Key term
WJEC A-Level Government and Politics 603-1979-3
The British Constitution
Topic overviewThe nature of the constitution: uncodified, unitary and flexibleStatute law as a source of the constitutionCommon law and works of constitutional authorityConstitutional conventionsParliamentary sovereigntyThe rule of lawParliamentary government and constitutional monarchyConstitutional reform since 1997The debate on a codified constitutionThe UK, the European Union and BrexitThe UK, NATO and the United Nations
The Judiciary and the Supreme Court
Topic overviewThe constitutional role of the Supreme CourtThe Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and the creation of the CourtThe Supreme Court as the highest court of appealThe separation of powers in the UKJudicial independenceJudicial neutrality and the appointment of judgesJudicial review and the doctrine of ultra viresSupreme Court rulings on constitutional mattersA separate legal jurisdiction for Wales
The UK Executive
Topic overviewThe core executiveThe roles of the Prime MinisterThe powers and resources of the Prime MinisterThe royal prerogativeThe composition of the CabinetThe roles and functions of the CabinetCollective ministerial responsibilityIndividual ministerial responsibilityPrime ministerial government and its limitsThe civil service
Parliament and the Accountability of Government
Topic overviewThe composition of the House of CommonsThe House of Lords: composition and powersThe functions of ParliamentThe legislative processPrivate members' bills and delegated legislationSelect committeesQuestions, debates and confidence in the governmentBackbench MPs and peersThe role of the OppositionParliamentary privilegeParliamentary sovereignty in practiceExecutive dominance and where power lies
Government and the Senedd in Wales
Topic overviewThe First Minister of WalesThe Welsh Government and its CabinetCollective and individual ministerial responsibility in WalesThe powers and resources of the Welsh GovernmentThe origins and structure of the SeneddThe composition and election of the SeneddThe legislative competence of the SeneddThe legislative process in the SeneddPlenary and the business of the SeneddSenedd committeesMembers of the Senedd and the OppositionDebates over the effectiveness of the Senedd
Devolution and the United Kingdom
Topic overviewThe nature and forms of devolutionThe origins of devolution in the UKThe Scottish Parliament and Scottish GovernmentThe Northern Ireland Assembly and ExecutiveDevolution in EnglandAsymmetry in the devolution settlementThe West Lothian question and English votes for English lawsFunding devolution and the Barnett formulaDevolution, sovereignty and the unionDebates over the future of the union
Citizenship and Rights
Topic overviewThe meaning of citizenshipGlobal citizenshipFreedom, equality and active citizenshipThe rule of law and protection under the lawThe rights of minoritiesPositive discrimination and positive actionThe sources of rights in the UKEquality legislation on race and genderFreedom of expression, association and religionPrivacy, liberty and the right to a fair trialConflicts between rightsDebates over a British Bill of Rights
The Protection of Human Rights
Topic overviewThe courts and the protection of rightsJudicial review: grounds and remediesJudicial review in practiceThe Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe European Convention on Human RightsThe European Court of Human RightsThe Human Rights Act 1998The Human Rights Act in the courtsEnforcing equality lawOmbudsmen and commissionersPressure and campaigning for rightsDebates over the protection of rights in the UK
Democracy and Participation
Electoral Systems in the UK
Topic overviewThe functions of elections and the language of electoral systemsFirst Past the Post: how it worksFirst Past the Post: advantages and criticismsThe Additional Member System and Senedd electionsThe Single Transferable VoteParty list systemsThe supplementary vote and the alternative voteProportionality, fairness and effects on party systemsCoalition and minority governmentKey elections in WalesReferendums in Wales and the UK
Voting Behaviour in the UK
Topic overviewThe sociological model and social classParty identification and partisan dealignmentThe rational choice modelThe valence model and governing competenceAge, gender, ethnicity and educationRegion, nation and voting in WalesElection campaigns and party leadersThe media and voting behaviourTurnout, tactical voting and volatility
Political Parties in Wales and the UK
Topic overviewThe functions of political partiesThe Labour Party: origins and ideologyThe Conservative Party: origins and ideologyThe Liberal Democrats and the centre groundPlaid Cymru and the Welsh party systemSmaller and minor partiesParty organisation and the role of membersLeadership selection in the main partiesCandidate selection and representationManifestos, platforms and the mandateParty funding, cash for influence and reform
Pressure Groups and Social Movements
Topic overviewPressure groups and how they differ from partiesSectional and promotional groupsInsider and outsider groupsAccess points in Wales and the UKLobbying and direct contact with decision-makersDirect action and public campaigningUsing the media and new technologiesFactors in pressure group successPressure groups and the health of democracySocial movements: nature, membership and methodsThe women's movement and the environmental movement
