3.2 Year 1: summer term Week Specification content Activities Notes Resources 1 The constitutional framework Introduction to studying Students should understand that the US Politics Review of US government (): US politics students constitution is codified, entrenched and judicable Volume 26, – nature and significance of should read within a federal system of government. Students Number 1, ‘A US Constitution beginner’s guide to should also consider the importance of the US September 2016 significance of studying US politics’ constitution, both historically and in the present (extra resources constitutional principles and politics: Ten day. In particular, students should consider whether archive): . Jeremy ‘US separation of things you need to the US constitution remains, or ever was, a beacon Taylor powers know’. of democracy. checks and Students should It is important, when learning about the principles of Politics Review balances examine the nature and the US constitution that students distinguish Volume 24, federalism significance of the US between the concepts separation of powers and Number 4, April framework of government Constitution. They checks and balances. Within the study of 2015 (extra laid down in the should outline the separation of powers, an emphasis should be resources archive): constitution. features of it as a placed on separation of personnel, and shared . Simon Lemieux. codified constitution. powers between the three branches of government. An article offering Students should understand the full range of essential insights Students should learn a checks and balances available to each branch to into the sometimes solid definition of each check the power of the other two. In particular, puzzling world of of the constitutional students should consider how Congress is able to US politics. principles. The check the power of the President and vice versa. It strengths and Chapter 2: ‘Beliefs, should also be understood that the Supreme Court weaknesses of each Values and can check the power of both branches through principle should be American Society’ judicial review. Students should focus on the extent evaluated. in American Politics to which the three branches of the Federal and Society by government effectively check each other. Finally, Students should students should consider whether these examine the aims of the
3.2 Year 1: summer term Week Specification content Activities Notes Resources 1 The constitutional framework of US government (): nature and significance of US Constitution significance of constitutional principles separation of powers checks and balances federalism framework of government laid down in the constitution. Introduction to studying US politics – students should read ‘A beginner’s guide to studying US politics’ and ‘US politics: Ten things you need to know’. Students should examine the nature and significance of the US Constitution. They should outline the features of it as a codified constitution. Students should learn a solid definition of each of the constitutional principles. The strengths and weaknesses of each principle should be evaluated. Students should examine the aims of the Students should understand that the US constitution is codified, entrenched and judicable within a federal system of government. Students should also consider the importance of the US constitution, both historically and in the present day. In particular, students should consider whether the US constitution remains, or ever was, a beacon of democracy. It is important, when learning about the principles of the US constitution that students distinguish between the concepts separation of powers and checks and balances. Within the study of separation of powers, an emphasis should be placed on separation of personnel, and shared powers between the three branches of government. Students should understand the full range of checks and balances available to each branch to check the power of the other two. In particular, students should consider how Congress is able to check the power of the President and vice versa. It should also be understood that the Supreme Court can check the power of both branches through judicial review. Students should focus on the extent to which the three branches of the Federal government effectively check each other. Finally, students should consider whether these Politics Review Volume 26, Number 1, September 2016 (extra resources archive): . Jeremy Taylor Politics Review Volume 24, Number 4, April 2015 (extra resources archive): . Simon Lemieux. An article offering essential insights into the sometimes puzzling world of US politics. Chapter 2: ‘Beliefs, Values and American Society’ in American Politics and Society by
AQA-71522-SOW-GPUS.DOCX