a level politics us constitution essay

US Constitution

The us constitution: overview.

• The US Constitution , adopted in 1787 and effective from 1789, is a written and codified document that serves as the supreme law of the United States.
• The Constitution outlines the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of the U.S. government & separation of powers among three branches - the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branch .
• It fundamentally shaped the country’s political system, giving birth to a federal system of government.

Body of the US Constitution

• The Constitution consists of a preamble , seven main parts called ‘articles’ , and twenty-seven amendments .
• Article I establishes the legislative branch , with a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• Article II creates the executive branch , led by the President, and outlines the powers and responsibilities of the office.
• Article III lays the foundation for the judicial branch , creating the Supreme Court and allowing Congress to establish lower federal courts.

Amendments to the US Constitution

• The U.S. Constitution has undergone 27 amendments ; the first 10 are collectively known as the Bill of Rights .
• The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition.
• The Second Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.
• The 19th amendment guaranteed women’s suffrage - the right of women to vote.

Checks and Balances

• The concept of ‘checks and balances’ is a significant principle in the US Constitution - This system enforces the separation of powers among the branches and prevents any single branch from becoming too powerful.
• For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers. The Supreme Court can strike down laws deemed unconstitutional, and the President appoints Supreme Court justices.
• Critics argue this system of checks and balances often leads to legislative gridlock, while proponents see it as a necessary safeguard.

The Constitution and Federalism

• The concept of ‘federalism’ is central to the constitution: half-federal, half-national setup , where the states and the national government shares authorities.
• The Tenth Amendment defines the balance of powers between the federal government and the states. The amendment says the federal government has only those powers specifically granted by the Constitution, and the reserved powers are given to the states.
• This delicate balance has been a matter of constant debate, conflict, and negotiation since the Constitution’s inception.

Nature of the US Constitution

Codified constitution.

The US constitution is the basis of all government in the USA and the supreme law of the land.

• The constitution is codified, meaning that it is all written in a single document.
• This document was created by a group of men now known as the ‘Founding Fathers’ during the War of Independence from Britain.
• It was ratified in 1788 and came into force in 1789.

• It consists of 7 articles and 27 amendments.
• The first 10 amendments, ratified in 1791 are known as the Bill of Rights.

Entrenched Constitution

Entrenched constitution

• The US constitution is entrenched - so it cannot be changed without a supermajority (2/3rds of votes in Congress).

• Article V entrenches the US constitution, requiring a supermajority to change amendments or a ¾ majority in a ratifying convention of the states.

The Bill of Rights

• These are protected by the Constitution, and cannot be changed on a legislative whim.

By nature of its age, and being codified and entrenched the US Constitution can be vague.

• Constitution scholars refer to the constitution containing enumerated powers and implied powers.
• Enumerated powers are powers that are explicitly given to each branch of government.
• Implied powers are those that are just suggested or are required for enumerated powers to be used.
• Implied powers give the Constitution vagueness - they allow Congress the freedom to make necessary laws and to use powers that the founders had not thought of.

Enumerated powers

• Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution sets out the enumerated powers of Congress.
• These include the power to tax citizens and spend this money, and the power to issue a currency.

Implied powers

• Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 gives Congress implied powers, giving it the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for its ability to rule.
• For example, an implied power of Congress is that of the regulation of the sale of substances, and the banning of the sale of other substances (such as some drugs).

