studies
  4.1.1 Case Studies of Elections
  4.1.2 Factors Influencing Voting in Elections
  4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Case Studies & Factors
  4.1.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - Case Studies & Voting
- 4.2 Media Influence
  4.2.1 Media Influence
  4.2.2 End of Topic Test - Media Influence
5 Conservatism
- 5.1 Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles
  5.1.1 Pragmatism & Tradition
  5.1.2 Human Imperfection & Organic Society/State
  5.1.3 Authority & Hierarchy
  5.1.4 Paternalism
  5.1.5 Empiricism
  5.1.6 Anti-Permissiveness
  5.1.7 Radical Conservative Ideas
  5.1.8 End of Topic Test - Core Conservatism
- 5.2 Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions
  5.2.1 Traditional Conservatism
  5.2.2 One-Nation Conservatism
  5.2.3 New Right Conservatism
  5.2.4 End of Topic Test - Different Views
- 5.3 Conservative Thinkers & Ideas
  5.3.1 Thomas Hobbes & Edmund Burke
  5.3.2 Michael Oakeshott & Ayn Rand
  5.3.3 Robert Nozick
  5.3.4 End of Topic Test - Conservative Thinkers
  5.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Conservatism
6 Liberalism
- 6.1 Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles
  6.1.1 Individualism & Freedom/Liberty
  6.1.2 The State & Rationalism
  6.1.3 Equality & Social Justice
  6.1.4 Liberal Democracy
  6.1.5 Other Important Liberal Ideas
  6.1.6 End of Topic Test - Liberalism
- 6.2 Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism
  6.2.1 Classical Liberalism
  6.2.2 Modern Liberalism
  6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Tensions & Views
- 6.3 Liberal Thinkers & Ideas
  6.3.1 John Locke & Mary Wollstonecraft
  6.3.2 John Stuart Mill & John Rawls
  6.3.3 Betty Friedan
  6.3.4 End of Topic Test - Thinkers & Ideas
  6.3.5 A-A* - Liberalism
7 Socialism
- 7.1 Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles
  7.1.1 Fraternity & Co-operation
  7.1.2 Capitalism & Common Ownership
  7.1.3 Communism
  7.1.4 Collectivism
  7.1.5 Common Humanity
  7.1.6 Equality
  7.1.7 Social Class & Workers' Control
  7.1.8 End of Topic Test - Socialism
- 7.2 Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism
  7.2.1 Differing Views And Tensions
  7.2.2 End of Topic Test - Views & Tensions
- 7.3 Socialist Thinkers and Their Ideas
  7.3.1 Socialist Thinkers: Marx & Engels
  7.3.2 Socialist Thinkers: Webb & Luxemburg
  7.3.3 Socialist Thinkers: Crosland and Giddens
  7.3.4 End of Topic Test - Thinkers & Ideas
  7.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Socialism
8 The UK Constitution
- 8.1 Nature & Sources of UK Constitution
  8.1.1 Development of the UK Constitution
  8.1.2 Nature of the UK Constitution
  8.1.3 Sources of the UK Constitution
  8.1.4 End of Topic Test - Nature & Sources
- 8.2 Constitutional Change since 1997
  8.2.1 Constitutional Reform since 1997 (1)
  8.2.2 Constitutional Reform since 1997 (2)
  8.2.3 Constitutional Reform 2010-15 & Reforms Since 2015
  8.2.4 End of Topic Test - Reform
  8.2.5 Application Questions - Reform
- 8.3 Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies
  8.3.1 Devolution in England & Scotland
  8.3.2 Devolution in Wales & Northern Ireland
  8.3.3 End of Topic Test - Devolution
- 8.4 Debates on Constitutional Reform
  8.4.1 Constitutional Reform & Devolution
  8.4.2 Should the Constitution Be Codified?
  8.4.3 End of Topic Test - Reform Debates
  8.4.4 Application Questions - Codification & Devolution
9 The UK Parliament
- 9.1 Houses of Parliament
  9.1.1 Houses of Parliament
  9.1.2 Functions of the House of Commons
  9.1.3 Functions of the House of Lords
  9.1.4 End of Topic Test - Parliament
  9.1.5 Top Grade AO3/4 - Parliament
- 9.2 Comparative Powers
  9.2.1 Comparative Powers of the Houses
  9.2.2 End of Topic Test - Comparative Powers
- 9.3 Legislative Process
  9.3.1 Legislative Stages
  9.3.2 Law-Making in the two Houses
  9.3.3 End of Topic Test - Legislative Process
