AQA A2 US Politics thread (Units 3A 11th and 4A 14th)

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Yep it will. Or basically even though it is rigid, it is flexible discuss. Amendment Process, Judicial review and conventions. Essay done. Haha.

anything other than separation of powers/checks and balances would be very easy. but i'll still wager it's federalism.

Reply 221

av_kidd

Any predictions for Congress? :smile:

Reply 222

Mani Katti

Original post by av_kidd

Any predictions for Congress? :smile:

My teacher and I are nearly 100% certain that Committees will either be a 10 or 30 marker as it's the only explicitly large topic that hasn't appeared in either past paper or the specimen for Congress, but not completely sure what the other one will be. 10 marker on committees would probably be the functions, roles and types of commitees (standing, select, house rules, conference) or if a 30 marker a critical assessment of the powers of committees (reasons why they are powerful vs limitations to their power). Possibly voting pressures (mandate/delegate influences) or the comparative powers of the Senate vs Representatives (constitutional co-equal bicameralism but in reality is the Senate more powerful?), again could be a 10 or a 30 marker, not entiely sure either way.

Reply 223

av_kidd

Original post by soybntree

Yeah im doing all four!! What are you revising most for congress?

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Erm the powers of both houses, comparrioson between both houses, committe system (hate this part so hope it doesn't come up) and the legislative process. How about you?

It's quite hard to predict :frown:

Not doing much on representation as that came up in the last paper, and as did impeachment.

Also, a 10 marker was on the powers of the Senate in June 2010, so maybe they'll ask a 10 marker on the powers of the House?

Reply 224

Jakeeyy

Original post by don_lad_

anything other than separation of powers/checks and balances would be very easy. but i'll still wager it's federalism.

Cant see how their would be an essay on Federalism, i am looking over it anyway, as i think it will be a 10 marker. Cant think of any other possibility.

Reply 225

don_lad_

Original post by Jakeeyy

Cant see how their would be an essay on Federalism, i am looking over it anyway, as i think it will be a 10 marker. Cant think of any other possibility.

there's easily enough for a 30 marker on either evolution of federalism over time (dual, co-operative, new, bush, obama) or advantages and disadvantages! good luck anyway man.

Reply 226

Jakeeyy

Original post by don_lad_

there's easily enough for a 30 marker on either evolution of federalism over time (dual, co-operative, new, bush, obama) or advantages and disadvantages! good luck anyway man.

Prefer a good old, a constitution is flexible, can go into more detail and use a lot more examples. What do you need from this exam?

Reply 227

PVisitors

The thing with federalism essays for me is there is no clearcut argument as such. Contrast this to the standard "how easy is it to amend the constitution" which of course is written differently each year so far and it is just simply, formal amendment process; supreme court interpretation; conventions; popular amendments/ordinary law never appealed to the Supreme Court.

Reply 228

Jakeeyy

Original post by PVisitors

I know. So easy. For interpretation would you say how judges have been able to make rulings against the constitution without actually making amends like Plessy Vs Ferguson and Roe Vs Wade? Judgements were made against the constitution but no formal amendment was made.

Reply 229

don_lad_

Original post by Jakeeyy

Prefer a good old, a constitution is flexible, can go into more detail and use a lot more examples. What do you need from this exam?

yeah that'd be cool as well but a federal curveball is headed our way, you read it here first.
um ****all to be honest, only need about 40% if that to get an A overall. but i'd like A*. what about you?

Reply 230

Jakeeyy

Original post by don_lad_

40%? Thats crazy! I need 75% for an A overall :frown:

Reply 231

don_lad_

Original post by Jakeeyy

40%? Thats crazy! I need 75% for an A overall :frown:

yeah i know, pretty chilled. only needed 20% in my history exam haha. that'll be fine man! good luck with it

Reply 232

Jakeeyy

Original post by don_lad_

yeah i know, pretty chilled. only needed 20% in my history exam haha. that'll be fine man! good luck with it

Same for you, hoping for a good exam. I have offers to meet haha.

Reply 233

HeyyImRyan

Federalism they said. It will 100% come up they said. :colonhash:

Reply 234

av_kidd

Original post by HeyyImRyan

Federalism they said. It will 100% come up they said. :colonhash:

Reply 235

gtfcmariner

To be fair there was a lot you could have said about Federalism decreasing limits on federal government

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Reply 236

Tay594

Original post by HeyyImRyan

Federalism they said. It will 100% come up they said. :colonhash:

That made me laugh haha

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Reply 237

.gina

I thought legislature was better than executive, not feeling too great about this one :frown:

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Reply 238

Tay594

What the hell were the 10 mark questions for the constitution and the supreme court? -.- supreme court 30 marker was good though :smile:

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Reply 239

Andufus

That exam went OK, just glad to be finally done, now.

Avoided the Constitution question because I wasn't 100% of either answer, so I did the Presidency and the Supreme Court.

I said iron triangles were decreasing in significance because of politicians such as John McCain calling the departments/committees/groups out on the nature of their relationship leading to bad press. I also said they were one of the main problems with the federal bureaucracy.
I said presidential power was cyclical and basically went into a narrative of the impact each president from Nixon onwards had on the power to show that whilst Presidents may damage the office the harm is never permanent.

I said the entrenched rights were the 'inalienable rights of man' mentioned in the declaration of independence that the Supreme Court is dedicated to protecting, as has been seen when they protected the freedom of expression in the burning of the American Flag. I also said that there has been an increased spread of these rights, as shown through Brown v. the Board.
I said that all decisions are fundamentally political, which is how people claim that the Supreme Court is overtly political - though people only complain when they disagree with the decisions made by the Supreme Court. I said that the 2000 case was a rare exception, and that the independence of the Court was proved by 3 of the 4 Judges Nixon appointed voting against him.

I might scrape an A if I'm lucky, I don't know.