1 Democracy & Participation

1.1 Representative & Direct Democracy

1.1.1 Direct Democracy

1.1.2 Pros & Cons of Direct Democracy

1.1.3 Representative Democracy

1.1.4 Pros & Cons of Representative Democracy

1.1.5 Comparing Types of Democracy

1.1.6 Case for Democratic Reform

1.1.7 End of Topic Test - Types of Democracy

1.1.8 Top Grade AO3/4 - Types of Democracy

1.2 Wider Franchise & Suffrage

1.2.1 History of the UK Franchise

1.2.2 Campaigns for Suffrage

1.2.3 End of Topic Test - Franchise & Suffrage

1.3 Pressure Groups & Other Influences

1.3.1 Types of Pressure Group

1.3.2 Functions of Pressure Groups

1.3.3 How Pressure Groups Influence

1.3.4 Case-Study Examples

1.3.5 Other Collective Orgs & Groups

1.3.6 End of Topic Test - Pressure Groups & Influences

1.3.7 Application Questions - Pressure Groups

1.4 Rights in Context

1.4.1 Development of Rights in the UK

1.4.2 The UK's Rights-Based Culture

1.4.3 End of Topic Test - Rights in Context

2 Political Parties

2.1 How Political Parties Work

2.1.1 Functions & Features of UK Political Parties

2.1.2 Funding of UK Political Parties

2.1.3 UK Funding Reform

2.1.4 End of Topic Test - Political Parties

2.1.5 Top Grade AO3/4 - Political Parties

2.2 Established Political Parties

2.2.1 The Conservative Party: History

2.2.2 The Conservative Party: Recent Leaders

2.2.3 The Labour Party

2.2.4 The Liberal Democrat Party

2.2.5 Ideas & Policies of UK Parties

2.2.6 End of Topic Test - Established Parties

2.2.7 Application Questions - Established Parties

2.3 Emerging & Minor Political Parties

2.3.1 Minority Parties

2.3.2 Minority Parties Case Studies

2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Minor Parties

2.4 UK Political Parties in Context

2.4.1 Different Party Systems

2.4.2 Political Spectrum

2.4.3 Factors Affecting Party Success

2.4.4 End of Topic Test - Parties in Context

2.4.5 Application Questions - Parties in Context

3 Electoral Systems

3.1 Different Electoral Systems

3.1.1 FPTP & STV

3.1.2 AMS & SV

3.1.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral Systems

3.1.4 Top Grade AO3/4 - Electoral Systems

3.2 Referendums & How They Are Used

3.2.1 Case For & Against Referendums

3.2.2 End of Topic Test - Referendums

3.2.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Referendums

3.3 Electoral System Analysis

3.3.1 Electoral System Analysis

3.3.2 End of Topic Test - System Analysis

3.3.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Electoral System Analysis

