The AQA A-Level Politics specification covers a broad range of topics, including the Government and Politics of the UK, the Government and Politics of the USA, and Political Ideologies. This guide breaks down the specification by component and topic, linking each area to relevant revision guides, articles, podcasts, and videos to support effective revision. Use the tables below as a revision checklist to track your progress, identify gaps in your knowledge, and access resources tailored specifically to AQA A-Level Politics students.
| 1 | Government and Politics of the UK | ||
| 1.1 | The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution | Video | |
| 1.1.1 | The Nature and Sources of the British Constitution | ||
| 1.1.2 | Contemporary Legislation and Current Issues Regarding Rights | ||
| 1.1.3 | Debates About the Extent of Rights in the UK | ||
| 1.1.4 | Constitutional Changes Since 1997 | ||
| 1.1.5 | Individual and Collective Rights | ||
| 1.2 | The Structure and Role of Parliament | Video | |
| 1.2.1 | Scrutiny of the Executive | ||
| 1.2.2 | Parliamentary Debate and the Legislative | ||
| 1.2.3 | Theories of Representation | ||
| 1.2.4 | The Roles and Influence of MPs and Peers | ||
| 1.2.5 | The Significance of Commons and Lords | ||
| 1.2.6 | Interactions of Parliament and Other Branches of Government | ||
| 1.3 | The Prime Minister and the Cabinet | ||
| 1.3.1 | How Policy is Made | ||
| 1.3.2 | The Relationship Between Prime Minister and Cabinet | ||
| 1.3.3 | The Difference Between Individual and Collective Responsibility | ||
| 1.3.4 | The Power of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | ||
| 1.3.5 | Government and Parliament Relations | ||
| 1.4 | The Judiciary | ||
| 1.4.1 | The Composition of the Judiciary and the Appointment Process | ||
| 1.4.2 | The Role of the Supreme Court | ||
| 1.4.3 | Judicial Influence on Government | ||
| 1.4.4 | The Supreme Courts Interactions with the Executive | ||
| 1.5 | Devolution | ||
| 1.5.1 | Devolved Bodies in the UK | ||
| 1.5.2 | Debate Around Devolution in England | ||
| 1.5.3 | Existing Devolution in England | ||
| 1.5.4 | The Impact of Devolution on Government | ||
| 1.6 | Democracy and Participation | ||
| 1.6.1 | The Nature of Democracy | ||
| 1.6.2 | Different Types of Democracy | ||
| 1.6.3 | Patterns of Participation | ||
| 1.7 | Elections and Referendums | ||
| 1.7.1 | The Performance of Electoral Systems | ||
| 1.7.2 | Key Elections Since 1945 | ||
| 1.7 | Political Parties | ||
| 1.7.1 | The Ideas and Development of Established Political Parties | ||
| 1.7.2 | Party and Functions of Established Political Parties | ||
| 1.7.3 | Issues and Debates Around Party Funding | ||
| 1.7.4 | Relations with, and Influences of, the Media | ||
| 1.7.5 | Factors Affecting Electoral Outcomes | ||
| 1.7.6 | Policies and Impact of Minor Parties | ||
| 1.7.7 | Development Towards a Multi-Party System | ||
| 1.8 | Pressure Groups | ||
| 1.8.1 | Pressure Groups and Democracy | ||
| 1.8.2 | Other Influences on Government and Parliament | ||
| 1.8.3 | Typologies of Pressure Groups | ||
| 1.8.4 | Methods Used by Pressure Groups | ||
| 1.8.5 | Factors Affecting Political Influence | ||
| 1.8.6 | Political Parties, Government and the Media | ||
| 1.9 | The European Union | ||
