A2 Unit F853: Contemporary US Government and Politics
This topic covers the mechanisms and functions of US presidential and congressional elections, including the nominating process, general election campaigns, and the Electoral College. It also examines factors influencing voting behaviour and specific congressional election issues such as incumbency, redistricting, and gerrymandering.
Subtopics in this area
Topic Overview
A2 Unit F853: Contemporary US Government and Politics is a key component of the OCR A-Level Politics syllabus, designed to deepen students' understanding of the political system of the United States. This unit focuses on the core institutions of US government—Congress, the Presidency, the Supreme Court, and the federal bureaucracy—as well as the political processes that shape them, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media. By comparing these institutions and processes with their UK counterparts, students gain critical insights into the similarities and differences between the two political systems, which is essential for developing a comparative perspective.
Studying contemporary US politics is vital because the United States remains a global superpower whose domestic and foreign policies have far-reaching implications. Understanding how the US government operates—from the separation of powers and checks and balances to the role of the Electoral College and the influence of campaign finance—enables students to critically analyse current events and political debates. This unit also encourages students to evaluate the effectiveness and fairness of the US political system, considering issues such as gridlock, judicial activism, and the impact of money in politics.
Within the broader A-Level Politics course, Unit F853 builds on foundational knowledge from AS units, particularly those covering UK government and politics. It requires students to apply concepts such as democracy, representation, and accountability to a different context, fostering comparative analytical skills. Mastery of this unit is essential for students aiming to achieve top grades, as it demands both factual knowledge and the ability to construct well-supported arguments about the strengths and weaknesses of the US political system.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Separation of powers and checks and balances: The constitutional distribution of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with each branch having mechanisms to limit the others, e.g., presidential veto, Senate confirmation of appointments, judicial review.
- →Federalism: The division of power between the federal government and state governments, with specific powers delegated to the national government (e.g., defence, currency) and reserved to the states (e.g., education, policing).
- →The Electoral College: The indirect system for electing the President, where each state has a number of electors equal to its congressional representation, and a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. This can lead to a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote.
- →Judicial review: The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803). This gives the Court significant influence over public policy.
- →Party polarization: The increasing ideological distance between the Democratic and Republican parties, leading to legislative gridlock and heightened partisan conflict in Congress and among the electorate.
What You Need to Demonstrate
Key skills and knowledge for this topic
- Functions of elections: representation, participation, accountability, legitimacy, direct, indirect and representative democracy
- The nominating process: primaries, caucuses and national party conventions
- General election campaign: role of parties, factors influencing the campaign and voting behaviour
- The Electoral College
- Congressional elections: factors influencing campaign and voting behaviour
- Congressional election issues: incumbency, redistricting and gerrymandering
Marking Points
Key points examiners look for in your answers
- Functions of elections: representation, participation, accountability, legitimacy, direct, indirect and representative democracy
- The nominating process: primaries, caucuses and national party conventions
- General election campaign: role of parties, factors influencing the campaign and voting behaviour
- The Electoral College
- Congressional elections: factors influencing campaign and voting behaviour
- Congressional election issues: incumbency, redistricting and gerrymandering
Examiner Tips
Expert advice for maximising your marks
- 💡Build on working knowledge of concepts and ideologies introduced at AS level
- 💡Be aware of key and current developments in US government and politics over the previous decade
- 💡Study US government and politics in practice against a background of how it works in theory
- 💡Ensure answers are structured and demonstrate clear contextual awareness
- 💡Use specific examples to support your arguments. For instance, when discussing checks and balances, refer to recent events like the Senate's refusal to confirm Merrick Garland in 2016 or President Trump's use of executive orders. This shows you can apply knowledge to contemporary politics.
- 💡When comparing US and UK politics, avoid superficial similarities. Instead, focus on structural differences, such as the UK's fusion of powers versus the US's separation of powers, and explain the consequences for governance, e.g., gridlock in the US versus strong government in the UK.
- 💡In essays, always address the question's command words (e.g., 'evaluate', 'discuss', 'to what extent'). Structure your answer with a clear thesis, balanced arguments, and a conclusion that directly answers the question. Use phrases like 'on the one hand... on the other hand' to show evaluation.
Common Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers
- Misconception: The President has the power to declare war. Correction: Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war. The President, as Commander-in-Chief, can order military action without a declaration, but only Congress can formally declare war.
- Misconception: The Supreme Court is entirely independent and apolitical. Correction: While justices are appointed for life and are expected to be impartial, the appointment process is highly political, and justices often have consistent ideological leanings that influence their decisions. Cases are also often brought by political actors.
- Misconception: The US has a two-party system because of legal restrictions. Correction: The two-party system is not legally mandated but results from structural factors such as single-member districts with plurality voting (first-past-the-post), which disadvantages third parties, and the Electoral College, which discourages voting for minor candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •AS Unit F851: UK Government and Politics – understanding of the UK political system provides a baseline for comparison.
- •Basic knowledge of the US Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and key amendments (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 14th).
- •Familiarity with key political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism) and how they shape party platforms.
Likely Command Words
How questions on this topic are typically asked
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