4 Voting Behaviour & the Media

4.1 General Election Case Studies

4.1.1 Case Studies of Elections

4.1.2 Factors Influencing Voting in Elections

4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Case Studies & Factors

4.1.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - Case Studies & Voting

4.2 Media Influence

4.2.1 Media Influence

4.2.2 End of Topic Test - Media Influence

5 Conservatism

5.1 Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles

5.1.1 Pragmatism & Tradition

5.1.2 Human Imperfection & Organic Society/State

5.1.3 Authority & Hierarchy

5.1.4 Paternalism

5.1.5 Empiricism

5.1.6 Anti-Permissiveness

5.1.7 Radical Conservative Ideas

5.1.8 End of Topic Test - Core Conservatism

5.2 Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions

5.2.1 Traditional Conservatism

5.2.2 One-Nation Conservatism

5.2.3 New Right Conservatism

5.2.4 End of Topic Test - Different Views

5.3 Conservative Thinkers & Ideas

5.3.1 Thomas Hobbes & Edmund Burke

5.3.2 Michael Oakeshott & Ayn Rand

5.3.3 Robert Nozick

5.3.4 End of Topic Test - Conservative Thinkers

5.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Conservatism

6 Liberalism

6.1 Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles

6.1.1 Individualism & Freedom/Liberty

6.1.2 The State & Rationalism

6.1.3 Equality & Social Justice

6.1.4 Liberal Democracy

6.1.5 Other Important Liberal Ideas

6.1.6 End of Topic Test - Liberalism

6.2 Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism

6.2.1 Classical Liberalism

6.2.2 Modern Liberalism

6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Tensions & Views

6.3 Liberal Thinkers & Ideas

6.3.1 John Locke & Mary Wollstonecraft

6.3.2 John Stuart Mill & John Rawls

6.3.3 Betty Friedan

6.3.4 End of Topic Test - Thinkers & Ideas

6.3.5 A-A* - Liberalism

7 Socialism

7.1 Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles

7.1.1 Fraternity & Co-operation

7.1.2 Capitalism & Common Ownership

7.1.3 Communism

7.1.4 Collectivism

7.1.5 Common Humanity

7.1.6 Equality

7.1.7 Social Class & Workers' Control

7.1.8 End of Topic Test - Socialism

7.2 Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism

7.2.1 Differing Views And Tensions

7.2.2 End of Topic Test - Views & Tensions

7.3 Socialist Thinkers and Their Ideas

7.3.1 Socialist Thinkers: Marx & Engels

7.3.2 Socialist Thinkers: Webb & Luxemburg

7.3.3 Socialist Thinkers: Crosland and Giddens

7.3.4 End of Topic Test - Thinkers & Ideas

7.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Socialism

8 The UK Constitution

8.1 Nature & Sources of UK Constitution

8.1.1 Development of the UK Constitution

8.1.2 Nature of the UK Constitution

8.1.3 Sources of the UK Constitution

8.1.4 End of Topic Test - Nature & Sources

8.2 Constitutional Change since 1997

8.2.1 Constitutional Reform 1997-2010 1

8.2.2 Constitutional Reform 1997-2010 2

8.2.3 Constitutional Reform 2010-15 & Reforms Since 2015

8.2.4 End of Topic Test - Reform

8.2.5 Application Questions - Reform

8.3 Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies

8.3.1 Devolution in England & Scotland

8.3.2 Devolution in Wales & Northern Ireland

8.3.3 End of Topic Test - Devolution

8.4 Debates on Constitutional Reform

8.4.1 Constitutional Reform & Devolution

8.4.2 Should the Constitution Be Codified?

8.4.3 End of Topic Test - Reform Debates

8.4.4 Application Questions - Codification & Devolution

9 The UK Parliament

9.1 Houses of Parliament

9.1.1 Houses of Parliament

9.1.2 Functions of the House of Commons

9.1.3 Functions of the House of Lords

9.1.4 End of Topic Test - Parliament

9.1.5 Top Grade AO3/4 - Parliament

9.2 Comparative Powers

9.2.1 Comparative Powers of the Houses

9.2.2 End of Topic Test - Comparative Powers

9.3 Legislative Process

9.3.1 Legislative Stages

9.3.2 Law-Making in the two Houses

9.3.3 End of Topic Test - Legislative Process

9.4 Parliament & Executive Interactions

9.4.1 Backbenchers

9.4.2 Select Committees

9.4.3 The Opposition

9.4.4 Ministerial Question Time

9.4.5 End of Topic Test - Parliament & Executive

9.4.6 Application Questions - Parliament & Executive

10 The Prime Minister & the Executive

10.1 The Executive

10.1.1 Structure of the Executive

10.1.2 Roles of the Executive

10.1.3 Powers of the Executive

10.1.4 End of Topic Test - PM & Executive

10.2 Ministerial Responsibility

10.2.1 Individual Ministerial Responsibility

10.2.2 Collective Ministerial Responsibility

10.2.3 End of Topic Test - Ministerial Responsibility

10.3 Prime Minister & the Cabinet

10.3.1 Role of the Prime Minister

10.3.2 Prime Minister's Powers

10.3.3 Limits on the Prime Minister's Powers

10.3.4 Role of the Cabinet

10.3.5 Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations

10.3.6 Prime Minister & Cabinet: Balance of Power

10.3.7 Prime Minister & Cabinet: Case Studies

10.3.8 End of Topic Test - PM & Cabinet

10.3.9 Top Grade AO3/4 - PM & Cabinet

11 Relationships Between Government Branches

11.1 The Supreme Court

11.1.1 Role & Composition

11.1.2 Principles & Influence of the Supreme Court

11.1.3 End of Topic Test - Supreme Court

11.2 Parliament & Executive Relations

11.2.1 Parliament & Executive: Questions

11.2.2 Parliament & Executive: Committees

11.2.3 Parliament & Executive: Voting