Liberalism
Topic overviewOrigins of liberal ideasHuman nature, reason and progressIndividualism, liberty and natural rightsToleration, pluralism and justiceThe social contract and the liberal stateConstitutionalism, the rule of law and liberal democracyNegative and positive freedomClassical liberalism and laissez-faire economicsModern liberalism and the enabling stateThe New Right and libertarian views of the marketEquality of opportunity and equality of outcomeLiberalism and Welsh political parties and movementsLiberal ideas in global politics
Conservatism
Topic overviewOrigins of conservative ideasHuman imperfection, pragmatism and traditionOrganic society, hierarchy and natural inequalityAuthority, order and propertyTraditional and one-nation conservatismAuthoritarian conservatismMoral conservatism, the family and the churchThe New Right: neo-liberalism and neo-conservatismConservative debates on immigration and integrationConservative debates on minority rights and welfareEconomic conservatism, the market and state interventionConservatism and Welsh political parties and movementsConservative ideas in global politics
Socialism and Communism
Topic overviewOrigins of socialist ideasHuman nature, community and cooperationClass, class conflict and the proletariatEquality and social justiceMarxism and historical materialismCommunism in theory and in practiceRevolutionary and parliamentary roads to socialismSocial democracy, revisionism and the Third WayDemocratic socialism and ethical socialismSocialist views of capitalismPublic ownership and the means of productionCollectivism and the redistribution of wealthSocialism and the Welsh labour movementSocialist ideas in global politics
Nationalism
Topic overviewOrigins of nationalist ideasDefining the nation and the nation stateNational consciousness and the role of historyLanguage, culture and national symbolsNational sovereignty and self-determinationCivic nationalismEthno-cultural nationalismLiberal nationalismConservative nationalismChauvinism, xenophobia and expansionist nationalismPolitical nationalism, citizenship and the stateSeparatism, secession and anti-colonial nationalismNationalism and Welsh political parties and movementsNationalist ideas in global politics
The US Constitution and Federalism
Topic overviewThe Declaration of Independence and the founding principlesWriting the Constitution and its compromisesSeparation of powers and checks and balancesThe amendment processEnumerated, implied and reserved powersTheories of federalismThe changing balance of federal and state powerFiscal federalism and federal grantsFederalism before the Supreme CourtDebates about the Constitution
Rights and Liberties in the USA
Topic overviewThe Bill of Rights: origins and importanceThe First Amendment: speech, press and assemblyThe First Amendment: religionThe Second Amendment and gun ownershipRights of the accused and due processThe death penalty and the Eighth AmendmentPrivacy and the ConstitutionThe Fourteenth Amendment and incorporationCivil rights and the struggle for racial equalityAffirmative action and contemporary equality debates
The US Congress
The US Presidency
Topic overviewThe constitutional office of PresidentThe powers of the PresidentThe President as chief executiveThe President and legislationThe President, foreign policy and the armed forcesExecutive orders and unilateral actionThe CabinetThe Executive Office of the PresidentConstraints on presidential powerThe imperial presidency debate
The US Supreme Court
Topic overviewThe constitutional role of the Supreme CourtJudicial review and Marbury v MadisonJurisdiction and how a case reaches the CourtNomination and appointment of justicesTenure and proposals for reformJudicial activism and judicial restraintOriginalism and the living ConstitutionPrecedent and legal reasoningThe Court and the protection of rightsThe political significance of the Court and its composition
US Elections and Voting Behaviour
Topic overviewThe invisible primaryPrimaries and caucusesThe national nominating conventionsThe ticket and the general election campaignThe electoral collegeCongressional and midterm electionsMoney in US electionsPACs, super-PACs and campaign finance lawThe media and social media in campaignsLong-term determinants of voting behaviourShort-term factors, swing states and independents
Political Parties in the USA
Topic overviewThe American political spectrumThe Democratic partyThe Republican partyFactions in the Republican partyFactions in the Democratic partyParty organisation and candidate-centred campaignsWhy two parties dominateThird parties and independent candidatesRealignment, decline and polarisation
The US Presidency
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- A2 Unit 4
What The US Presidency covers
The US Presidency is examined in A2 Unit 4, Government and politics of the USA — government of the USA. It covers the constitutional office of President, the powers of the President, the President as chief executive, the President and legislation, the President, foreign policy and the armed forces, executive orders and unilateral action, the Cabinet, the Executive Office of the President, constraints on presidential power and the imperial presidency debate.
