AQA Politics 7152 · Topic 1.1 — The British Constitution
AQA A-LEVEL POLITICS (7152)
Paper 1 — Government and Politics of the UK
Topic 1.1: The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution
COMPLETE ESSAY PLAN BUNDLE
6 short-answer (9-mark) plans · 9 essay (25-mark) plans · 2 full model essays
Includes AQA specification links, assessment objectives, examiner insight and 2025-26 case updates
Page 1 of 28
, AQA Politics 7152 · Topic 1.1 — The British Constitution
Specification Overview & Assessment Objectives
This bundle covers Topic 1.1 of the AQA A-Level Politics specification (7152), Paper 1:
Government and Politics of the UK. This is the foundation topic of the whole course: it
introduces the sources of the constitution, its key principles, and the debates about
rights that recur across every other topic on the paper. Everything below is written to
match the current AQA specification and reflects the style and standard expected in
the June series.
Key Terms and Concepts
Term What it means
A constitution collected into a single written document, usually with special
Codified
legal status.
A constitution (like the UK's) drawn from multiple sources rather than one
Uncodified
written document.
Statute law Law made by Act of Parliament; the supreme source of the UK constitution.
Law developed by judges through court rulings and precedent, rather than by
Common law
Parliament.
Conventions Unwritten rules of political practice, binding by tradition but not by law.
Influential texts (e.g. Bagehot, Dicey, Erskine May) used to interpret unclear
Works of authority
areas of the constitution.
Historic powers exercised in the name of the Crown, now used mainly by the
The royal prerogative
Prime Minister/ministers.
The principle that everyone, including the government, is bound by and
Rule of law
entitled to the protection of the law.
The principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority and can make or
Parliamentary sovereignty
unmake any law.
Rights held by a single person versus rights held by, or protecting, a group or
Individual/collective rights
society as a whole.
Four Historical Documents to Know
Document Significance
Magna Carta (1215) Established the principle that even the monarch is subject to the law.
Confirmed parliamentary supremacy over the Crown, including control
Bill of Rights (1689)
of taxation and the military.
Secured judicial independence and settled the Protestant succession to
Act of Settlement (1701)
the throne.
Removed the House of Lords' veto over legislation, leaving only a
Parliament Acts (1911 & 1949)
delaying power.
Assessment Objectives (AOs)
AO Description Weighting
Page 2 of 28
, AQA Politics 7152 · Topic 1.1 — The British Constitution
Knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts,
AO1 30-40%
theories and issues.
Analysis of politics and political information, including parallels, connections,
AO2 35-45%
similarities and differences.
Evaluation of politics and political information, including constructing arguments,
AO3 25-35%
substantiated judgements and conclusions.
Question Types on Paper 1
Question What's required
“Explain and analyse” questions. Develop at least three separate, well-
Section A — 3 x 9 marks
evidenced points.
Section B — 25 marks Extract-based question comparing two short passages of political argument.
Essay question, choice of two. Requires a sustained, balanced line of
Section C — 25 marks
argument reaching a reasoned conclusion.
Examiner Insight
✱ Examiner Insight Across recent June series, examiners have consistently rewarded answers
that explain *why* a source of the constitution is vulnerable to being overridden, not just what
it is — simply describing the HRA or a convention without linking it to parliamentary
sovereignty caps marks in the lower levels.
✱ Examiner Insight On extract questions, the strongest responses always comment on the
provenance of each extract (who wrote it, when, and their likely bias) rather than only
restating its content. Merely copying phrases from the extract without developing them is
repeatedly flagged as a weak-response pattern.
✱ Examiner Insight For 25-mark essays, examiners note that the best answers challenge the
wording of the question directly in their conclusion (agreeing, disagreeing, or agreeing 'to an
extent') rather than simply summarising both sides without ever taking a stance.
✱ Examiner Insight Up-to-date, specific examples consistently separate Level 4-5 answers from
Level 2-3 answers. Generic knowledge of 'the HRA' or 'devolution' is common; answers that
can cite a specific, recent case or Act and explain its significance stand out.