11.2.4 Executive Dominance Over Parliament

11.2.5 Balance of Power

11.2.6 End of Topic Test - Parliament & Executive

11.2.7 A-A* (AO3/4) - Relationships Between Government

11.3 The European Union & the UK

11.3.1 Aims & Policy Making of the European Union

11.3.2 End of Topic Test - EU & UK

11.4 Sovereignty in the UK Political System

11.4.1 Sovereignty in the UK Political System

11.4.2 End of Topic Test - Sovereignty

12 US Constitution & Federalism

12.1 Nature of the US Constitution

12.1.1 Nature of the US Constitution

12.1.2 Nature: Positives & Negatives

12.1.3 Constitutional Framework

12.1.4 The Amendment Process

12.1.5 End of Topic Test - Nature US Constitution

12.2 Principles of the US Constitution

12.2.1 Federalism

12.2.2 Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances

12.2.3 Bipartisanship

12.2.4 Limited Government

12.2.5 End of Topic Test - Constitutional Principles

12.3 Federalism

12.3.1 Main Characteristics

12.3.2 Federal Government and the States

12.3.3 End of Topic Test - Federalism

12.4 Interpretations & Debates

12.4.1 Democracy in the Constitution

12.4.2 Federalism

12.4.3 End of Topic Test - Debates

12.4.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - US Constitution

13 US Congress

13.1 Structure of Congress

13.1.1 Structure of Congress

13.1.2 Distribution of Powers

13.1.3 End of Topic Test - Congress Structure

13.2 Functions of Congress

13.2.1 Representation

13.2.2 Legislative

13.2.3 Oversight

13.2.4 End of Topic Test - Functions of Congress

13.3 Interpretations & Debates

13.3.1 Changing Roles & Powers

13.3.2 Changing Significance of Parties & of Powers

13.3.3 End of Topic Test - Debates

13.3.4 Application Questions - US Congress

14 US Presidency

14.1 Presidential Power

14.1.1 Formal Sources of Presidential Power

14.1.2 Informal Sources of Presidential Power

14.1.3 Powers of Persuasion

14.1.4 End of Topic Test - Presidential Power

14.2 The Presidency

14.2.1 President Relationship with Other Institutions

14.2.2 Limitations on Presidential Power

14.2.3 US Presidents Achieving Their Aims

14.2.4 End of Topic Test - Presidency

14.3 Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency

14.3.1 The Imperial Presidency

14.3.2 The President in Foreign Policy

14.3.3 End of Topic Test - Debates

14.3.4 A-A* (AO3/4) - US Presidency

15 US Supreme Court & Civil Rights

15.1 Nature & Role of Supreme Court

15.1.1 Nature & Role of the Supreme Court

15.1.2 End of Topic Test - Nature & Role

15.2 Supreme Court Appointment Process

15.2.1 Appointment Process

15.2.2 Supreme Court Membership

15.2.3 End of Topic Test - Appointments

15.3 The Supreme Court & Public Policy

15.3.1 Supreme Court & Public Policy

15.3.2 End of Topic Test - Public Policy

15.4 Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights

15.4.1 Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights

15.4.2 Race & Rights in Contemporary US Politics

15.4.3 End of Topic Test - Rights & Liberties

15.5 Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court

15.5.1 Political Nature of the Supreme Court

15.5.2 Judicial Interpretation

15.5.3 Supreme Court Checks & Balances

15.5.4 End of Topic Test - Debates

15.5.5 Application Questions - The Supreme Court

16 US Democracy & Participation

16.1 Presidential Elections

16.1.1 Presidential Elections

16.1.2 Primaries

16.1.3 National Party Conventions

16.1.4 End of Topic Test - Presidential Elections

16.2 Electoral College

16.2.1 Electoral College System

16.2.2 Reforms

16.2.3 End of Topic Test - Electoral College

16.3 Electoral Campaigns

16.3.1 Issues in Elections

16.3.2 End of Topic Test - Campaigns

16.4 Incumbency

16.4.1 Elections & Incumbency

16.4.2 End of Topic Test - Incumbency

16.4.3 A-A* (AO3/4) - Elections & Electoral College

16.5 Democrats & Republicans

16.5.1 National & State Level Organisation

16.5.2 Democratic & Republican Policies

16.5.3 Changing Party Significance

16.5.4 End of Topic Test - Democrats & Republicans

16.6 Internal Conflict & Ideology

16.6.1 Types of Democrats

16.6.2 Types of Republicans

16.6.3 End of Topic Test - Internal Conflict

16.7 Support & Demographics

16.7.1 Coalition of Supporters

16.7.2 End of Topic Test - Party Support

16.8 Interest Groups

16.8.1 Political Significance of Interest Groups

16.8.2 Interest Group Influence & Impact on Democracy

16.8.3 End of Topic Test - Interest Groups

16.8.4 Application Questions - Parties, Ideology & Groups

17 Comparing Democracies

17.1 Theoretical Approaches

17.1.1 Theoretical Approaches

17.1.2 End of Topic Test - Approaches

17.2 UK & USA Similarities & Differences

17.2.1 Constitution: Nature

17.2.2 Constitution: Provisions & Principles

17.2.3 Federal System & Devolution

17.2.4 Legislative: Lower Houses of Government

17.2.5 Legislative: Upper Houses of Government

17.2.6 Legislative: Powers & Functions

17.2.7 Executive

17.2.8 Supreme Court

17.2.9 Supreme Court: Judicial Independence

17.2.10 Civil Rights

17.2.11 Civil Rights: Interest Groups

17.2.12 Party Systems & Parties

17.2.13 Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups

17.2.14 End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US

17.2.15 Application Questions - UK & USA

18 Feminism

18.1 Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles

