A2 US Politics - Unit 3

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Unit 3 GOV3A - The Politics of the USA ...

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FIRST LESSON- Students to hand in their Holiday work and explain/ present their podcasts.

An introduction to the US Constitution - Print off this PDF Print File and take to class.

Prior to delivery of this section students must produce read and precis Chapter 3 of ‘US Government and Politics’ by A J Bennett.
Other resources: ‘American Politics and Society’ David McKay, ‘A2 US and Comparative Government and Politics – Question and Answer guide’ Paul Fairclough, Paul Fairclough lecture notes. Take your notes to class - they will be checked before the lecture.

Students will need to obtain the 'Politics Review' articles from the Library - read and precis before the lesson.

US3-1a - US Political Parties [PowerPoint] & [PDF Print File]

US3-1b - Democratic chameleons target bible belt - The Guardian - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-1c - Identities [PowerPoint] & [PDF Print File]

US3-1d - IdentitiesPodcast

US3-1e - Lieberman loses Senate candidacy to anti-war rival - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-1f - Vermont posed to elect first socialist senator - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-1g - Running against the big shots - Time Magazine - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-1h - US embraces politics online + US Democrats YouTube debate - Read/Precis

US3-1i - Visit http://flhspatterson.pbworks.com/f/politicalparties%5B1%5D.htm and produce a timeline of the significant events of the two main parties in the USA,

US3-1j - Minor parties in the US - Politics Review Nov 2003 - Visit Library to Find/Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-1k - Left or right? What the left and the right stand for - research of David McCandlass

* iMINDMAP ACTIVITY * Students should produce, for the next lesson, an iMindmap that explains the 'US Political Parties and what they stand for'. These should be printed off and taken to class. You should also take an electronic copy of your iMindmap on a pen drive so that you can deliver/explain your MindMap to the class.

US3-1 - Mini-Mock Exam

Learning skills used: R&P, E&R, CT, CP, LD and some basic LA.

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Prior to delivery of this section students must produce read and precis notes on Chapter 4 of 'US Government & Politics' (written by Anthony J Bennett). Take your notes to class - they will be checked before the lecture.

US3-2a - Pressure Groups in the USA [PowerPoint] & [PDF Print File]

BBC Podcast - Even President Obama fears certain pressure groups. Discuss.

US3-2b - Bush backs bar on gay marriage - The Guardian - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-2c - 'Pressure Groups and PACs in the USA' - Politics Review, February 2001

US3-2d - Wal-Mart wakes up to gay rights - The Guardian - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-2e - Bush's bitter medicine - The Guardian - Read/Precis/Discuss

US3-2 - Mini-Mock Exam

Learning skills used: R&P, E&R, CT, CP, LD and some basic LA.

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Prior to delivery of this section students must produce read and precis notes on Chapter 2 of 'US Government & Politics' (pages 36-81 & 108-113) (written by Anthony J Bennett). Take your notes to class - they will be checked before the lecture.

US3-3a - US Elections and the Constitution [PowerPoint] & [PDF Print File]

US3-3b - 'The US elections of 2004' Politics Review, February 2005 - Read, precis, and discuss

US3-3c - '2004 Presidential Primaries' Politics Review, November 2004 - Read, precis and discuss

US3-3d - 'Democrats take power' - Read, precis, and discuss

US3-3d - Clinton's legacy for women - Read, precis, and discuss

US3-3e - 'Financing American Elections' - article by Alan Grant - show read/precis notes & discuss.

US3-3f - The Internet is the key to Obama Victories - Read, precis, and discuss

US3-3g - Cross burning - a sign of free speech or race hate? Discuss this issue

US3-3 - Mini-Mock Exam

Learning skills used: R&P, E&R, CT, CP, LD and some basic LA.

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Prior to delivery of this section students must produce read and precis notes on pages 81-108 of 'US Government & Politics' (written by Anthony J Bennett). . Take your notes to class - they will be checked before the lecture.

US3-4a - US Voting Behaviour - [PowerPoint] & [PDF Print File]

US3-4b - 'The black vote in American politics' - Politics Review, November 2001

US3-4c - Minority Pressure Groups and Key issues - Show read & precis notes and Discuss

US3-4d - US Presidential Voting Behaviour.Pdf

US3-4e - Mini-Mock Exam

Learning skills used: R&P, E&R, CT, CP, LD and some basic LA.

* iMINDMAP ACTIVITY * Students should produce, for the next lesson, an iMindmap that explains the 'US voting behaviour'. These should be printed off and taken to class. You should also take an electronic copy of your iMindmap on a pen drive so that you can deliver/explain your MindMap to the class.

Student presentations!
In pairs, students must research and present one of the following subjects; US Parties, US Pressure Groups, US Elections, Do US citizens vote for the party or the individual? Your presentation must reference a range of data sources and authorities on your chosen topic. It must also show previous exam questions on this topic with plans on how to answer those questions. Your presentation is expected to employ either PowerPoint or iMindMap software.

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Revision will consist of the completion of past examination papers in examination conditions. It is vital that students revise over the Easter vacation.

Student should make use of exam questions from the EssayBank

For copies of past AQA Government & Politics examination papers/mark schemes see - http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gceasa/gov_assess.php

For details of the AQA specifications see: http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/govt_politics_new.php

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