Contents
Paper 1.................................................................................................................. 5
Sample................................................................................................................ 5
Using the source, evaluate the view that UK democracy is in crisis................5
Using the source, evaluate the view that the major parties still remain the
dominant force in UK politics...........................................................................6
Evaluate the view that general elections in the UK are lost by the
government rather than won by the opposition..............................................7
Evaluate the view that social factors determine voting behaviour..................9
2019................................................................................................................. 10
Using the source, evaluate the view that the outcomes of general elections
are stable and predictable.............................................................................10
Using the source, evaluate the view that proportional representation would
improve elections to the House of Commons................................................11
Evaluate the view that think-tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups have little
impact on government decisions...................................................................12
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political
system are the Labour and Conservative parties..........................................13
2020................................................................................................................. 15
Using Source 1, evaluate the view that a person’s age and the media have
now replaced social class and region as clear indicators of voting behaviour.
...................................................................................................................... 15
Using Source 2, evaluate the view that state funding of political parties would
be preferable to a situation in which a party can win a general election
because it has more members and income than other parties.....................16
Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more
significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in
the UK............................................................................................................ 18
Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make
significant differences to party representation..............................................19
2021................................................................................................................. 20
Using the source, evaluate the view that opinion polls bring more advantages
than disadvantages to elections and referendums........................................20
Using the source, evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to
ignore referendum results and their own political party’s manifesto............22
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means
that the Westminster electoral system must be changed.............................22
Evaluate the view that the influence of the media in politics is exaggerated;
it is not heavily biased and has little power of persuasion............................24
2022................................................................................................................. 25
Using the source, evaluate the view that ‘pick-and-mix’ politics is replacing
‘Left-Right’ politics and political parties are becoming more internally divided
than ever....................................................................................................... 25
, Using the source, evaluate the view – with specific reference to at least one
devolved region using an alternative electoral system – that the case for PR
to replace the Westminster FPTP voting system has now been established..26
Evaluate the view that it is the media not pressure groups that has the
greater influence on governments................................................................27
Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK
are adequately protected and guaranteed....................................................28
2023................................................................................................................. 29
Using the source evaluate the view that in 1997 the election was lost by the
governing party rather than it being won by the Labour opposition..............29
Using the source evaluate the view that the UK has a democratic deficit.....29
Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought
more disadvantages than advantages..........................................................30
Evaluate the view that the current funding of political parties in the UK
requires reform.............................................................................................. 32
2024................................................................................................................. 33
Using the source, evaluate the view that the policies and ideas of the
established political parties have now radically changed from their historical
origins............................................................................................................ 33
Using the source, evaluate the view that referendums since 1997 have not
supported democracy but have been used for other political purposes........34
Evaluate the view that think tanks, lobbyists and corporations have greater
influence than pressure groups.....................................................................34
Evaluate the view that the outcomes of general elections are mostly decided
by election campaigns and manifestos.........................................................36
Paper 2................................................................................................................ 40
Sample.............................................................................................................. 40
Using the source, evaluate the view that the logical next step after
devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the devolution of
further power to England............................................................................... 40
Using the source, evaluate the view that Constitutional reforms in the UK
since 1997 have been weak, incomplete and require further change...........41
Evaluate the view that Parliament retains sole sovereignty within the UK
political system............................................................................................. 42
Evaluate the view that the UK government’s control over Parliament has
reduced in recent years.................................................................................42
2019................................................................................................................. 44
Using the source, evaluate the view that devolution is in danger of
undermining the unity of the United Kingdom...............................................44
Using the source evaluate the view that Prime Ministers have too much
power............................................................................................................ 45
Evaluate the view that membership of the EU undermined parliamentary
sovereignty.................................................................................................... 46
, Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the
House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on government
decisions........................................................................................................ 47
2020................................................................................................................. 48
Using the source, evaluate the view that the principal role of backbench MPs
is now to hold the government to account....................................................48
Using the source, evaluate the view that the UK’s constitution requires major
change........................................................................................................... 49
Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court has too much influence over the
executive....................................................................................................... 50
Evaluate the view that since 2010 the UK has seen a return to cabinet
government................................................................................................... 51
2021................................................................................................................. 52
Using the source, evaluate the view that the roles and membership of the
House of Lords require reform.......................................................................52
Using the source, evaluate the view that the Supreme Court has
strengthened parliamentary sovereignty......................................................53
Evaluate the view that devolution has been good for Wales and Scotland but
not for England and Northern Ireland............................................................54
Evaluate the view that since 2010 the executive has dominated Parliament.
