USA Politics course content
Overview
The USA has been considered by some to be a ‘beacon of democracy’. As a world power,
understanding the nature of US democracy, and the debates surrounding it, is crucial given
the considerable impact that the USA has on UK, European and global politics.
Students will explore the US Constitution and the arguments surrounding this guiding
document of US democracy. In learning about the key institutions of government in the USA
and analysing the manner in which they achieve this power and exercise it over their
citizens, students will judge ultimately whether ‘liberty and justice for all’ has been achieved
in the USA. Students will be expected to highlight the debates on the nature of democracy in
the USA and evaluate the extent to which it remains an issue.
The impact of the US government on the world beyond its borders is increasingly a feature of
international politics. Students will begin to engage with this interaction by comparing and
contrasting politics and institutions in the US with those in the UK. This will develop a wider
understanding of politics as a discipline, underpinned by the theoretical concepts of
comparative politics.
Content
There are six content areas:
1. The US Constitution and federalism
2. US Congress
3. US presidency
4. US Supreme Court and US civil rights
5. US democracy and participation
6. Comparative theories.
Skills
• Students must comprehend and interpret political information in relation to areas of
US politics.
• Students must fully understand and critically analyse and evaluate areas of US politics.
• Students must identify parallels, connections, similarities and differences between
content studied, providing a basis for comparing the UK with the US.
• Students must construct and communicate arguments and explanations with relevance,
clarity and coherence and draw reasoned conclusions about US politics.
• Students must develop knowledge and understanding of key political concepts. The
content supports these skills by presenting the main content for learning in the righthand
side of the content tables.
• Students must use appropriate vocabulary. The content supports this skill by listing key
terminology in each content area. The lists are to support teaching of the main content
and help students to use appropriate vocabulary in assessment. Students should,
therefore, familiarise themselves with the definitions of key terminology for each section,
please also see Appendix 2: Key terminology glossary