18.1.1 Context of Feminism

18.1.2 Sex & Gender

18.1.3 Patriarchy & The Personal is the Political

18.1.4 Difference, Egalitarian & Intersectionality

18.1.5 Key Themes

18.1.6 End of Topic Test - Core Ideas & Principles

18.2 Different Types of Feminism

18.2.1 The Waves of Feminism

18.2.2 Socialist & Radical Feminism

18.2.3 Post-Modern Feminism

18.2.4 End of Topic Test - Different Types of Feminism

18.3 Feminist Thinkers & Their Ideas

18.3.1 Charlotte Gilman & Simone de Beauvoir

18.3.2 Kate Millett

18.3.3 Sheila Rowbotham & bell hooks

18.3.4 End of Topic Test - Feminist Thinkers & Ideas

18.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Feminism

19 Nationalism

19.1 Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles

19.1.1 Nations & Self-Determination

19.1.2 Nation-States & Culturalism

19.1.3 Racialism & Internationalism

19.1.4 Civic & Ethnic Nationalism

19.1.5 Liberal & Socialist Internationalism

19.1.6 Key Themes

19.1.7 End of Topic Test - Core Ideas & Principles

19.2 Different Types of Nationalism

19.2.1 Liberal & Conservative Nationalism

19.2.2 Post-Colonial & Expansionist Nationalism

19.2.3 Progressive & Regressive Nationalism

19.2.4 Inclusive & Exclusive Nationalism

19.2.5 End of Topic Test -Different Types of Nationalism

19.3 Nationalist Thinkers & Their Ideas

19.3.1 Jean-Jacques Rousseau & Gottfried von Herder

19.3.2 Giuseppe Mazzini & Charles Maurras

19.3.3 Marcus Garvey

19.3.4 End of Topic Test - Nationalist Thinkers & Ideas

19.3.5 A-A* (AO3/4) - Nationalism

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End of Topic Test - Sovereignty

Nature: Positives & Negatives

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Government & Politics of the USA - US Constitution & Federalism

Last updated 2 Jun 2017

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These study notes cover a range of core topics for US Politics and are designed to support A Level Politics students in particular. Don't forget to follow the tutor2u Politics team on Twitter for the latest updates on US Politics relevant to the summer exams.

The US Constitution

Teaching PowerPoints

Articles of the Constitution

Study Notes

Codified Constitution

Checks and balances, entrenched rights, limited government, separation of powers, liberalism (us), partisanship, supreme court and the constitution, constitutional interpretation, strengths and weaknesses of the us constitution, the impact of the us constitution today, is the us a federal nation, challenging dahl's undemocratic elements, dahl's seven undemocratic elements, federalism under obama, federalism under bush, cooperative federalism 1930s-1970s, dual federalism 1790-1920, our subjects.

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US POLITICS ESSAY PLANS: CHAPTER 1 (A Level Politics)

Subject: Government and politics

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

15 January 2020

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Government and Politics of the USA FULL, DETAILED essay plans!! Essay plans covering all of the content in Chapter 1, ‘US Constitution and Federalism’ (Edexcel Politics A-Level) Revise all essay plan content to know all you need for the exams!

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The structure & nature of the US Constitution

Learning objectives on this page.

Its structure.

How it is entrenched.

How powers are divided between the branches of government

The elasticity of the constitution-implied and elastic powers

How it is amended

The advantages and disadvantages of the amendment process

The nature of the Constitution has three key characteristics.

It is a codified constitution.

Its provisions are entrenched.

It is a blend of specificity and vagueness.

How the constitution was written

In the summer of 1787 the US Constitution was written in Philadelphia and ratified by the colonies in 1790, bringing the 13 separate colonies together into a new country: the United States of America.

How the Constitution was written -link to the historical events.

Republicanism (sovereignty with the people ie not monarchs) was the basis of the system of government, but popular sovereignty was limited since democracy was seen as dangerous and prone to the tyranny of the majority .

The structure of the Constitution

The original Constitution contains seven articles .

· Article 1 — Despite the misgivings of the federalists about the power of state legislatures, it was inevitable that the legislature, as the representative body of the people, would have to be pre-eminent. Hence it was accorded the status of Article 1 , but its powers were precisely defined, to ensure as far as possible that it did not pose a threat to the entire system.

· Article 2 — An effective executive branch was seen as vital if the federal government was to succeed and, within the constraints of a constitutional republic, it posed much less of a threat of tyranny than an English monarch, with the consequence that the powers of the office needed to be less closely defined than those of Congress.

· Article 3 — The judicial branch was famously described by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 78 as 'the least dangerous' branch, and its power was accordingly even more vaguely defined than the executive's.