- 9.4 Parliament & Executive Interactions
  9.4.1 Backbenchers
  9.4.2 Select Committees
  9.4.3 The Opposition
  9.4.4 Ministerial Question Time
  9.4.5 End of Topic Test - Parliament & Executive
  9.4.6 Application Questions - Parliament & Executive
10 The Prime Minister & the Executive
11 Relationships Between Government Branches
- 11.1 The Supreme Court
  11.1.1 Role & Composition
  11.1.2 Principles & Influence of the Supreme Court
  11.1.3 End of Topic Test - Supreme Court
- 11.2 Parliament & Executive Relations
  11.2.1 Parliament & Executive: Questions
  11.2.2 Parliament & Executive: Committees
  11.2.3 Parliament & Executive: Voting
  11.2.4 Executive Dominance Over Parliament
  11.2.5 Balance of Power
  11.2.6 End of Topic Test - Parliament & Executive
  11.2.7 A-A* (AO3/4) - Relationships Between Government
- 11.3 The European Union & the UK
  11.3.1 Aims & Policymaking of the European Union
  11.3.2 End of Topic Test - EU & UK
- 11.4 Sovereignty in the UK Political System
  11.4.1 Sovereignty in the UK Political System
  11.4.2 End of Topic Test - Sovereignty
12 US Constitution & Federalism
- 12.1 Nature of the US Constitution
  12.1.1 Nature of the US Constitution
  12.1.2 Nature: Positives & Negatives
  12.1.3 Constitutional Framework
  12.1.4 The Amendment Process
  12.1.5 End of Topic Test - Nature US Constitution
- 12.2 Principles of the US Constitution
  12.2.1 Federalism
  12.2.2 Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances
  12.2.3 Bipartisanship
  12.2.4 Limited Government
  12.2.5 End of Topic Test - Constitutional Principles
- 12.3 Federalism
  12.3.1 Main Characteristics
  12.3.2 Federal Government and the States
  12.3.3 End of Topic Test - Federalism
- 12.4 Interpretations & Debates
  12.4.1 Democracy in the Constitution
  12.4.2 Federalism
  12.4.3 End of Topic Test - Debates
  12.4.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - US Constitution
13 US Congress
- 13.1 Structure of Congress
  13.1.1 Structure of Congress
  13.1.2 Distribution of Powers
  13.1.3 End of Topic Test - Congress Structure
- 13.2 Functions of Congress
  13.2.1 Representation
  13.2.2 Legislative
  13.2.3 Oversight
  13.2.4 End of Topic Test - Functions of Congress
- 13.3 Interpretations & Debates
  13.3.1 Changing Roles & Powers
  13.3.2 Changing Significance of Parties & of Powers
  13.3.3 End of Topic Test - Debates
  13.3.4 Application Questions - US Congress
14 US Presidency
- 14.1 Presidential Power
  14.1.1 Formal Sources of Presidential Power
  14.1.2 Informal Sources of Presidential Power
  14.1.3 Powers of Persuasion
  14.1.4 End of Topic Test - Presidential Power
- 14.2 The Presidency
  14.2.1 President Relationship with Other Institutions
  14.2.2 Limitations on Presidential Power
  14.2.3 US Presidents Achieving Their Aims
  14.2.4 End of Topic Test - Presidency
- 14.3 Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency
  14.3.1 The Imperial Presidency
  14.3.2 The President in Foreign Policy
  14.3.3 End of Topic Test - Debates
  14.3.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - US Presidency
15 US Supreme Court & Civil Rights
- 15.1 Nature & Role of Supreme Court
  15.1.1 Nature & Role of the Supreme Court
  15.1.2 End of Topic Test - Nature & Role
- 15.2 Supreme Court Appointment Process
  15.2.1 Appointment Process
  15.2.2 Supreme Court Membership
  15.2.3 End of Topic Test - Appointments
- 15.3 The Supreme Court & Public Policy
  15.3.1 Supreme Court & Public Policy
  15.3.2 End of Topic Test - Public Policy
- 15.4 Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
  15.4.1 Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
  15.4.2 Race & Rights in Contemporary US Politics
  15.4.3 End of Topic Test - Rights & Liberties
- 15.5 Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court
  15.5.1 Political Nature of the Supreme Court
  15.5.2 Judicial Interpretation
  15.5.3 Supreme Court Checks & Balances