The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The constitutional office of PresidentThree constitutional qualifications for the presidency, order of succession after the Vice President and constitutional standard for impeachment.Open →
- The powers of the PresidentFive enumerated powers of the President, take care clause and pardon power.Open →
- The President as chief executiveDifference between an executive department and an independent agency, independent regulatory agencies and appointment power's role in controlling the bureaucracy.Open →
- The President and legislationPocket veto, line-item veto and veto threat.Open →
- The President, foreign policy and the armed forcesPresident's constitutional role in relation to the armed forces, authorization for Use of Military Force and weakness of an executive agreement.Open →
- Executive orders and unilateral actionExecutive order, national emergency declaration and memorandum or presidential proclamation.Open →
- The CabinetRecall questions on its absence from the constitutional text, how secretaries are appointed and dismissed, why there is no collective responsibility, and the drift of influence towards the White House staff.Open →
- The Executive Office of the PresidentExecutive Office of the President and role of the National Security Council.Open →
- Constraints on presidential powerThree constitutional constraints on the President and electoral cycle constraint.Open →
- The imperial presidency debateImperial presidency, imperilled presidency argument and unitary executive theory.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Explain the gap between the power to declare war and the power to make war.
Evaluation
How would you evaluate the imperial presidency thesis overall?
Key term
State the three constitutional qualifications for the presidency.
Key term
Roughly how many civilian employees does the federal executive branch have?
Key term
Can the President introduce a bill in Congress?
Numbers
Give one historically significant executive order.
Key term
Who sits in the Cabinet?
Key term
What is the Executive Office of the President?
Key term
Name three constitutional constraints on the President.
Numbers
Which amendment limits a President to two terms?
Key term
What is the take care clause?
Key term
What is the difference between an executive department and an independent agency?
Key term
What is the veto?
Key term
What is the President's constitutional role in relation to the armed forces?
Key term
What is a national emergency declaration?
Key term
How are Cabinet secretaries appointed?
Key term
Which report recommended the creation of the Executive Office of the President, and on what grounds?
Key term
How does the Supreme Court constrain the President?
Key term
What is meant by the imperial presidency?
Key term
Why was the two-term limit introduced?
Key term
What is the pardon power?
Key term
Give two examples of independent regulatory agencies.
Key term
What is a pocket veto?
Key term
What does the War Powers Resolution 1973 require?
Key term
What is a memorandum or presidential proclamation?
Key term
Can a Cabinet secretary sit in Congress?
Key term
Name three components of the Executive Office of the President.
Key term
How does federalism constrain the President?
Numbers
Who coined the term imperial presidency?
Take The US Presidency further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Which article of the Constitution establishes the presidency?
Model answer
Article II.
- 2
What does the vesting clause of Article II say?
Model answer
That the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States.
- 3
Why is the wording of the vesting clause significant?
Model answer
It grants the executive power in general terms rather than listing it, which supporters of broad presidential authority read as a grant of unenumerated power.
- 4
State the three constitutional qualifications for the presidency.
Model answer
A natural-born citizen, at least thirty-five years old, and resident in the United States for fourteen years.
- 5
How long is a presidential term?
Model answer
Four years.
- 6
Which amendment limits a President to two terms?
Model answer
The Twenty-second, ratified in 1951.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
The US Presidency revision questions
- What does The US Presidency cover in WJEC A-Level Government and Politics?
- 10 subtopics: the constitutional office of president, the powers of the president, the president as chief executive, the president and legislation, the president, foreign policy and the armed forces, executive orders and unilateral action, the cabinet, the executive office of the president, constraints on presidential power and the imperial presidency debate. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is The US Presidency organised?
- By the WJEC 603-1979-3 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in The US Presidency, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.