Pearson Edexcel AS Level Politics
Specification Overview.
Component 1: UK Politics - ANSWER-A written examination lasting 1 hour and 45
minutes, accounting for 50% of the qualification, with a total of 60 marks.
Component 2: UK Government - ANSWER-A written examination lasting 1 hour and 45
minutes, accounting for 50% of the qualification, with a total of 60 marks.
Democracy and participation - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the
qualification.
Political parties - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the qualification.
Electoral systems - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the qualification.
Voting behaviour and the media - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the
qualification.
The constitution - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the qualification.
Parliament - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the qualification.
Prime Minister and executive - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the
qualification.
Relationships between the branches - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the
qualification.
Assessment overview - ANSWER-The structure of assessment for each component,
including types and marks of questions.
AO1, AO2, AO3 - ANSWER-Assessment objectives used to evaluate students'
responses in various sections of the examination.
Qualification aims and objectives - ANSWER-Goals intended to develop students'
understanding of political structures, critical awareness, and analytical skills.
Contemporary political structures - ANSWER-Current systems of governance and
political organization studied within the qualification.
Critical awareness - ANSWER-The ability to understand and evaluate the changing
nature of politics and its relationships.
,Democracy and participation - ANSWER-The study of current systems of representative
democracy and direct democracy in the UK.
Direct democracy - ANSWER-A system where citizens directly participate in decision-
making.
Representative democracy - ANSWER-A system where citizens elect representatives to
make decisions on their behalf.
Legitimacy - ANSWER-The right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing
law or a regime.
Pluralist democracy - ANSWER-A political system where multiple groups have the
ability to influence policy.
Democratic deficit - ANSWER-A situation where democratic institutions or processes
are seen as insufficiently representative.
Participation crisis - ANSWER-A decline in political participation or engagement among
the electorate.
Franchise/suffrage - ANSWER-The right to vote in political elections.
Think tanks - ANSWER-Research organizations that provide advice and ideas on
specific political issues.
Lobbyists - ANSWER-Individuals or groups that attempt to influence government
decisions on behalf of a specific interest.
Widening of the franchise - ANSWER-Key milestones in extending voting rights related
to class, gender, ethnicity, and age.
1832 Great Reform Act - ANSWER-An act that reformed the electoral system in
England and Wales, expanding the franchise.
1918 Representation of the People Act - ANSWER-An act that granted voting rights to
women over the age of 30 and all men over the age of 21.
1928 Representation of the People Act - ANSWER-An act that granted equal voting
rights to women, allowing all women over the age of 21 to vote.
1969 Representation of the People Act - ANSWER-An act that lowered the voting age
from 21 to 18.
Suffragists - ANSWER-Members of the early movement advocating for women's right to
vote through peaceful means.
, Suffragettes - ANSWER-Members of the women's suffrage movement who used militant
tactics to fight for the right to vote.
Pressure groups - ANSWER-Organizations that seek to influence government policy
and decision-making.
Collective organizations - ANSWER-Groups formed to achieve a common goal, often
influencing government and Parliament.
Voting behaviour - ANSWER-The patterns and reasons behind how individuals vote in
elections.
Electoral systems - ANSWER-The methods and rules by which votes are translated into
seats in a legislature.
Political parties - ANSWER-Organizations that seek to gain political power by contesting
elections.
Manifestos - ANSWER-Public declarations of policies and aims issued by political
parties during elections.
Voting patterns - ANSWER-Trends and behaviors observed in how different
demographics vote.
Pressure groups - ANSWER-Organizations that exert influence on political decisions
and policies.
Case studies - ANSWER-In-depth examinations of two different pressure groups,
showcasing their methods and influence.
Collective organizations - ANSWER-Groups such as think tanks, lobbyists, and
corporations that influence government and Parliament.
Magna Carta - ANSWER-A significant historical document that established fundamental
rights and liberties in England.
Human Rights Act 1998 - ANSWER-Legislation that incorporates the European
Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
Equality Act 2010 - ANSWER-A law that consolidates and simplifies anti-discrimination
legislation in the UK.
Civil liberty pressure groups - ANSWER-Organizations that advocate for the protection
of individual rights and freedoms.
