AS OCR Contemporary Politics, Summer task 2011

The politics exam in the Summer will be made up of 5 key units:

1. Political parties (mandatory) 2. Pressure groups (mandatory) 3. Electoral systems and referendums 4. UK parliamentary elections 5. Voting behaviour in the UK

Exam questions are marked under the following three criteria:AO1: Knowledge and understanding of political concepts/theories/institutions and processesAO2: Analysis and evaluationAO3: Communication and coherence

Structure of the Exam:Section A: Political parties and Pressure groups, (three questions, no choices) 1a - Using the sources and your own knowledge to describe and explain. (12 marks). This questions tests AO1,

Spend no more than 10 minutes. 1b – Usually involves using the sources and your own knowledge to compose a discussion based upon a

statement in the question, “….discuss the view that…..” (28 marks). AO1:12 A02:12 AO3:4, Spend no more than 25 minutes.

2 – Usually involves you in composing a discussion based on your knowledge and understanding of political parties and pressure groups. (30 marks) AO1:12 A02:12 AO3:6, Spend no more than 25 minutes.

Section B: Electoral systems and referendums, UK parliamentary elections and voting behaviour in the UK, (choose one question from a choice of three)

The three questions usually each refer to an area of potential controversy and involve you in composing a discussion based on your knowledge and understanding. (30 marks) AO1:12 A02:12 AO3:6, Spend no more than 25 minutes.

5 minutes to read through your answers.Total: 90 minutes

Over the Summer you need to order the following text book:

AS UK Government and Politics: Textbook by Philip Lynch

You need to complete notes on the 5 key topics that you will be examined on. In this booklet you have a tick list of the key topics you need to cover. This will need to be completed before we start the Politics course in September.

B001HD05SQ

Political Parties

Key topics:

1.1 Political parties1.2 Party systems1.3 Funding political parties1.4 Parties and the democratic process1.5 Key developments within and relating to political parties.

A) Revision notes Tick when complete

1.1: Development of political parties1.1: Functions of political parties

1.2: One party system1.2: Two party system1.2: Multi-party system1.2: Dominant party system1.2: Advantages of different party systems1.2: Disadvantages of different party systems1.2: The UK party system

1.3: Party funding of the three main parties1.3: Issues surrounding party funding1.3: Proposals for reform of party funding

1.4: Origin and structure of the Labour party1.4: Labour party ideology1.4: Labour party membership, conferences and election of leaders.

1.4: Origin and structure of the Conservative party1.4: Conservative party ideology1.4: Conservative party membership, conferences and election of leaders.

1.4: Origin and structure of the Liberal party1.4: Liberal party ideology1.4: Liberal party membership, conferences and election of leaders.

1.4: Positive impact of political parties1.4: Criticisms of political parties

1.5: Key developments in political parties.

Pressure groups

Key topics:

1.1 Pressure groups1.2 Methods of pressure groups1.3 Impact and success of pressure groups1.4 Pressure groups and the democratic process1.5 Key developments within and relating to pressure groups.

A) Revision notes Tick when complete

1.1 Types of pressure groups (Include case studies of four different pressure groups)1.1 Positive role of pressure groups1.1 Negative role of pressure groups

1.2 Direct approaches of pressure groups1.2 Indirect approaches of pressure groups1.2 Pressure groups and the executive1.2 Pressure groups and the legislature1.2 Pressure groups and the courts1.2 Pressure groups and the EU1.2 pressure groups and coalitions with others

1.3 Examples of pressure group success1.3 Factors influencing the success of pressure groups1.3 Examples of pressure group failure1.3 factors influencing the success of pressure groups

1.4 Positive impact of pressure groups on the democratic process1.4 Negative impact of pressure groups on the democratic process1.4 View of Pluralist, Corporatism, New Right and Marxist theory towards pressure groups

1.5 Key developments in pressure groups

Electoral systems and referendums AND UK parliamentary electionsKey topics:

Electoral systems and referendums:1.1 Function of elections and referendums1.2 Different electoral systems1.3 Electoral systems in the UK1.4 Electoral reform in the UK1.5 Referendums1.6 Contribution of elections and referendums to the democratic process.

UK Parliamentary elections:2.1 How general elections work2.2 General election campaigns2.3 Recent general elections (2001-2010)2.4 Nature and significance of by-elections2.5 British parliamentary elections and their contribution to the democratic process.

A) Revision notes Tick when complete

Electoral systems and referendums:1.1 Purpose of elections1.1 Purpose of referendums

1.2 Majority system: First past the post 1.2 Majority system: Alternative vote 1.2 Majority system: Supplementary vote 1.2 Majority system: Second ballot 1.2 PR system: List 1.2 PR system: Single transferable vote1.2 PR system: Additional member

1.3 General election system1.3 Devolved assemblies system1.3 Local election system1.3 European election system

1.4 Advantages of British electoral system (FPTP)1.4 Disadvantages of British electoral system 1.4 Advantages of other voting systems1.4 disadvantages of other voting systems1.4 Conservative attitudes towards electoral reform1.4 Labour attitudes towards electoral reform1.4 Liberal Democrat views towards electoral reform1.4 The Jenkins Report and reaction to it

1.5 Types of referendums1.5 Arguments in favour of referendums1.5 Arguments against referendums

1.6 Criticisms of elections 1.6 Developments in the electoral system

UK Parliamentary elections:

2.1: How and why are elections held?2.1: Who can stand for election and who can vote?

2.1: How are candidates selected for the Labour Party? 2.1: How are candidates selected for the Conservative Party? 2.1: How are candidates selected for the Liberal Democrat Party?

2.2: Party strategies are elections2.2: Party Manifestos2.2: Party national and local campaigns2.2: Role of mass media in election campaigns2.2: Opinion polls in election campaigns2.2: Funding of general elections

2.3: 2001 General Election: Explanation of winners/losers2.3: 2005 General Election: Explanation of winners/losers2.3: 2010 General Election: Explanation of winners/losers

2.4: Nature and significance of by-elections

2.5: Party view on electoral reform and issues surrounding it

Voting behaviour in the UKKey topics:

1.1 Factors associated with voting behaviour1.2 Models of voting behaviour1.3 Trends in voting behaviour1.4 Key developments relating to voting behaviour

A) Revision notes Tick when complete

1.1 Impact of class, age, gender, ethnicity, religion1.1 Impact of regional voting1.1 Impact of party identification1.1 Impact of recent and future purpose1.1 Impact of party principles1.1 Impact of party leadership1.1 Impact of party image1.1 Impact of mass media1.1 Impact of election campaign

1.2 Social structures model1.2 Party identification model1.2 Rational choice model1.2 Dominant ideology model1.2 Voting context model

1.3 Party support for parties1.3 Turnout and abstention at elections1.3 trends in tactical voting1.3 trends in protest voting

1.4 Developments in voting behaviour