...................................................................................................................... 55
2022................................................................................................................. 56
Using the source, evaluate the view that Parliament is largely ineffective in
shaping government legislation....................................................................56
Using the source, evaluate the view that devolution has created more
problems than it has solved..........................................................................57
Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court operates with sufficient judicial
independence and neutrality.........................................................................58
Evaluate the view that the concepts of individual ministerial responsibility
and collective ministerial responsibility are both still important...................59
2023................................................................................................................. 61
Using the source, evaluate the view that the UK now needs an entrenched
and codified constitution...............................................................................61
Using the source, evaluate the view that power lies mainly with the prime
minister rather than the cabinet....................................................................62
Evaluate the view that when it comes to fulfilling their respective functions,
the House of Lords can be seen as more successful than the House of
Commons...................................................................................................... 63
Evaluate the view that select committees are the most effective way for the
House of Commons to hold the Executive to account...................................65
2024................................................................................................................. 66
Evaluate the view that the government’s control of the House of Commons
has weakened in recent years.......................................................................66
Extra................................................................................................................. 68
Evaluate the view that the pm has too much power.....................................68
, Paper 3................................................................................................................ 70
2019................................................................................................................. 70
Examine how interest groups in the USA are more effective at protecting civil
rights than pressure groups in the UK...........................................................70
Examine how devolution in the UK differs from federalism in the USA..........71
Analyse the different legislative powers of the UK Parliament and the US
Congress........................................................................................................ 72
Evaluate the view that US foreign policy is dominated as much by Congress
as by the presidency..................................................................................... 73
Evaluate the view that the effective working of the US Constitution depends
more on interest groups than the Supreme Court.........................................75
Evaluate the view that the procedures for electing US presidents and
members of Congress are not fit for purpose................................................77
2020................................................................................................................. 79
Examine how the powers of the US Congress and the UK Parliament are
limited in different ways................................................................................79
Examine the ways in which the roles of the US President and the UK Prime
Minister are different..................................................................................... 80
Analyse how united the main political parties are in the USA and the UK.....81
Evaluate the view that the presidential power of persuasion is the most
significant influence on the policies and ideas of political parties.................81
Evaluate the view that the constitutional system of checks and balances is
an obstacle to effective government.............................................................83
Evaluate the view that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court
ensure it is a political body rather than a judicial one...................................85
2021................................................................................................................. 87
Examine the different natures of the US and UK Constitutions.....................87
Examine the features of the US and UK Supreme Courts designed to ensure
independence from political influence...........................................................88
Analyse how the US Senate has greater power than the UK House of Lords. 89
Evaluate the view that the main factors affecting voting behaviour in
Congress are the divisions within and between the political parties.............91
Evaluate the view that the growth in presidential power has led to a
corresponding decline in federalism..............................................................92
Evaluate the view that affirmative action has been more significant than
minority participation in Congress in promoting racial equality....................94
2022................................................................................................................. 95
Examine the differences in the checks and balances on the US Congress and
the UK Parliament.......................................................................................... 95
Examine the ways in which the methods used by US interest groups and UK
pressure groups differ...................................................................................96
Analyse how the US President could be considered to be less effective than
the UK Prime Minister in achieving their legislative goals.............................97
Paper 1.................................................................................................................. 5
Sample................................................................................................................ 5
Using the source, evaluate the view that UK democracy is in crisis................5
Using the source, evaluate the view that the major parties still remain the
dominant force in UK politics...........................................................................6
Evaluate the view that general elections in the UK are lost by the
government rather than won by the opposition..............................................7
Evaluate the view that social factors determine voting behaviour..................9
2019................................................................................................................. 10
Using the source, evaluate the view that the outcomes of general elections
are stable and predictable.............................................................................10
Using the source, evaluate the view that proportional representation would
improve elections to the House of Commons................................................11
Evaluate the view that think-tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups have little
impact on government decisions...................................................................12
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political
system are the Labour and Conservative parties..........................................13
2020................................................................................................................. 15
Using Source 1, evaluate the view that a person’s age and the media have
now replaced social class and region as clear indicators of voting behaviour.
