Northern Ireland · CCEASyllabus

Politics syllabus, dot point by dot point

Every dot point in the Northern Ireland Politicssyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.

Unit 1: Democracy in Action

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How do elections work, and how do first-past-the-post and the single transferable vote differ?
Elections and electoral systems: how first-past-the-post and the single transferable vote work, where each is used in the UK and Northern Ireland, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
14 min answer →
What are political parties for, and how do party systems differ in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK?
Political parties: their role and functions in a democracy, the difference between the Northern Ireland and wider UK party systems, manifestos, and how parties form or share government.
13 min answer →
How can citizens take part in a democracy, and what do pressure groups do?
Taking action in a democracy: the rights and responsibilities of the citizen, the ways people can participate including voting, petitioning, demonstrating and joining a party or pressure group, and the types and methods of pressure groups.
14 min answer →
What did the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement set up, and how does it frame government in Northern Ireland?
The Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement and the framework of devolution: the principle of consent, the three strands, and the key provisions on power-sharing, decommissioning, prisoner releases and policing reform.
14 min answer →
How is the Northern Ireland Assembly elected, and what does it do?
The Northern Ireland Assembly: how MLAs are elected by single transferable vote across eighteen constituencies, and the Assembly's role in making laws, scrutinising the Executive and representing the public.
14 min answer →
How is the Northern Ireland Executive formed, and why is it a power-sharing government?
The Northern Ireland Executive: how ministers are appointed by the d'Hondt method, the joint roles of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and power-sharing and consociationalism as the basis of devolved government.
14 min answer →
How is the UK government formed, and what are the roles of the Prime Minister and Cabinet?
The Prime Minister and Cabinet: how the UK government is formed, the powers and role of the Prime Minister, the role of the Cabinet, and collective Cabinet responsibility.
13 min answer →
What part does the media play in a democracy?
The role of the media in a democracy: informing citizens, scrutinising those in power and shaping opinion, the impact of social media, and concerns about bias, balance and regulation.
13 min answer →
How is the UK Parliament structured, and what does it do?
The UK Parliament at Westminster: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch, and Parliament's roles in making law, scrutinising government and representing the public, including Northern Ireland's place at Westminster.
14 min answer →

Unit 2: International Politics in Action

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