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Component 2: UK Government and Non-core Political Ideas

9 dot points across 9 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How has the constitution changed since 1997, and should reform go further?

Component 1.2 to 1.4: how the constitution has changed since 1997 under Labour, the Coalition and later governments, the role and impact of devolution, and the debates on further reform.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on devolution and constitutional reform, covering the changes since 1997 under Labour, the Coalition and later governments, the powers and impact of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolved bodies, devolution in England, and the debates over further reform.
13 min answer →

How do liberal, socialist, radical and post-modern feminists differ, and what do the key thinkers argue?

Non-core Political Ideas (Feminism), areas 2 to 3: the different types of feminism (liberal, socialist, radical, post-modern) and the required feminist thinkers and their ideas.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics non-core idea answer on the types of feminism and the required thinkers, covering liberal, socialist, radical and post-modern feminism and the ideas of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Simone de Beauvoir, Kate Millett, Sheila Rowbotham and bell hooks.
14 min answer →

What are the core ideas of feminism, and how do feminists understand sex, gender and patriarchy?

Non-core Political Ideas (Feminism), area 1: the core ideas of feminism (sex and gender, patriarchy, the personal is political, equality and difference feminism, intersectionality) and how they apply to human nature, the state, society and the economy.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics non-core idea answer on the core ideas of feminism, covering the distinction between sex and gender, patriarchy, the idea that the personal is political, equality and difference feminism, and intersectionality, and how these apply to human nature, the state, society and the economy.
13 min answer →

How much power does the Prime Minister really have over the Cabinet and events?

Component 3.2 to 3.3: individual and collective ministerial responsibility, the factors governing the PM's selection of ministers and the balance of power between PM and Cabinet, illustrated by one pre-1997 and one post-1997 Prime Minister.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on ministerial responsibility and prime ministerial power, covering individual and collective ministerial responsibility, the factors that shape the relationship between the PM and Cabinet, and the powers of the PM to dictate events and determine policy, illustrated by one pre-1997 and one post-1997 Prime Minister.
14 min answer →

How well does Parliament perform its functions and hold the executive to account?

Component 2.1 to 2.4: the structure and role of the Commons and Lords, their comparative powers, the legislative process, and how Parliament interacts with and scrutinises the executive.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on Parliament, covering the structure and functions of the House of Commons and House of Lords, their comparative powers, the legislative process and the Salisbury Convention, and how select committees, backbenchers, the opposition and question time hold the executive to account.
14 min answer →

How is power balanced between the executive and Parliament, and what was the impact of the EU?

Component 4.2 to 4.3: the relationship between the executive and Parliament, the effectiveness of each in holding or dominating the other, and the aims, role and impact of the European Union on UK government.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the relationships between the branches, covering the balance of power between the executive and Parliament, how effectively each holds or dominates the other, the concept of elective dictatorship, and the aims, role and impact of the European Union on UK government before and after Brexit.
13 min answer →

What is the nature and sources of the UK constitution, and should it be codified?

Component 1.1: the nature of the UK constitution (unentrenched, uncodified, unitary), the twin pillars of parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law, the five main sources, and the debate over codification.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the UK constitution, covering its uncodified, unentrenched and unitary nature, the twin pillars of parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law, the five main sources (statute, common law, conventions, authoritative works and treaties), and the debate over codification.
13 min answer →

What are the structure, role and powers of the UK executive?

Component 3.1: the structure of the executive (PM, Cabinet, junior ministers and departments), its main roles (proposing legislation and a budget, making policy), and its main powers including the royal prerogative and secondary legislation.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the structure, role and powers of the UK executive, covering the Prime Minister, Cabinet, junior ministers and government departments, the roles of proposing legislation and a budget and making policy, and the powers of the royal prerogative, initiating legislation and secondary legislation.
12 min answer →

How independent and powerful is the UK Supreme Court, and where does sovereignty now lie?

Component 4.1 and 4.4: the role, composition and operating principles of the Supreme Court and its influence over the executive and Parliament, and the location of sovereignty in the UK political system.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the UK Supreme Court and sovereignty, covering the role and composition of the Court, judicial neutrality and independence, judicial review and ultra vires, the Court's influence over the executive and Parliament, the distinction between legal and political sovereignty, and where sovereignty now lies.
13 min answer →