· Article 4 — sets out the relationship between the states to make them more a united whole, and less like independent countries.

· Article 5 — sets out the process for amending the constitution.

· Article 6 — confirmed that any state debt already incurred remained valid under the new constitution, and asserted that the constitution and the laws of the United States 'shall be the supreme Law of the Land'. Link to Article 6 explained

· Article 7 — describes the process of ratification.

Beyond this, the Constitution has only 27 changes, known as amendments. Most of these amendments can be seen as additions to the Constitution, creating new rules or requirements.

The Bill of Rights

Follow this link for: Bill of rights explained

The Bill of Rights is made up of the first ten amendments of the US Constitution. They were all passed in 1791, shortly after the Constitution was created.

A bill of rights is usually seen as a method of protecting the rights of the individual against government power. However, the US Bill of Rights also focuses on protecting the power of the states and individuals from the federal government. It's not until the 14th Amendent that these rights protect citizens from state governments. Several colonies were reluctant to join the newly created USA and a discussion of new provisions helped to reduce state concerns regarding the power of a new central government

The Constitution contains the Enumeration of Powers. (listing or expressing)

Powers are divided and. shared.

Article 1 of the constitution

Powers held by Congress

· Collection of taxes and duties, which provide for the debts of the United States, as well as for the common defence and welfare of the country.

· Borrowing money on behalf of the United States.

· Regulation of commerce, both on the international and interstate levels. This also includes Native American tribes.

· Establishing currency and coin money and fixing common weights and measures.

· Establishing post offices.

· Provision for and maintenance of an army and navy.

· Organising, training and arming a militia.

· Exclusive powers to legislative matters of the country.

· Establishing courts that are subordinate to the Supreme Court.

- Declaration of war.

· Amendment of the Constitution (shared with states).

· 16th amendment allows Congress to raise income tax.

· , A number of other powers are clearly laid out in the Constitution but are given to one of the two chambers only. e.g only the Senate approves presidential appointments to the executive and legislature.

Powers held by the president

· Heads the executive branch.

· Nominates cabinet members, ambassadors and the judiciary. (approved by the Senate)

· Proposes measures to Congress. Most importantly new laws 'by request'

. Vetoes legislation. (although the word veto is not used)

· Grants pardons.

Powers held by the Courts

· Rule on cases arising under the Constitution, the Laws of the United States, or Treaties. Note - no mention of Judicial Review!

The Constitution is Codified

The US Constitution is codified, meaning that it is written in one document an Entrenched which means it is protected from change by law and an amendment process which is more difficult to achieve than passing statute laws. One way to understand what the word ‘entrenchment’ means is to remember its non-political meaning. In war time, an entrenchment meant a military force in trenches (hence the word) or other fortified positions so as to protect against enemy attack. So when we say that various governmental or political provisions are entrenched, it means that they are protected from being easily changed or abolished.

When the UK and US constitutions are compared it is commonly stated that the US constitution id rigid and the UK constitution is flexible- ie the UK constitution can be changed by a statute law whereas the US constitution requires a formal and very difficult amendment process. BUT this leads to two important questions:

How flexible is the US Constitution really?

Is the constitution too rigid.

However, the Founding Fathers knew that there would need to be some mechanism for changing the Constitution to meet the changing needs of society - an amendment process (see film below)- and this is outlined in-article V.

The Amendment Process (click on this link to find out how the constitution is amended and proposed amendments which have failed)

Link to advantages and disadvantages of the amendment process, a blend of specificity and vagueness.

The constitution is ' the first, shortest and longest lasting constitution'

Because it is such a brief document-one of it most important qualities is its 'Vagueness'

Given that the Constitution is the main guide for US politics, it is surprisingly short. There are many clearly enumerated powers, but the Constitution is often unclear. This is partly because it is a compromise between Founding Fathers who sometimes disagreed, and partly because there was a deliberate decision to allow room for the Constitution to evolve

Therefore not everything in the Constitution is cut and dried. There are specific powers (expressed powers) and implied powers — powers of the federal government that the Constitution does not explicitly mention, but that are reasonably implied from the delegated (given) powers. Many implied powers have been found in the Constitution - powers that are not expressly written down in the Constitution but are needed to perform an enumerated power or are suggested by the wording. So, for example, the power to raise and army is clearly expressed but this implies the power to draft people in to the army. Congress was also given the power to ‘ provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States ’. From this was implied that Congress had the power to levy and collect taxes to provide for the defence of the United States.

