The Student Room Group

AS Politics (Edexcel)

I thought I'd post some of my notes on here, seeing as the exam is pretty soon, (7th June).

Feel free to add your own for everyone's benefit.

Unit 1

Pressure groups


* Like minded people organised to influence government

* do NOT stand for election - only influence government decisions

* narrow/one issue focus

* smaller political parties (such as BNP, SWP, Greens) often considered pressure groups

* Intrinsically linked with political parties (e.g. Trade Unions in the Labour Party)

* Some pressure groups have wider focus - CBI - interested in many policy matters

Sectional pressure groups
* Act on behalf of a particular part of society - examples CBI, British Medical Associaton, Trade Union Congress
Promotional pressure groups
* To promote a particular cause - examples CND, Greenpeace, Shelter, Amnesty International
Insider groups
* Strong links with decision makers - powerful - sectional groups more likely to be insiders
Outsider groups
* Excluded by government either because of their own choice or because they are unacceptable - e.g. - IRA considered terrorist organisation.
* Changes between outsider/insider - TUC was influential under Labour in the 1970s but not Conservatives

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
The Party System in Britain

It is often argued that Britain has a two party system, a three party system and a dominant party system

* Two party system: Either Labour or Conservatives in government since 1945
* Three party system: Lib Dems serious contenders - 23% of the vote in 2005
* Dominant party system: Conservatives in government 1979-1997, Labour in government 1997-to date

Political party:
* A group of like minded people organised to gain political power to govern the country
* Focus on a wider range of issues to implement changes when in government
* In democracies, parties propose candidate for election.
* Represent the electorate in politics
* In Britain, political parties dominant both government and elections.
* Parties also recruit the personnel of government.
* Political parties make it possible for voters to hold governments accountable. If they feel the government has failed to live up to its party's election promises, or to display proper standards of competence and integrity, they can vote for an opposiiton party.
* The party is essentially a link between the citizen and the state; party is one of the devices which makes possible citizen influence on the policies of government.
* British parliamentary politics is Adversary politics. Two large and disciplined parties confront each other across the despatch box in the House of Commons. At the end of the debate, Members divide, usually joined by those who often have not heard a word of the debate.
* Rebellion in the division lobbies is more common than it was 40 years ago but conformity to party remains the norm for Members.
* Adversary politics is a term borrowed from the courts of law. The parties engage in what may seem mortal, if to some eyes sham, combat.
* A party spokesman acts like a prosecuting counsel or defending barrister, putting the most powerful case that he can, irrespective of any reservations or doubts he may feel in private.
* The spirit of adversary politics does not necessarily carry with it the connotation that the parties are divided by a deep ideological gulf.
* Adversary politics is as compatible with parties whose differences are shallow and transitory as it is with parties separated by acute doctrinal cleavages.

Conservatives
* free market
* low taxation

Labour
* government intervention (i.e. nationalised industry)
* high public spending.

Liberal Democrats
* formed by a fusion of the old Liberal party with the SDP, a breakaway from Labour.
* share the free market sentiments of the Conservatives
* favour bigger spending on social welfare
* agree with higher taxes.
* Commitment to Europe. The most consistent champions of British involvement with the European Union.
Reply 2
Referendums
* A vote in which the electorate can express their view about a particular issue of public policy
* An instrument of direct democracy - in the UK, we have indirect democracy exercised through elections
* advisory referendum - the governing body to find out the opinion of the electorate on a certain issue.
* binding refendum - the governing body is bound by its result - e.g. EU constitution or single currency.
* Referendums in the UK have been constitutional - (1975 membership of the EU, 1998, Devolution to Scotland and Wales 1999 London Mayor)
The electoral system.
Current system is FPTP (First Past The Post) somtimes called SMP (Single Member Plurality). This system generally produces strong governments with large majorities in the UK but systematically is not guaranteed to do so. It is beneficial to the Labour Party and parties with regional support but doesn't represent parties with broad support but few areas of concentration well.
Those who argue for it argue that:
it produces strong government.
it would cost a lot to change.
PR produces coalitions and as such, weak and ineffective governments.
those who support it are those who stand to gain from it.
it maintains constituency link.