  15.5.4 End of Topic Test - Debates
  15.5.5 Application Questions - The Supreme Court
16 US Democracy & Participation
- 16.1 Presidential Elections
  16.1.1 Presidential Elections
  16.1.2 Primaries
  16.1.3 National Party Conventions
  16.1.4 End of Topic Test - Presidential Elections
- 16.2 Electoral College
  16.2.1 Electoral College System
  16.2.2 Reforms
  16.2.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral College
- 16.3 Electoral Campaigns
  16.3.1 Issues in Elections
  16.3.2 End of Topic Test - Campaigns
- 16.4 Incumbency
  16.4.1 Elections & Incumbency
  16.4.2 End of Topic Test - Incumbency
  16.4.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Elections & Electoral College
- 16.5 Democrats & Republicans
  16.5.1 National & State Level Organisation
  16.5.2 Democratic & Republican Policies
  16.5.3 Changing Party Significance
  16.5.4 End of Topic Test - Democrats & Republicans
- 16.6 Internal Conflict & Ideology
  16.6.1 Types of Democrats
  16.6.2 Types of Republicans
  16.6.3 End of Topic Test - Internal Conflict
- 16.7 Support & Demographics
  16.7.1 Coalition of Supporters
  16.7.2 End of Topic Test - Party Support
- 16.8 Interest Groups
  16.8.1 Political Significance of Interest Groups
  16.8.2 Interest Group Influence & Impact on Democracy
  16.8.3 End of Topic Test - Interest Groups
  16.8.4 Application Questions - Parties, Ideology & Groups
17 Comparing Democracies
- 17.1 Theoretical Approaches
  17.1.1 Theoretical Approaches
  17.1.2 End of Topic Test - Approaches
- 17.2 UK & USA Similarities & Differences
  17.2.1 Constitution: Nature
  17.2.2 Constitution: Provisions & Principles
  17.2.3 Federal System & Devolution
  17.2.4 Legislative: Lower Houses of Government
  17.2.5 Legislative: Upper Houses of Government
  17.2.6 Legislative: Powers & Functions
  17.2.7 Executive
  17.2.8 Supreme Court
  17.2.9 Supreme Court: Judicial Independence
  17.2.10 Civil Rights
  17.2.11 Civil Rights: Interest Groups
  17.2.12 Party Systems & Parties
  17.2.13 Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups
  17.2.14 End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US
  17.2.15 Application Questions - UK & USA
18 Feminism
- 18.1 Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles
  18.1.1 Context of Feminism
  18.1.2 Sex & Gender
  18.1.3 Patriarchy & The Personal is the Political
  18.1.4 Difference, Egalitarian & Intersectionality
  18.1.5 Key Themes
  18.1.6 End of Topic Test - Core Ideas & Principles
- 18.2 Different Types of Feminism
  18.2.1 The Waves of Feminism
  18.2.2 Socialist & Radical Feminism
  18.2.3 Post-Modern Feminism
  18.2.4 End of Topic Test - Different Types of Feminism
- 18.3 Feminist Thinkers & Their Ideas
  18.3.1 Charlotte Gilman & Simone de Beauvoir
  18.3.2 Kate Millett
  18.3.3 Sheila Rowbotham & bell hooks
  18.3.4 End of Topic Test - Feminist Thinkers & Ideas
  18.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Feminism
19 Nationalism
- 19.1 Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles
  19.1.1 Nations & Self-Determination
  19.1.2 Nation-States & Culturalism
  19.1.3 Racialism & Internationalism
  19.1.4 Civic & Ethnic Nationalism
  19.1.5 Liberal & Socialist Internationalism
  19.1.6 Key Themes
  19.1.7 End of Topic Test - Core Ideas & Principles
- 19.2 Different Types of Nationalism
  19.2.1 Liberal & Conservative Nationalism
  19.2.2 Post-Colonial & Expansionist Nationalism
  19.2.3 Progressive & Regressive Nationalism
  19.2.4 Inclusive & Exclusive Nationalism
  19.2.5 End of Topic Test -Different Types of Nationalism
- 19.3 Nationalist Thinkers & Their Ideas
  19.3.1 Jean-Jacques Rousseau & Gottfried von Herder
  19.3.2 Giuseppe Mazzini & Charles Maurras
  19.3.3 Marcus Garvey
  19.3.4 End of Topic Test - Nationalist Thinkers & Ideas
  19.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Nationalism

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