Many of the implied powers are deduced from what is called the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8. This is often referred to as the ‘ elastic clause ’ of the Constitution because, by it, the powers of the federal government can be stretched beyond the specifically delegated or enumerated powers. So in this sense, although some parts of the Constitution are very explicit, there are other parts where it is very vague and the Constitution has therefore been able to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances of the nation. Much of this adaptation has been done by the Supreme Court.

We have seen, therefore, that the Constitution delegated certain powers to the federal government alone. The Constitution also includes what we call reserved powers — that is, powers that are reserved to the states alone or to the people. This provision is found in the Tenth Amendment added to the original Constitution in 1791. This again limits the power of the federal government by stating that all the powers not delegated to the federal government, or prohibited to the states, ‘are reserved to the States, or to the people’. Then there are also the concurrent powers of the Constitution — those powers shared by the federal and state governments, such as collecting taxes, building roads and maintaining courts.

However, this lack of clarity means there is often significant disagreement over its meaning.

Implied powers and the elastic clauses

Click this link for Implied powers explained

The 'necessary and proper' or elastic clause

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution it states that Congress has the power 'to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers'. This clause is also known as the ' elastic' clause because it allows Congress to stretch its powers. It has been a source of great controversy, being used to justify major expansion of the power of federal government. In McCulloch v Maryland 1819, the Supreme Court tested the necessary and proper clause and ruled that Congress has the power to create a national bank, even though the right to create a bank is not explicitly stated in the Constitution. It gave a broad interpretation using implied powers to allow Congress to act. The interstate commerce clause is often described as elastic because of the way in which it has been used to justify the expansion of federal power.

Another 'elastic clause is the Commerce Clause Article 1 section 8- This has been used to justify the government's power to regulate much of the economy.

Is the vagueness of the constitution a good thing?

This vagueness could be seen as a considerable advantage. it has arguably allowed the Constitution to survive for such a long time as its meaning can be adapted without the need for formal amendments. A more detailed Constitution would perhaps have been harder to apply to the needs of modern society. Most constitutions written by other countries have been much longer but have not lasted.

While some vagueness enables the Constitution to be applied to modern society, there are a number of concerns associated with it.

· The Constitution could fail to regulate political' practice: The Constitution is meant to regulate politicians and set the rules of the political game. The vagueness of the Constitution can undermine its authority - and that of the Supreme Court - as people reject newly established rulings or political practices. For example, Presidents Obama and Trump have been criticised for interpreting the constitution to extend their power. Obama issued executive orders (DAPA and DACA) which allowed many illegal immigrants to avoid deportation and Trump used power implied by his role as Commander in Chief to release defense funds to build the border wall with Mexico.

· The Supreme Court could become too powerful: The vagueness of the Constitution allows individual justices to apply their own ideologies when ruling on a case. Each of the nine justices is associated with a particular ideology, consistently ruling with a clear bias. For example,iberal justices typically interpret the Constitution to achieve liberal outcomes. A more detailed Constitution would give less room for this bias. For example, the 8th amendment 'cruel and unusual' phrase has been used by some justices to allow the death penalty, while others say the death penalty is unconstitutional.

In Obergefell v Hodges 2015, in stating that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right, some politicians and even a member of the Supreme Court claimed that the Supreme Court was no longer following the Constitution, essentially making up new rules as it went along.

· There could be significant conflict: The lack of clarity leads to strong disputes, with each side claiming that their particular view of the Constitution is more legitimate. This is often based on ideology and allows further divisions in US society. Conservatives and liberals continue to argue about how far the Constitution allows the federal government to control the states. For example, there is an increasing divide between the Democratic and Republican Parties over issues such as gay rights, race, gun control and policies such as the Affordable Care Act. (Obama Care) It is now common for president to be accused by their opponents of violating the constitution- both Obama and Trump have been accused of doing so.

