Component 1

Democracy and Participation

UK democracy
● Evaluate the view that the UK has a democratic deficit [30] - 2023
● Evaluate the view that the UK’s political system is no longer truly
representative (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which the UK’s democracy is in urgent need of reform
(30)

Participation crisis
● Evaluate the extent to which the UK is suffering from a participation crisis
(30)

Pressure groups
● Evaluate the view that think-tanks, lobbyists and pressure groups have little
impact on governmental decisions. (30) [2019]
● Evaluate the extent to which the tactics they deploy are the most important
reason for the success or failure of pressure groups (30) (Other factors could
be used)

Rights in the UK
● Evaluate the view that neither individual rights nor collective rights in the UK
are adequately protected and guaranteed [30] - 2022
● Evaluate the view that the actions of pressure groups have been more
significant than government legislation in defending and promoting rights in
the UK (30 ) - [2020]
● Evaluate the extent to which democratic rights are protected in the UK’s
political system (30)
 ● Evaluate the view that our human rights are inadequately protected by the
UK’s constitutional arrangements. (30)

Political Parties

● Evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to ignore referendum
results and their own political party’s manifesto.(30) - [2021] Note: See how it
is a synoptic question which links to voting behaviour and political parties.

Party Funding

● Evaluate the view that the current funding of political parties in the UK
requires reform. [30] - 2023
● Evaluate the extent to which political parties should be funded by the state
(30)

Decline of ideology

● Evaluate the view that ‘pick-and-mix’ politics is replacing ‘left-right’ politics

and political parties are becoming more internally divided than ever. [30] -
2022

Two/ multi-party party system - Could also get a question on minor

parties.

● Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political
system are the Labour and Conservative parties (30) [2019]
● Evaluate the extent to which the United Kingdom has become a multiparty
democracy. (30)
● Evaluate the impact of minor parties on the UK’s political system. (30)
Ideology
● Evaluate the statement that ‘all the main parties in the UK are fundamentally
liberal’ (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which the Conservative party has remain committed to
its traditional principles (30) (Could also same question of Labour party)

Similarities/ differences
● Evaluate the extent to which the main political parties disagree over policies
and ideas (30)
● Evaluate the extent of the internal divisions within the UK’s current political
parties. (30)

Electoral systems

Referendums
● Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought
more disadvantages than advantages. [30] - 2023
● Evaluate the use of referendums in the UK (30)
● Evaluate how far the use of referendums undermines representative
democracy in the UK (30)
● Evaluate the view that the use of referendums in the UK should be increased
(30)

Replacing FPTP
● Evaluate the view -with specific reference to at least one devolved region
using an alternative electoral system - that the case for PR to replace the
Westminster FPTP voting system has now been established. [30] - 2022
● Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means
that the Westminster electoral system must be changed. (30) - [2021]
 ● Evaluate whether the performance of various electoral systems used in the
UK at present has made the case for replacing the first past the post system
for Westminster elections (30) - Adapted from 2018 AS paper
● Evaluate the view that FPTP is the most effective electoral system for
promoting representative democracy in the UK (30)

Party representation
● Evaluate the view that the various electoral systems in use in the UK make
significant differences to party representation (30) [2020]

Alternative voting systems

● Evaluate the extent to which the use of alternative electoral systems has
improved democracy in the UK (30)

Voting behaviour and the media

1997 general election

● Evaluate the view that in the 1997 election the election was lost by the
governing party rather than being won by the Labour opposition [30] - 2023

The media
● Evaluate the view that it is the media not pressure groups that have a greater
influence on governments [30] - 2022 Note: This is a question covering two
topics. Both ought to be discussed throughout the essay.
● Evaluate the view that the influence of the media in politics is exaggerated; it
is not heavily biased and has little power of persuasion. (30) - [2021]
● Evaluate the claim that support from the media is the most important factor
for a political party to achieve success (30) - Adapted from 2018 AS paper
Opinion Polls
● Evaluate the view that opinion polls bring more advantages than
disadvantages to elections and referendums. (30) - [2021]

Factors affecting voting behaviour

● Evaluate the relative importance of different demographic factors in voting
behaviour (30)
● Evaluate the importance of class in voting behaviour
● Evaluate the extent to which the image of the party leader is the most
significant factor in determining the result of a general election (30)
● Evaluate how far class remains the most important factor in determining the
results of general elections in the UK. (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which voting behaviour has changed in the UK. You
should refer to at least three general elections. (30)