Specification Overview.
Component 1: UK Politics - ANSWER-A written examination lasting 1 hour and 45
minutes, accounting for 50% of the qualification, with a total of 60 marks.
Component 2: UK Government - ANSWER-A written examination lasting 1 hour and 45
minutes, accounting for 50% of the qualification, with a total of 60 marks.
Democracy and participation - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the
qualification.
Political parties - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the qualification.
Electoral systems - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the qualification.
Voting behaviour and the media - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 1 of the
qualification.
The constitution - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the qualification.
Parliament - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the qualification.
Prime Minister and executive - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the
qualification.
Relationships between the branches - ANSWER-A topic studied in Component 2 of the
qualification.
Assessment overview - ANSWER-The structure of assessment for each component,
including types and marks of questions.
AO1, AO2, AO3 - ANSWER-Assessment objectives used to evaluate students'
responses in various sections of the examination.
Qualification aims and objectives - ANSWER-Goals intended to develop students'
understanding of political structures, critical awareness, and analytical skills.
Contemporary political structures - ANSWER-Current systems of governance and
political organization studied within the qualification.
Critical awareness - ANSWER-The ability to understand and evaluate the changing
nature of politics and its relationships.
,Democracy and participation - ANSWER-The study of current systems of representative
democracy and direct democracy in the UK.
Direct democracy - ANSWER-A system where citizens directly participate in decision-
making.
Representative democracy - ANSWER-A system where citizens elect representatives to
make decisions on their behalf.
Legitimacy - ANSWER-The right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing
law or a regime.
Pluralist democracy - ANSWER-A political system where multiple groups have the
ability to influence policy.
Democratic deficit - ANSWER-A situation where democratic institutions or processes
are seen as insufficiently representative.
Participation crisis - ANSWER-A decline in political participation or engagement among
the electorate.
Franchise/suffrage - ANSWER-The right to vote in political elections.
Think tanks - ANSWER-Research organizations that provide advice and ideas on
specific political issues.
Lobbyists - ANSWER-Individuals or groups that attempt to influence government
decisions on behalf of a specific interest.
Widening of the franchise - ANSWER-Key milestones in extending voting rights related
to class, gender, ethnicity, and age.
1832 Great Reform Act - ANSWER-An act that reformed the electoral system in
England and Wales, expanding the franchise.
1918 Representation of the People Act - ANSWER-An act that granted voting rights to
women over the age of 30 and all men over the age of 21.
1928 Representation of the People Act - ANSWER-An act that granted equal voting
rights to women, allowing all women over the age of 21 to vote.
1969 Representation of the People Act - ANSWER-An act that lowered the voting age
from 21 to 18.
Suffragists - ANSWER-Members of the early movement advocating for women's right to
vote through peaceful means.
, Suffragettes - ANSWER-Members of the women's suffrage movement who used militant
tactics to fight for the right to vote.
Pressure groups - ANSWER-Organizations that seek to influence government policy
and decision-making.
Collective organizations - ANSWER-Groups formed to achieve a common goal, often
influencing government and Parliament.
Voting behaviour - ANSWER-The patterns and reasons behind how individuals vote in
elections.
Electoral systems - ANSWER-The methods and rules by which votes are translated into
seats in a legislature.
Political parties - ANSWER-Organizations that seek to gain political power by contesting
elections.
Manifestos - ANSWER-Public declarations of policies and aims issued by political
parties during elections.
Voting patterns - ANSWER-Trends and behaviors observed in how different
demographics vote.
Pressure groups - ANSWER-Organizations that exert influence on political decisions
and policies.
Case studies - ANSWER-In-depth examinations of two different pressure groups,
showcasing their methods and influence.
Collective organizations - ANSWER-Groups such as think tanks, lobbyists, and
corporations that influence government and Parliament.
Magna Carta - ANSWER-A significant historical document that established fundamental
rights and liberties in England.
Human Rights Act 1998 - ANSWER-Legislation that incorporates the European
Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
Equality Act 2010 - ANSWER-A law that consolidates and simplifies anti-discrimination
legislation in the UK.
Civil liberty pressure groups - ANSWER-Organizations that advocate for the protection
of individual rights and freedoms.
