Welcome to A Level Politics Sahr Sumana sumanasm@cooperscoborn.org.uk Office: R20

Question 1 Who is this woman? What is her role within the UK?   What is her role within the UK? Who is more powerful her or the Prime Minister?

Question 2 Label the countries on the map.   Which are part of the United Kingdom? Is everyone happy with being in the UK? If not, who?

Why Politics? I don’t do politics, it’s got nothing to do with me Who are you sitting next to (name & what are they studying)? Why do people make this statement. Are they justified? Construct an argument to convince them to care about politics.

Round 1: Who’s who and what do they do? 2 3 4 5

Round 2: What is this and what is its function? 1 2 3 4 5

Round 3: What is ‘politics’? In your groups you need to decide on: A definition of ‘politics’ Identify 10 different issues / topics that politicians are interested in. Identify 3 other distinct groups who are or should be interested in politics and why?

Course Details Year One focuses on UK politics Essential resources vle.westking.ac.uk/

What will you study this year? UK Politics September to December Democracy & Participation Electoral Systems Voting Behaviour & the Media Political Parties Formal Assessments and Presentations

What will you study this year? UK Government January to March The Constitution Parliament Relations between Institutions PM, Cabinet & Executive Formal Assessments and Presentations

What will you study this year? Political Ideologies April to September Liberalism Socialism Conservatism Feminism

How will you study Politics? Be curious Be aware

How will you study Politics? The Weekly News Review – every Friday

How will you study Politics? Possible Trips and Workshops Visiting Supreme Court Workshop Visit Parliament

What is politics? Turn on to politics, or politics will turn on you. Politics is a contested term but fundamentally it is: The activity through which people make, uphold and revise the general rules under which they live. Discuss with your partner: Why are we ruled by others? Why did humans come up with that idea? Turn on to politics, or politics will turn on you. ~ Ralph Nader

What is politics? The limited view is that it is ‘managing the affairs of the state’ The modern view is that it is several aspects of public life: A struggle for power and influence It is the clash of ideas The clash of interests

Using examples to develop our understanding A struggle for power and influence It is the clash of interests It is the clash of ideas

What situations cause conflicts? Scarcity of resources Ideological differences What situations cause conflicts? Conflict of Interests Conflict of Values The four situations can be grouped into conflicts of interest and conflict of values. Differences in approach Division of labour and power