Component 2
The constitution

Codification
● Evaluate the view that the UK now needs and entrenched and codified
constitution. [30] - 2023
● Evaluate the arguments in favour of the codification of the UK’s constitution.
(30)

Devolution
● Evaluate the view that devolution has created more problems than it has
solved [30] - 2022
 ● Evaluate the view that devolution has been good for Wales and Scotland but
not for England and Northern Ireland. (30) - [2021]
● Evaluate the extent to which devolution has caused more problems than it
has resolved. (30)

Further constitutional change

● Evaluate the view that the UK’s constitution requires major change (30)

Constitutional change since 1997

● Evaluate the effectiveness of constitutional reform since 1997 (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which constitutional reforms introduced since 1997
have been successful in achieving their objectives (30)

Parliament

Legislating/ scrutiny
● Evaluate the view that Parliament is largely ineffective in shaping
government legislation.[30] - 2022

Representation
● Evaluate the extent to which the House of Commons/ Lords effectively fulfils
its representative function (could choose either house) (30)

Functions
● Evaluate the view that that when it comes to fulfilling their respective
functions, the House of Lords can be seen as more successful than the House
of Commons [30] - 2023
 ● Evaluate the view that the principle role of backbench MPs is now to hold the
government to account (30) - note how the word ‘now’ is a limiting factor.
Has this changed?
● Evaluate the effectiveness of backbench MPs (30)

House of Lords
● Evaluate the view that the roles and membership of the House of Lords
require reform.(30) - [2021]
● Evaluate the arguments in favour of an elected second chamber (30)

House of Lords V House of Commons

● Evaluate the view that although the House of Lords has less power than the
House of Commons, in practice it exerts more influence on governmental
decisions. (30) [2019]

Parliament V Government
● Evaluate the claim that Parliament is able to sufficiently limit the power of the
prime minister (30) - adapted from 2018 AS paper
● Evaluate the extent to which Parliament is able to effectively scrutinise the
work of government (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which backbenchers in the House of Commons play a
significant political role (30)
● Evaluate the view that since 2010 the executive has dominated Parliament.
(30) - [2021]
● Evaluate the extent to which the executive has become less powerful in
relation to parliament in recent years (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which the Westminster Parliament has become more
effective in holding the government accountable. (30)

Parliamentary Sovereignty
● Evaluate the extent to which Parliament remains sovereign. (30)
 PM and the executive

PM dominance
● Evaluate the view that power lies mainly with the Prime Minister rather than
the Cabinet [30] - 2023
● Using information about at least three holders of the office, evaluate the
Prime Minister's dominance of the UK’s political system. (30)

Presidentialism
● Evaluate the view that the prime minister is now a president in all but name
(30)

Ministerial responsibility
● Evaluate the view that the concepts of individual ministerial responsibility
and collective ministerial responsibility are both still important [30] - 2022

The Cabinet
● Evaluate the view that the cabinet plays an insignificant role in British politics
(30)
● Evaluate the view that a prime minister’s main priority when selecting a
cabinet is to advance his or her political allies (30)

Executive power
● Evaluate how far the power of the executive has been undermined by
constitutional reforms since 1997 (30) Note: this question has a limitation;
constitutional reforms!
 Institutional relationships

Commons relationship to executive

● Evaluate the view that select committees are the most effective way for the
House of Commons to hold the Executive to account. [30] - 2023

Lords relationship to executive

● Evaluate the extent to which the House of Lords is the only effective check on
the power of the PM
● Evaluate the extent to which the House of Lords is ineffective at checking the
power of the Prime Minister

Supreme Court relationship to other branches

● Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court has strengthened parliamentary
sovereignty.(30) -[2021]
● Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court has too much influence over the
executive (2020)

Supreme Court power (if you plan the previous questions you’ll have the answer
to this one already)
● Evaluate the ability of the supreme court to control the power of the UK
government (30)
● Evaluate how far the judiciary is the right body to protect civil liberties in the
UK. (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which the Supreme Court is important in limiting the
power of the executive / Legislature (30) - the exam board could ask either
one or the other.
● Evaluate the effectiveness of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
in checking the power of the UK’s executive (30)
Neutrality & independence
● Evaluate the view that the Supreme Court operates with sufficient judicial
independence and neutrality. [30] - 2022

The EU
● Evaluate the view that membership of the EU undermined Parliamentary
Sovereignty (30) [2019]
● Evaluate the impact of the EU on the UK (30)
● Evaluate the extent to which the European Union’s influence on the UK has
been more positive than negative (30)