| 1.9.1 | Aims of the EU | ||
| 1.9.2 | The Impact of the EU on the UK | ||
| 2 | Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics | ||
| 2.1 | The Constitutional Framework of the US Government | ||
| 2.1.1 | The Nature and Significance of the US Constitution | ||
| 2.1.2 | The Significance of Constitutional Principles | ||
| 2.1.3 | Framework of Government Laid Down in the US Constitution | ||
| 2.1.4 | Framework of the Government | ||
| 2.1.5 | Federal System of Government | ||
| 2.1.6 | Federal State Relations | ||
| 2.1.7 | Amendment Process | ||
| 2.1.8 | The Importance of the US Constitution | ||
| 2.1.9 | Protection of Civil Liberties and Rights | ||
| 2.2 | The Legislative Branch of Government: Congress | ||
| 2.2.1 | The Structure, Role and Powers of the US Congress | ||
| 2.2.2 | Composition of Congress | ||
| 2.2.3 | Functions, Powers and Effectiveness of Congress | ||
| 2.2.4 | Party System and Committee System | ||
| 2.2.5 | Role of Senators and Representatives | ||
| 2.2.6 | Strengths of the House of Representatives and the Senate | ||
| 2.2.7 | Congress' Relationship with the Executive and the Supreme Court | ||
| 2.3 | The Executive Branch of Government: President | ||
| 2.3.1 | Sources of Presidential Power | ||
| 2.3.2 | Differences Between Formal and Informal Powers | ||
| 2.3.3 | Constraints on the President's Powers | ||
| 2.3.4 | Relationships Between the Presidency and Other Institutions | ||
| 2.3.5 | Waxing and Waning Presidential Power | ||
| 2.3.6 | Imperial versus Imperilled Presidency | ||
| 2.4 | The Judicial Branch of Government | ||
| 2.4.1 | Selection and Appointment of Supreme Court Judges | ||
| 2.4.2 | Current Composition of the Supreme Court | ||
| 2.4.3 | The Constitutional Role of the Supreme Court | ||
| 2.4.4 | Judicial Review | ||
| 2.4.5 | The Political Significance of the Supreme Court | ||
| 2.4.6 | Debates and Controversies | ||
| 2.4.7 | Significance in Shaping Public Policy | ||
| 2.5 | The Electoral Process and Direct Democracy | ||
| 2.5.1 | The Electoral Systems Used int he USA | ||
| 2.5.2 | Characteristics of Elections and Campaigns | ||
| 2.5.3 | Candidate Selection and Nomination | ||
| 2.5.4 | Debates on the Electoral College System | ||
| 2.5.5 | Factors Determining Electoral Outcomes | ||
| 2.5.6 | Debates About Campaign Finance | ||
| 2.5.7 | Direct Democracy at State Level | ||
| 2.5.8 | Voting Behaviour in the USA | ||
| 2.5.9 | Parties and their Core Voting Coalitions | ||
| 2.5.10 | Factors in Voting Behaviour | ||
| 2.5.11 | Split Ticket Voting | ||
| 2.6 | Political Parties in the USA | ||
| 2.6.1 | The Main Political Parties | ||
| 2.6.2 | The Ideological Changes in Both Parties | ||
| 2.6.3 | Nature of Parties and Internal Divisions | ||
| 2.6.4 | Party Decline and Renewal | ||
| 2.6.5 | Weakness of US Parties | ||
| 2.6.6 | The Two Party Dominance in US Politics | ||
| 2.6.7 | The Significance of Third Parties and Independent Candidate | ||
| 2.7 | Pressure Groups | ||
| 2.7.1 | Political Pluralism in the USA | ||
| 2.7.2 | Typologies of Pressure Groups | ||
| 2.7.3 | Methods and Tactics Used by Pressure Groups | ||
| 2.7.4 | Pressure Group Funding of Elections | ||
| 2.7.5 | The Power of Pressure Groups in the USA | ||