PR is a label that covers a broad array of electoral systems. I did this course last year, so I don't remember them so well. Someone else should probably give their notes.
I do remember that it's AMS in Scotland and the London Assembly, STV in Northern Ireland, Closed Party List in the European elections and FPTP in the national elections.
Some figures -> in 2005, Labour won 100 more seats in England despite receiving less votes. The Liberal Democrats recieved 62 seats when proportionally they were eligible for 150. The Labour Party have 65% of the parliamentary seats with 36% of the popular vote and just 22% of the votes of the electorate.
Reply 4
Closed Party Lists - British MEP elections:
Broadly PR - no candidate choice.
1999 Results:
* Labour 35% - 40% seats - top 4 candidates
* Conservative 33% - 40% seats - top 4 candidates
* Lib Dem 12% - 10% seats - top party candidate
* Green 8% - 10% seats - top party candidate

Supplementary Voting (used in London Mayor elections):
* 2 preferences - first choice, second choice.
* 50% votes needed for winning candidate
* first and second choices added up to reach 50% vote
* votes are not "wasted".
Reply 5
Unit 2

The UK constitution


* A constitution is a set of laws on how a country is governed.
* The British Constitution is an uncodified constitution.
* Allows for flexibility and change to occur without too many problems.
* Only constitutional experts who know where to look & how to interpret it have access to it.
* Amendments to Britain’s unwritten constitution are made by majority support in both Houses of Parliament to be followed by the Royal Assent.
* A historic feature of the UK constitution, the Royal Prerogative gives the Crown the power to declare war, to make treaties, to pardon criminals, and to dissolve Parliament.
* Today the role of the monarch in such matters is largely ceremonial, but the Royal Prerogative is general used by the PM.
* The single most important principle of the UK constitution is that of parliamentary sovereignty.
* Under this principle, Parliament can make or unmake any law on any subject whatsoever. No one Parliament is bound by the decisions of its predecessors, nor can it bind its successors.
* There is no higher body, such as a supreme court, that constrains the legal authority of Parliament.
* However, parliamentary sovereignty is now directly challenged by the UK's membership of the European Union, because EU membership necessitates the 'pooling' of sovereignty over areas where the member states have agreed to act together.
* All laws passed at the European level are considered legally superior to domestic law, and are ultimately protected by a higher constitutional court, the European Court of Justice and should European Community law and UK law conflict, EC law will prevail.

Sources of the British Constitution:
*Statutes such as the Magna Carta of 1215 and the Act of Settlement of 1701.
* Laws and Customs of Parliament
* political conventions
* Case law
* constitutional matters decided in a court of law
* Constitutional experts who have written on the subject such as Walter Bagehot and A.V Dicey.

Criticisms of the British Constitution:
* uncodified - not available to all the public and is too flexible.
* too much power to the executive - consitution does not bind government as it should.
* Archaic tradition/undemocratic - Monarch and the House of Lords have too much power constitutionally despite being undemocratic - undermines democracy.
* FPTP electoral system means majorities in government without majority of the vote - "elected dictatorship".
zaf1986
Unit 2

The UK constitution

watch this space...


what else in on unit 2 :redface: i'm doing a resit. Plus does anyone know what the likely topics will be?
Reply 7
Layout of exam:

Paper One:

Answer two of:

Democracy

Political Parties

Pressure Groups

Elections



Paper Two

Answer two of:

Constitution

Parliament

PM/Cabinet/Civil Service

Judiciary



Paper Three:

Answer one question out of two. Four possible topics:

Parliamentary/Constitutional Reform

Electoral Reform

Europe

Devolution



For Paper Three, my teachers expect Constitutional Reform and Europe.
Reply 8
Last year (June 2004) was reform of the Lords and Europe. So I don't think Europe will come up again.
Reply 9
zaf1986
Last year (June 2004) was reform of the Lords and Europe. So I don't think Europe will come up again.

But January was Electoral Reform and Devolution.
Reply 10
LH
But January was Electoral Reform and Devolution.


Question spotting is dangerous, so I guess Europe could come up. Revise all of it and theres no need to worry :biggrin:
zaf1986
Question spotting is dangerous, so I guess Europe could come up. Revise all of it and theres no need to worry :biggrin:


Question spotting is dangerous however at the revision conferences they drop so many hints...I can't remember what my teacher was saying about the AS conference very well apart from that the people who set the exam have been going on and on about Northern Ireland and all the devolution/constitution stuff an awful lot..however it could be because of paper 6 actually.
sparklyteacosie
Question spotting is dangerous however at the revision conferences they drop so many hints...I can't remember what my teacher was saying about the AS conference very well apart from that the people who set the exam have been going on and on about Northern Ireland and all the devolution/constitution stuff an awful lot..however it could be because of paper 6 actually.


