Is the SCOTUS too powerful? To answer this question, this episode looks at the effectiveness of 1) the constitutional restraints, 2) self restraint and 3) public reactions. Enjoy the show, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore,...

Episode 150! In today's landmark show, we take a look at the EU, its aims, and whether they have been achieved. We break down its goals in three main areas: 1) Completing the single market with the promotion of the four freedoms 2) Economic and Monetary Union 3) Political Union My scorecard, for what it is worth - lots done but still so much more to do. Enjoy the show, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional...

Today we take a deep dive on the executive's powers, including 1. Initiating legislation in government's manifesto 2. Making policy on matters that arise (the Doctor's Mandate) 3. Wielding secondary legislation (SIs) 4. Proposing budgets 5. Exercising the Royal Prerogative Enjoy the show, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become...

Do Pressure groups help or hinder democratic processes? For this pod, I'll explore the impact of US pressure groups on different forms of democracy, including representative, pluralist and liberal. Enjoy the show, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show...

In this episode, I look at whether smaller political parties have influence in/upon the UK political system. To consider this question, we need to consider the following: 1)    The representation of smaller parties in the UK Parliament and in the devolved bodies 2)    The participation of smaller parties in government both centrally and regionally  3)    The impact that smaller parties have had on party policy and upon the electoral fortunes of the larger parties Enjoy the podcast,...

Hello dear listener! The number one request I have had is that transcripts be made available. Well, if you listen on Spotify, now they are! The A Level Politics Show now has transcripts of every episode! How about that! What’s great is that Spotify let’s you listen along and read the transcript at the same time as listening to it, or you could have the sound off if you don’t like the sound of my voice (my wife tells me that this is what she does). You can also just skip to the section in the...

This episode will answer the following question: To what extent do liberals share similar views about human nature? I also introduce listeners to the idea of writing SUPER CHUNKIES! Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts....

Some socialists don't even want a state. Others think the state should abolish capitalism, which is at odds with third way thinkers who believe the state must embrace it. And don't get these guys started on the state's role in promoting social equality... Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also...

In this episode, we consider whether manifestos affect election outcomes, and if they have an impact on the way a party governs. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations...

Are referendums better than e-petitions or recall elections? In this episode, I argue that they are not. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations and no hidden costs. Just...

In this pod, a long-awaited update to episode 20, we evaluate the view that government attitudes are the most important determinant of pressure group success. In a word, yes. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts....

The world has changed since we last looked at this topic and so it is high time for an update. A wave of public sector strikes as well as protests by environmental groups should give us pause for thought when considering levels of political engagement in the UK. Are we entering a new era of campaigning advocacy and agitation? I argue that we are. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that...

In this episode, we debate which branch is stronger, examining a range of tools that each one has to control the other. It all comes down to circumstances. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel...

A Level Politics could easily be renamed A Level current affairs. It’s a live subject and as Politics students you need to use updated examples and explain their significance. This can be hard, especially around revision time when you have got your heads in your books, and class notes going back 18 months, visiting examples that perhaps were current at the time, only to be told by someone somewhere that your examples are out of date. Likewise, you might get news alerts on your phone about...

In this episode, we use recent examples to assess the benefits of pressure groups. We focus on the functions of pressure groups, the theories of pluralism and elitism, and the all important role of lobbying. And yes, Matt Hancock makes another appearance. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also...

Enjoy the podcast? Then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS! In addition to the monthly free episode, you'll receive TWO additional podcasts each month. Once they are released, these bonus episodes will will appear automatically in your podcast feed (cancel anytime but clicking unsubscribe in your confirmation email). You will also gain access to the entire back catalogue of The A Level Politics Show. Just click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to get started. Thanks so much for supporting the show!

With three prime ministers in a year and multiple policy u-turns it is hard to see past the argument that the Tories are more divided than the Labour Party. Admittedly, perhaps favourable opinion polls for Labour hide the division in that party, and things can change pretty quickly if, say, there are a bad set of election results or a scandal. Yet the Conservatives are perpetually in conflict between their ideological beliefs on the one hand and the need for pragmatism and electoral viability...

In this episode, we examine in turn how devolution is working in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. This pod is an update to episodes 35 and 60, which are still useful, since they deal with slightly different questions, including whether England ought to have its own Parliament and whether devolution has improved democracy.  Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will...

In this episode, I argue that most conservatives share similar views on economic matters. However, Neo-liberals are the ideological outliers. Their advocation of rational human nature, atomistic society (does one even exist?) and on a "miniarchist" state leads these kinds of conservatives to very different conclusions about the type of economy that they want. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per...

While legal sovereignty has in part returned to the UK and to the Westminster parliament, political sovereignty still largely rests with the executive. Furthermore, there is the argument that the EU referendum was indeed the ultimate assertion of popular sovereignty, rather than parliamentary power. Meanwhile, the devolved bodies aren't going away and are willing to fight the UK government in the courts. Indeed, sovereignty post-Brexit is the same as it ever was... complicated.  Enjoy the...

Is an election truly representative when so few seats change hands and most of the existing incumbents win? How important is social diversity? Does it matter if members of Congress vote solely along party lines? We explore all of these questions and assess the impact of the 2022 midterms on Congressional representation.  Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in...

Liz Truss’ mini budget blew up in smoke, forcing her to accept the most dramatic U-turn in British political history. Her tax cuts were almost all reversed and within days she announced her resignation. The New Right appeared to be in retreat. Yet her successor, Rishi Sunak, is no One Nation Conservative. A cautious Thatcherite is still a Thatcherite. And this caution is only reserved for the economy. On welfare, law and order and international affairs, neo-conservative influence on policy is...

In this episode, we examine how dominance of the political system is fleeting and that peril is the norm. If recent and past examples are what you are looking for, then look no further. Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations and no hidden costs. Just lots of...

In this episode, we look at how to answer the 12 mark questions in Paper 2 (Edexcel - US route). We focus on the use of comparative language and give tips on how to incorporate comparative theories, and showcase how we do this through extracts to model answers. Much of the content of this episode can be found in a recent Politics Review article that I wrote.  Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per...