POLITICS (Higher)

Course Description

This course deals with a range of cognitive skills. Through a wide range of sources of information learners will develop investigating, evaluating and analysing skills in order to understand and explain complex political issues.

By undertaking this course, learners will develop a wide range of important and transferrable skills, including researching political issues, synthesising information from a wide range of sources to produce detailed and balanced conclusions, explaining, analysing and evaluating political concepts, comparing and contrasting political systems, and interpreting and evaluating electoral data.

Work of the Course

There are three units within this award:

Political Theory

In this unit, learners will use a range of sources of information to evaluate different political ideologies and political concepts. They will draw on theoretical and conceptual knowledge and understanding of political ideologies and political concepts. Learners will develop an understanding of theories of power, authority and legitimacy; and be able to analyse these effectively.

Political Systems

In this unit, learners will use a range of sources of information to compare different political systems. They will draw on knowledge and understanding of different political systems to examine the constitutional arrangements of a variety of countries, and compare the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

Political Parties and Elections

In this unit, learners will analyse a range of electoral data to evaluate factors which contribute to the electoral performance of UK political parties. They will draw on knowledge and understanding of the complex factors that contribute to the electoral performance of UK political parties. They will complete a case study of a UK political party to examine what has contributed to that party’s electoral success.

You will learn about:

1. Political Theory

1. Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
2. Democracy

2. Political Systems (A comparison of the US and Scottish Political Systems)

1. The Legislative Branch
2. The Executive Branch

3. Political Parties and Elections

1. The Impact of Political Campaign Management Strategies
2. Theories of Voting Behaviour

There will be essay questions for each. There are also source-based questions based on the skills of making comparisons and analysing electoral data.

External Assessment

Learners are required to prepare an assignment which will be externally marked and contribute to their final grade alongside their final exam.