...................................................................................................................... 15
Using Source 2, evaluate the view that state funding of political parties would
be preferable to a situation in which a party can win a general election
because it has more members and income than other parties.....................16
Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more
significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in
the UK............................................................................................................ 18
Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make
significant differences to party representation..............................................19
2021................................................................................................................. 20
Using the source, evaluate the view that opinion polls bring more advantages
than disadvantages to elections and referendums........................................20
Using the source, evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to
ignore referendum results and their own political party’s manifesto............22
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means
that the Westminster electoral system must be changed.............................22
Evaluate the view that the influence of the media in politics is exaggerated;
it is not heavily biased and has little power of persuasion............................24
2022................................................................................................................. 25
Using the source, evaluate the view that ‘pick-and-mix’ politics is replacing
‘Left-Right’ politics and political parties are becoming more internally divided
than ever....................................................................................................... 25
, Using the source, evaluate the view – with specific reference to at least one
devolved region using an alternative electoral system – that the case for PR
to replace the Westminster FPTP voting system has now been established..26
Evaluate the view that it is the media not pressure groups that has the
greater influence on governments................................................................27
Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK
are adequately protected and guaranteed....................................................28
2023................................................................................................................. 29
Using the source evaluate the view that in 1997 the election was lost by the
governing party rather than it being won by the Labour opposition..............29
Using the source evaluate the view that the UK has a democratic deficit.....29
Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought
more disadvantages than advantages..........................................................30
Evaluate the view that the current funding of political parties in the UK
requires reform.............................................................................................. 32
2024................................................................................................................. 33
Using the source, evaluate the view that the policies and ideas of the
established political parties have now radically changed from their historical
origins............................................................................................................ 33
Using the source, evaluate the view that referendums since 1997 have not
supported democracy but have been used for other political purposes........34
Evaluate the view that think tanks, lobbyists and corporations have greater
influence than pressure groups.....................................................................34
Evaluate the view that the outcomes of general elections are mostly decided
by election campaigns and manifestos.........................................................36
Paper 2................................................................................................................ 40
Sample.............................................................................................................. 40
Using the source, evaluate the view that the logical next step after
devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the devolution of
further power to England............................................................................... 40
Using the source, evaluate the view that Constitutional reforms in the UK
since 1997 have been weak, incomplete and require further change...........41
Evaluate the view that Parliament retains sole sovereignty within the UK
political system............................................................................................. 42
Evaluate the view that the UK government’s control over Parliament has
reduced in recent years.................................................................................42
2019................................................................................................................. 44
Using the source, evaluate the view that devolution is in danger of
undermining the unity of the United Kingdom...............................................44
Using the source evaluate the view that Prime Ministers have too much
power............................................................................................................ 45
Evaluate the view that membership of the EU undermined parliamentary
sovereignty.................................................................................................... 46
, Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the
House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on government
decisions........................................................................................................ 47
2020................................................................................................................. 48
Using the source, evaluate the view that the principal role of backbench MPs
is now to hold the government to account....................................................48
Using the source, evaluate the view that the UK’s constitution requires major
change........................................................................................................... 49
Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court has too much influence over the
executive....................................................................................................... 50
Evaluate the view that since 2010 the UK has seen a return to cabinet
government................................................................................................... 51
2021................................................................................................................. 52
Using the source, evaluate the view that the roles and membership of the
House of Lords require reform.......................................................................52
Using the source, evaluate the view that the Supreme Court has
strengthened parliamentary sovereignty......................................................53
Evaluate the view that devolution has been good for Wales and Scotland but
not for England and Northern Ireland............................................................54
Evaluate the view that since 2010 the executive has dominated Parliament.