Page 3 of 28
AQA A-LEVEL POLITICS (7152)
Paper 1 — Government and Politics of the UK
Topic 1.1: The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution
COMPLETE ESSAY PLAN BUNDLE
6 short-answer (9-mark) plans · 9 essay (25-mark) plans · 2 full model essays
Includes AQA specification links, assessment objectives, examiner insight and 2025-26 case updates
Page 1 of 28
, AQA Politics 7152 · Topic 1.1 — The British Constitution
Specification Overview & Assessment Objectives
This bundle covers Topic 1.1 of the AQA A-Level Politics specification (7152), Paper 1:
Government and Politics of the UK. This is the foundation topic of the whole course: it
introduces the sources of the constitution, its key principles, and the debates about
rights that recur across every other topic on the paper. Everything below is written to
match the current AQA specification and reflects the style and standard expected in
the June series.
Key Terms and Concepts
Term What it means
A constitution collected into a single written document, usually with special
Codified
legal status.
A constitution (like the UK's) drawn from multiple sources rather than one
Uncodified
written document.
Statute law Law made by Act of Parliament; the supreme source of the UK constitution.
Law developed by judges through court rulings and precedent, rather than by
Common law
Parliament.
Conventions Unwritten rules of political practice, binding by tradition but not by law.
Influential texts (e.g. Bagehot, Dicey, Erskine May) used to interpret unclear
Works of authority
areas of the constitution.
Historic powers exercised in the name of the Crown, now used mainly by the
The royal prerogative
Prime Minister/ministers.
The principle that everyone, including the government, is bound by and
Rule of law
entitled to the protection of the law.
The principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority and can make or
Parliamentary sovereignty
unmake any law.
Rights held by a single person versus rights held by, or protecting, a group or
Individual/collective rights
society as a whole.
Four Historical Documents to Know
Document Significance
Magna Carta (1215) Established the principle that even the monarch is subject to the law.
Confirmed parliamentary supremacy over the Crown, including control
Bill of Rights (1689)
of taxation and the military.
Secured judicial independence and settled the Protestant succession to
Act of Settlement (1701)
the throne.
Removed the House of Lords' veto over legislation, leaving only a
Parliament Acts (1911 & 1949)
delaying power.
Assessment Objectives (AOs)
AO Description Weighting
Page 2 of 28
, AQA Politics 7152 · Topic 1.1 — The British Constitution
Knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts,
AO1 30-40%
theories and issues.
Analysis of politics and political information, including parallels, connections,
AO2 35-45%
similarities and differences.
Evaluation of politics and political information, including constructing arguments,
AO3 25-35%
substantiated judgements and conclusions.
Question Types on Paper 1
Question What's required
“Explain and analyse” questions. Develop at least three separate, well-
Section A — 3 x 9 marks
evidenced points.
Section B — 25 marks Extract-based question comparing two short passages of political argument.
Essay question, choice of two. Requires a sustained, balanced line of
Section C — 25 marks
argument reaching a reasoned conclusion.
Examiner Insight
✱ Examiner Insight Across recent June series, examiners have consistently rewarded answers
that explain *why* a source of the constitution is vulnerable to being overridden, not just what
it is — simply describing the HRA or a convention without linking it to parliamentary
sovereignty caps marks in the lower levels.
✱ Examiner Insight On extract questions, the strongest responses always comment on the
provenance of each extract (who wrote it, when, and their likely bias) rather than only
restating its content. Merely copying phrases from the extract without developing them is
repeatedly flagged as a weak-response pattern.
✱ Examiner Insight For 25-mark essays, examiners note that the best answers challenge the
wording of the question directly in their conclusion (agreeing, disagreeing, or agreeing 'to an
extent') rather than simply summarising both sides without ever taking a stance.
✱ Examiner Insight Up-to-date, specific examples consistently separate Level 4-5 answers from
Level 2-3 answers. Generic knowledge of 'the HRA' or 'devolution' is common; answers that
can cite a specific, recent case or Act and explain its significance stand out.
Page 3 of 28