| 2.7.6 | Political Action Committees and Super PAC's | ||
| 2.8 | Civil Rights | ||
| 2.8.1 | Protection of Civil Liberties and Rights | ||
| 2.8.2 | The Role of Pressure Groups | ||
| 2.8.3 | Salient Political Issues | ||
| 2.9 | Constitutional Arrangements | ||
| 2.9.1 | Similarities and Differences Between the UK and US Constitutions | ||
| 2.9.2 | Nature, Sources and Provisions | ||
| 2.9.3 | Devolution and Federalism | ||
| 2.9.4 | The UK and US Legislatures | ||
| 2.9.5 | Powers, Composition, and Structure | ||
| 2.10 | The Executives | ||
| 2.10.1 | The Role and Powers of the Prime Minister and the President | ||
| 2.10.2 | The Executive's Relationship with the Other Branches of Government | ||
| 2.11 | The Judiciaries | ||
| 2.11.1 | Similarities and Differences of Supreme Courts | ||
| 2.11.2 | Impact on Government and Politics | ||
| 2.11.3 | The Powers of the Supreme Courts | ||
| 2.11.4 | The Relative Independence of the Judiciaries | ||
| 2.12 | Electoral and Party Systems | ||
| 2.12.1 | Elections and Electoral Systems in the UK and US | ||
| 2.12.2 | Two-Party Systems | ||
| 2.12.3 | Campaign and Party Finance | ||
| 2.12.4 | Internal Unities within the Parties | ||
| 2.12.5 | Why the USA has a Two-Party System and the UK has a Multi-Party System | ||
| 2.12.6 | Third Party and Independent Candidates | ||
| 2.12.7 | Party Policies in the UK and USA | ||
| 2.13 | Pressure Groups | ||
| 2.13.1 | Influences on the Governments | ||
| 2.13.2 | Power, Influences and Methods of Pressure Groups | ||
| 2.14 | Civil Rights | ||
| 2.14.1 | Protection of Civil Rights in the UK and USA | ||
| 2.14.2 | Civil Rights Issues | ||
| 2.14.3 | Civil Rights Campaigns in the UK and USA | ||
| 3 | Political Ideas | ||
| 3.1 | Liberalism | ||
| 3.1.1 | The Nature of Liberalism | ||
| 3.1.2 | Liberal Ideas and Values | ||
| 3.1.3 | Classical and Modern Liberalism | ||
| 3.1.4 | Liberal Thinkers | ||
| 3.2 | Conservatism | ||
| 3.2.1 | The Nature of Conservatism | ||
| 3.2.2 | Conservative Ideas and Values | ||
| 3.2.3 | Different Strands of Conservatism | ||
| 3.2.4 | Conservative Thinkers | ||
| 3.3 | Socialism | ||
| 3.3.1 | The Nature of Socialism | ||
| 3.3.2 | Socialist Views and Values | ||
| 3.3.3 | Revolutionary Socialism and Social Democracy | ||
| 3.3.4 | Socialist Thinkers | ||
| 3.4 | Nationalism | ||
| 3.4.1 | The Nature of Nationalism | ||
| 3.4.2 | Types of Nationalism | ||
| 3.4.3 | Recent Developments | ||
| 3.4.4 | Types of Nationalism | ||
| 3.4.5 | Nationalist Thinkers | ||
| 3.5 | Feminism | ||
| 3.5.1 | The Nature of Feminism | ||
| 3.5.2 | Feminist Views and Values | ||
| 3.5.3 | The Different Types of Feminism | ||
| 3.5.4 | Feminist Thinkers | ||
| 3.6 | Multiculturalism | ||
| 3.6.1 | The Nature of Multiculturalism | ||
| 3.6.2 | Multiculturalist Ideas and Values | ||
| 3.6.3 | Integration and Segregation | ||
| 3.6.4 | Multiculturalist Thinkers | ||
| 3.7 | Anarchism | ||
| 3.7.1 | The Nature of Anarchism | ||
| 3.7.2 | Anarchist Views and Values | ||
| 3.7.3 | Individualist and Collectivist Anarchist Traditions | ||
| 3.7.4 | Anarchist Thinkers | ||
| 3.8 | Ecologism | ||
| 3.8.1 | Nature of Ecologism | ||
| 3.8.2 | Ecologist Views and Values | ||
| 3.8.3 | Light Greens and Dark Greens | ||
| 3.8.4 | Ecologist Thinkers |