Many Conservatives read the second amendment as a right of every citizen to own and carry a gun while many liberals read the same words and understand it as a right which only applies when citizens are part of a militia. (which is no longer relevant)

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A-level Politics

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Assessment resources

• Answers and commentaries (3)
• Examiner reports (6)
• Mark schemes (15)
• Question papers (35)
• Paper 1 (19)
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• June 2022 (15)
• June 2023 (15)
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Showing 59 results

Question paper: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 553 KB

Question paper: Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 251 KB

Question paper: Paper 3 Political ideas - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 248 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 490 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 499 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 134 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 141 KB

Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 3 Political ideas - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 142 KB

Question paper (Modified A3 36pt): Paper 3 Political ideas - June 2023

Examiner report: Paper 3 Political ideas - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 124 KB

Examiner report: Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 145 KB

Examiner report: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 132 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 267 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 247 KB

Mark scheme: Paper 3 Political ideas - June 2023

Published 12 Jul 2024 | PDF | 281 KB

Answers and commentary: Paper 3 Political ideas Sample set 1

Published 6 Jun 2024 | PDF | 3.7 MB

Answers and commentary: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics Sample set 1

Published 6 Jun 2024 | PDF | 4.2 MB

Answers and commentary: Paper 1 Government and Politics of the UK Sample set 1

Published 6 Jun 2024 | PDF | 6 MB

Question paper: Paper 3 Political ideas - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 251 KB

Question paper: Paper 2 Government and Politics of the USA and comparative politics - June 2022

Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 179 KB

Edexcel A-Level Politics Past Papers

This section includes recent A-Level Politics past papers from Pearson Edexcel. You can download each of the Edexcel A-Level Politics past papers and marking schemes by clicking the links below. Scroll down to find papers from previous years.

June 2023 Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics Past Papers (9PL0)

A-Level Paper 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas (9PL0/01) Download Past Paper      -       Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 2: UK Government nd Non-core Political Ideas (9PL0/02) Download Past Paper      -      Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 3A: Comparative Politics - USA (9PL0/3A) Download Past Paper     -       Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 3B: Comparative Politics - Global Politics (9PL0/3B) Download Past Paper     -       Download Mark Scheme

June 2023 Pearson Edexcel AS-Level Politics Past Papers (8PL0)

AS Paper 1: UK Politics (8PL0/01) Download Past Paper    -      Download Mark Scheme

AS Paper 2: UK Government (8PL0/02) Download Past Paper    -      Download Mark Scheme

June 2022 Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics Past Papers (9PL0)

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics Past Papers November 2021 (9PL0)

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics Past Papers November 2020 (9PL0)

A-Level Paper 1: UK Politics and Core Political Ideas (9PL0/01) Download Past Paper     -      Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 2: UK Government nd Non-core Political Ideas (9PL0/02) Download Past Paper     -      Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 3A: Comparative Politics - USA (9PL0/3A) Download Past Paper    -      Download Mark Scheme

A-Level Paper 3B: Comparative Politics - Global Politics (9PL0/3B) Download Past Paper    -      Download Mark Scheme

The above papers are labelled June 2020  

Pearson Edexcel AS-Level Politics Past Papers November 2020 (8PL0)

The above papers are labelled June 2020

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics Past Papers June 2019 (9PL0)

A-Level Paper 3A: Comparative Politics - USA (9PL0/3A) Download Past Paper     -      Download Mark Scheme

Pearson Edexcel AS-Level Politics Past Papers June 2019 (8PL0)

AS Paper 1: UK Politics (8PL0/01) Download Past Paper     -      Download Mark Scheme

Pearson Edexcel AS-Level Politics Past Papers June 2018 (8PL0)

AS Paper 1: UK Politics (8PL0/01) Download Past Paper     -    Download Mark Scheme

AS Paper 2: UK Government (8PL0/02) Download Past Paper    -    Download Mark Scheme

Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics Past Papers June 2018

Unit 1 (6GP01/01): People & Politics -  Download Past Paper   -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 2 (6GP02/01): Governing the UK -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3A (6GP03/3A): UK Political Issues -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3B (6GP03/3B): Introducing Political Ideologies -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3C (6GP03/3C): Representative Processes in the USA -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3D (6GP03/3D): Structures of Global Politics -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4A (6GP04/4A): EU Political Issues -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4B (6GP04/4B): Other Ideological Traditions -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4C (6GP04/4C): Governing the USA -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4D (6GP04/4D): Global Political Issues -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics Past Papers June 2017

Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics Past Papers June 2016

Unit 1 (6GP01/01): People & Politics -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics June 2015

Unit 1: People & Politics -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 2: Governing the UK -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3A: UK Political Issues -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3B: Introducing Political Ideologies -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3C: Representative Processes in the USA -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 3D: Structures of Global Politics -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4A: EU Political Issues -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4B: Other Ideological Traditions -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4C: Governing the USA -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Unit 4D: Global Political Issues -  Download Past Paper  -  Download Mark Scheme

Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics June 2014

For more A-Level Government & Politics past papers from other exam boards  click here .