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A2 1: Comparative Government and Politics

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do we compare political systems, and what kind of constitution does the UK have?

Comparative approaches and the UK constitution: the purpose and methods of comparative politics, the nature of the UK's uncodified, unentrenched constitution, the sources and principles of the UK constitution, and how this provides the baseline for comparison with the USA or the Republic of Ireland.
A CCEA A2 1 guide to comparative method and the UK constitution. Covers why and how political systems are compared, the nature of the UK's uncodified and unentrenched constitution, its sources and key principles, and how it provides the baseline for comparison with the USA or the Republic of Ireland.
15 min answer →

How do the constitutions, legislatures, executives and politics of the UK and the Republic of Ireland compare?

A comparative study of the UK and the Republic of Ireland (Option B): comparing the two constitutions, the legislatures (Parliament and the Oireachtas), the executives (Prime Minister and Taoiseach, and the heads of state), the judiciaries, and the wider political process of elections, parties and referendums.
A CCEA A2 1 guide to the comparative study of the UK and the Republic of Ireland (Option B). Compares the two constitutions, the legislatures of Parliament and the Oireachtas, the executives of Prime Minister and Taoiseach, the heads of state, the judiciaries, and the wider process of elections, parties and referendums.
18 min answer →

How do the constitutions, legislatures, executives and politics of the UK and the USA compare?

A comparative study of the UK and the USA (Option A): comparing the two constitutions, the legislatures (Parliament and Congress), the executives (Prime Minister and President), the judiciaries, and the wider political process of elections, parties and pressure groups.
A CCEA A2 1 guide to the comparative study of the UK and the USA (Option A). Compares the two constitutions, the legislatures of Parliament and Congress, the executives of Prime Minister and President, the judiciaries, and the wider political process of elections, parties and pressure groups.
18 min answer →