[Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics] Paper 1 & Paper 2
with MARKSCHEME 2021
Three factors that affect party success - ANSWER: -The strength of the party's
leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between different party factions
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party (valence)
-How economically responsible the party appears to be
-How trustworthy they are
-How competent the party was in the past
Functions of a political party in a democratic system - ANSWER: Representation
Participation
Formulating policy
Recruiting office holders
Providing government
Where does the funding of parties come from? - ANSWER: State funding
voluntary subscriptions of membership
fundraising events in the MPs constituency
Arguments against state funding - ANSWER: -Increased state funding could lead to
calls for greater state regulation, reducing party independence.
-Hard to decide how much support a party should have to qualify for funding.
- Public funding could isolate parties from the wishes of voters
-Taxpayers would resent compulsory contributions to parties of which they
disapprove.
Arguments for state funding - ANSWER: -Would curb the possibility of corruption.
-Parties play an important role in representative democracy, so deserve public
funding.
-If the state matched donations by party members, it might encourage participation
by the public and recruitment to parties.
-Public funding would remove the great disparity in resources available to different
sized parties.
3 main policies of UKIP - ANSWER: -Supporting grammar schools
-Leaving the EU
-More control on immigration
2 main policies of Green party - ANSWER: -Reducing social inequality
-Environmental issues
What is a one party dominant system? - ANSWER: A no. of parties but only one has
realistic prospect of winning
, What is a two-and-a half party system? - ANSWER: Two large parties are the main
players, but are challenged by the growth of a smaller third party.
A two party system - ANSWER: Two parties compete for power at elections, other
parties have no real chance of breaking of a smaller third party
A multi-party system - ANSWER: A number of parties content to form a government,
coalitions become the norm.
Factors that affect party success - ANSWER: -The strength of the party's leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between party factions
-Party funding
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party
Conservative leader in 1975 - ANSWER: Margaret thatcher
Conservative leader from 1990-1997 - ANSWER: John Major
Conservative leader from 1997-2001 - ANSWER: William Hague
Conservative leader from 2001-2003 - ANSWER: Lain Duncan Smith
Conservative leader from 2003-2005 - ANSWER: Micheal Howard
Conservative leader from 2005-2016 - ANSWER: David Cameron
Conservative leader from 2016 - ANSWER: Theresa May
Issue with conservative party after Thatcherism - ANSWER: -Hague, Duncan Smith
and Micheal Howard failed to distance themselves from Thatcherism, which the
public identified with a now discredited past
-Failed to appeal to an increasingly diverse society with ageing membership and
outdate policies
Why did David Cameron win two elections? - ANSWER: -tolerated minority groups
and different lifestyles
-showed interest in the environment
-valued public services
-Maintained that they stood on the side of the people rather than well off elite
-Moderate tone allowed him to form a coalition government in May 2010
-Won slim victory in May 2015
Conservative party economic policy - ANSWER: -Priority to reduce budget deficit
-Insisted on a programme of public spending cuts by 25% except for school, health
and intern aid
-Blamed overspending for financial crisis
with MARKSCHEME 2021
Three factors that affect party success - ANSWER: -The strength of the party's
leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between different party factions
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party (valence)
-How economically responsible the party appears to be
-How trustworthy they are
-How competent the party was in the past
Functions of a political party in a democratic system - ANSWER: Representation
Participation
Formulating policy
Recruiting office holders
Providing government
Where does the funding of parties come from? - ANSWER: State funding
voluntary subscriptions of membership
fundraising events in the MPs constituency
Arguments against state funding - ANSWER: -Increased state funding could lead to
calls for greater state regulation, reducing party independence.
-Hard to decide how much support a party should have to qualify for funding.
- Public funding could isolate parties from the wishes of voters
-Taxpayers would resent compulsory contributions to parties of which they
disapprove.
Arguments for state funding - ANSWER: -Would curb the possibility of corruption.
-Parties play an important role in representative democracy, so deserve public
funding.
-If the state matched donations by party members, it might encourage participation
by the public and recruitment to parties.
-Public funding would remove the great disparity in resources available to different
sized parties.
3 main policies of UKIP - ANSWER: -Supporting grammar schools
-Leaving the EU
-More control on immigration
2 main policies of Green party - ANSWER: -Reducing social inequality
-Environmental issues
What is a one party dominant system? - ANSWER: A no. of parties but only one has
realistic prospect of winning
, What is a two-and-a half party system? - ANSWER: Two large parties are the main
players, but are challenged by the growth of a smaller third party.
A two party system - ANSWER: Two parties compete for power at elections, other
parties have no real chance of breaking of a smaller third party
A multi-party system - ANSWER: A number of parties content to form a government,
coalitions become the norm.
Factors that affect party success - ANSWER: -The strength of the party's leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between party factions
-Party funding
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party
Conservative leader in 1975 - ANSWER: Margaret thatcher
Conservative leader from 1990-1997 - ANSWER: John Major
Conservative leader from 1997-2001 - ANSWER: William Hague
Conservative leader from 2001-2003 - ANSWER: Lain Duncan Smith
Conservative leader from 2003-2005 - ANSWER: Micheal Howard
Conservative leader from 2005-2016 - ANSWER: David Cameron
Conservative leader from 2016 - ANSWER: Theresa May
Issue with conservative party after Thatcherism - ANSWER: -Hague, Duncan Smith
and Micheal Howard failed to distance themselves from Thatcherism, which the
public identified with a now discredited past
-Failed to appeal to an increasingly diverse society with ageing membership and
outdate policies
Why did David Cameron win two elections? - ANSWER: -tolerated minority groups
and different lifestyles
-showed interest in the environment
-valued public services
-Maintained that they stood on the side of the people rather than well off elite
-Moderate tone allowed him to form a coalition government in May 2010
-Won slim victory in May 2015
Conservative party economic policy - ANSWER: -Priority to reduce budget deficit
-Insisted on a programme of public spending cuts by 25% except for school, health
and intern aid
-Blamed overspending for financial crisis