Did you go to the AS Politics conference in manchester on may 5th?
LH
Layout of exam:


Paper Two

Answer two of:

Constitution

Parliament

PM/Cabinet/Civil Service

Judiciary



.


will all four come up do you think? i can't remember how many areas there on the paper- is it four or three?
Reply 14
Cellardore
will all four come up do you think? i can't remember how many areas there on the paper- is it four or three?


There are four q's.

Constitution, Parliament, Civil Service, Judiciary (Jan 2003)
Judiciary, PM, Parliament, Sovereignty (Consitution/Parliament) (Jun 2003)
Soveregnty, PM/Cabinet, Judiciary, Parliament (Jan 2004)
Reply 15
Cellardore
will all four come up do you think? i can't remember how many areas there on the paper- is it four or three?

There are always four questions within those headings.
Reply 16
Parliament

House of Commons


* Most powerful of the two Houses of Parliament.
* Made up of 645 MPs, each elected in one of 645 constituencies throughout the UK. (one seat is empty because of the death of the candidate)
* Almost all MPs are elected as members of a political party.

Functions of The House of Commons

* Representation: MPs represent constiuents and may represent 'interests' such as trade unions, or particular professions, provided these interests are declared. Almost all MPs represent political parties, and usually vote according to the party line (the whipping system).

* Government Personnel: Although parliament does not appoint the government, it provides a forum in which budding ministers can demonstrate and hone their political skills, while serving ministers can make or break their career depending on their performance at the Commons' despatch box.

* Legitimisation: Permits the elected assembly, acting on the people's behalf, to grant (or withhold) its approval for most actions of the government, including legislation and the grant of money.

* Scrutiny of the Executive: The role in scrutinising the policies and actions of the government, in debates, parliamentary questions and within the influential cross-party select committees.
Reply 17
These notes are really good zaf! much apreciated! anymore would b a great help! thankyou!
Reply 18
The Powers of the Prime Ministers


- Power to appoint, reshuffle or dismiss ministers

- Power to create peers

- Power to give out honours

- Power to appoint chairs of nationalised industries

- Power to make other appointments (e.g. top civil servants, ambassadors, bishops, judges).

- Power over ministerial conduct (rules are laid out in the ministerial code (Cabinet Office 1997)

- Powers relating to government business (e.g. setting the agenda for Cabinet meetings, setting up Cabinet committees and choosing whether or not to circulate minutes or papers).

- Powers over information (e.g. deciding whether or not to inform Parliament about government activities and using the lobby system to inform the media).

- Powers in international relations

- Power to terminate a Parliament or government.



(Adapted from Tony Benn 1981)



Limitations or Constraints on Prime Ministers Powers


- Ministerial appointments require some recognition of the need for political balance and administrative competence. There is pressure (from colleagues or the media) to appoint certain people- all Prime Ministers at least listen to advice from senior colleagues before making appointments.

- The Prime Ministers ability to control the flow of business is restricted

- Apart from drawing up the party manifesto, most Prime Ministers do not initiate policy- they have a small staff and most expertise and detailed information is located in individual departments.
Reply 19
House of Lords

Functions of the House of Lords

* Scrutinizing Government actions and ensuring that they are acting the public interest. This takes place through the House of Lords EU Select Committee.

* Holding Government accountable. Ministers who are Lords are questioned by other Peers.

* Passing and amending legislation proposed by Government - The Salisbury Convention dicates that they do not challenge the mandate of the Government, but recommend amendments to legislation (and do so regularly).

* Developing Private Members' Bills, although usually unsuccessful due to the dominance of the Executive over the business of the House.

* With less demand on their time and many experts from a number of fields in the Lords they are able to give time to deliberation on the great issues of the day

* The legitimation of laws, granting democratic consent to Government bills is less relevant to the house of Lords as it is not elected, but it is still an essential part of the constitutional process.

* One of the most familiar actions of the House of Lords is its delaying actions. Since the 1949 Parliament Act is has been impossible for the Lords to defeat Government bills outright, but they can delay them for up to one year. This can force its scrapping if near the election.

* The Lords will not reject every piece of Government legislation, but when they do they will not only secure major media coverage of the issue, but also send a message to the government about the force of their objection, all of which refocuses the Government and may force a rethink.