Government and politics of the UK — AQA A-Level Politics

This topic covers the structure, powers, and functions of the UK Parliament, including the House of Commons and House of Lords, the legislative process, and the relationship between Parliament and the executive. It also examines the roles of MPs and peers, parliamentary sovereignty, and the scrutiny and accountability of the government, which are central to AQA A-Level Politics.

The UK Parliament is the supreme legislative body, comprising the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch. It is central to the UK's political system, as it makes laws, scrutinises the executive, and represents the electorate. The House of Commons is the elected chamber, with 650 MPs, while the House of Lords is unelected and consists of appointed peers, bishops, and a small number of hereditary peers. Parliament's primary functions include legislation, scrutiny, representation, and debate.

The legislative process involves bills passing through both Houses, with the Commons having primacy over the Lords. The government, which is formed by the party with a majority in the Commons, controls the legislative agenda, but Parliament can amend and reject bills. Scrutiny is carried out through Question Time, select committees, and debates, which aim to hold the government accountable. The concept of parliamentary sovereignty is a key principle, but it is challenged by devolution, the Human Rights Act, and the UK's former EU membership.

Understanding Parliament is essential for A-Level Politics as it links to topics like the constitution, the executive, and democracy. It also provides a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the UK's political system. Students should be able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Parliament, including issues of representation, the role of the Lords, and the impact of party discipline.

• →Parliamentary sovereignty: the principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority and can make or repeal any law.
• →The legislative process: the stages a bill goes through to become an Act of Parliament, including readings, committee stage, and Royal Assent.
• →Scrutiny: the ways Parliament holds the government to account, such as Question Time, select committees, and debates.
• →The House of Lords: the unelected second chamber that revises legislation and acts as a check on the Commons.
• →The Salisbury Convention: the convention that the Lords do not oppose bills that were in the government's manifesto.

• Analysis and evaluation of the nature of democracy and different types of democracy (direct vs representative).
• Understanding the development of suffrage in the UK since 1832.
• Evaluation of electoral systems used in parliamentary and devolved elections.
• Analysis of voting behaviour and the influence of media, manifestos, and campaigns.
• Evaluation of the role and impact of referendums in the UK.
• Analysis of the origins, ideas, and development of the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties.
• Evaluation of party funding, structure, and the development of a multi-party system.
• Analysis of pressure groups, their typologies (insider/outsider, promotional/interest), and their influence on government.
• Evaluation of the impact of the EU on UK politics and policy-making.

• 💡Use specific examples of elections since 1945 to illustrate points about voting behaviour and electoral systems.
• 💡Ensure you can define and apply key terminology like 'partisan dealignment' and 'pluralism' accurately.
• 💡When discussing pressure groups, always distinguish between insider and outsider groups and provide a detailed case study for each.
• 💡Structure 25-mark essays with a clear, balanced argument that leads to a reasoned conclusion.
• 💡Use national data sources to support arguments regarding voting behaviour and electoral outcomes.
• 💡Use specific examples of bills or select committee reports to illustrate your points. For instance, mention the 2016 EU referendum or the Work and Pensions Committee's report on Universal Credit.
• 💡Always distinguish between the roles of the Commons and the Lords, and refer to the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 when discussing the Lords' powers.
• 💡In essays, evaluate the effectiveness of Parliament: consider both its strengths (e.g., scrutiny) and weaknesses (e.g., party control, unelected Lords).

• Failing to link theoretical concepts (e.g., pluralism) to specific, real-world examples.
• Describing electoral systems without evaluating their performance or impact.
• Neglecting the synoptic links between political parties, pressure groups, and the electoral process.
• Over-generalizing the influence of the media without referencing specific election data or trends.
• Confusing the roles of different types of pressure groups.
• Misconception: The House of Lords can veto bills. Correction: The Lords can only delay bills for up to one year; they cannot veto money bills or manifesto bills (Salisbury Convention).
• Misconception: Parliament is completely sovereign and can do anything. Correction: While legally sovereign, political and practical constraints exist, such as devolution, the Human Rights Act, and international treaties.
• Misconception: Select committees can force the government to act. Correction: They can only recommend; they have no formal power to compel action, but they can influence through publicity and pressure.

1. 1Week 1: Focus on the structure and composition of Parliament. Create flashcards for key terms like 'parliamentary sovereignty', 'Salisbury Convention', and 'select committees'.
2. 2Week 2: Study the legislative process in detail. Draw a flow diagram of a bill's journey and annotate it with examples.
3. 3Week 3: Practise exam questions on scrutiny and the Lords' role. Use past papers and mark schemes to self-assess.
4. 4Week 4: Revise the concept of parliamentary sovereignty and its limitations. Write a short essay on whether Parliament is still sovereign.
5. 5Week 5: Review all material and test yourself with active recall prompts. Focus on weak areas identified in practice questions.

• 📋6-mark 'Explain' questions: e.g., 'Explain the role of select committees.' Provide a clear, structured answer with examples.
• 📋9-mark 'Analyse' questions: e.g., 'Analyse the ways Parliament scrutinises the executive.' Use a range of points and evaluate their effectiveness.
• 📋25-mark essay questions: e.g., 'Evaluate the view that Parliament is no longer sovereign.' Present arguments for and against, and reach a judgement.