...................................................................................................................... 55
2022................................................................................................................. 56
Using the source, evaluate the view that Parliament is largely ineffective in
shaping government legislation....................................................................56
Using the source, evaluate the view that devolution has created more
problems than it has solved..........................................................................57
Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court operates with sufficient judicial
independence and neutrality.........................................................................58
Evaluate the view that the concepts of individual ministerial responsibility
and collective ministerial responsibility are both still important...................59
2023................................................................................................................. 61
Using the source, evaluate the view that the UK now needs an entrenched
and codified constitution...............................................................................61
Using the source, evaluate the view that power lies mainly with the prime
minister rather than the cabinet....................................................................62
Evaluate the view that when it comes to fulfilling their respective functions,
the House of Lords can be seen as more successful than the House of
Commons...................................................................................................... 63
Evaluate the view that select committees are the most effective way for the
House of Commons to hold the Executive to account...................................65
2024................................................................................................................. 66
Evaluate the view that the government’s control of the House of Commons
has weakened in recent years.......................................................................66
Extra................................................................................................................. 68
Evaluate the view that the pm has too much power.....................................68
, Paper 3................................................................................................................ 70
2019................................................................................................................. 70
Examine how interest groups in the USA are more effective at protecting civil
rights than pressure groups in the UK...........................................................70
Examine how devolution in the UK differs from federalism in the USA..........71
Analyse the different legislative powers of the UK Parliament and the US
Congress........................................................................................................ 72
Evaluate the view that US foreign policy is dominated as much by Congress
as by the presidency..................................................................................... 73
Evaluate the view that the effective working of the US Constitution depends
more on interest groups than the Supreme Court.........................................75
Evaluate the view that the procedures for electing US presidents and
members of Congress are not fit for purpose................................................77
2020................................................................................................................. 79
Examine how the powers of the US Congress and the UK Parliament are
limited in different ways................................................................................79
Examine the ways in which the roles of the US President and the UK Prime
Minister are different..................................................................................... 80
Analyse how united the main political parties are in the USA and the UK.....81
Evaluate the view that the presidential power of persuasion is the most
significant influence on the policies and ideas of political parties.................81
Evaluate the view that the constitutional system of checks and balances is
an obstacle to effective government.............................................................83
Evaluate the view that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court
ensure it is a political body rather than a judicial one...................................85
2021................................................................................................................. 87
Examine the different natures of the US and UK Constitutions.....................87
Examine the features of the US and UK Supreme Courts designed to ensure
independence from political influence...........................................................88
Analyse how the US Senate has greater power than the UK House of Lords. 89
Evaluate the view that the main factors affecting voting behaviour in
Congress are the divisions within and between the political parties.............91
Evaluate the view that the growth in presidential power has led to a
corresponding decline in federalism..............................................................92
Evaluate the view that affirmative action has been more significant than
minority participation in Congress in promoting racial equality....................94
2022................................................................................................................. 95
Examine the differences in the checks and balances on the US Congress and
the UK Parliament.......................................................................................... 95
Examine the ways in which the methods used by US interest groups and UK
pressure groups differ...................................................................................96
Analyse how the US President could be considered to be less effective than
the UK Prime Minister in achieving their legislative goals.............................97
