polu1q

=**__Past Paper Questions - Unit 1 Politics__**=

Contents:
Summer 2002 Winter 2003 Summer 2003 Summer 2004 Summer 2005 Winter 2006 Spec Unit 1

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**Summer 2002**
(a) What is a referendum? (b) In what circumstances have governments called referendums? (c) Make a case for the wider use of referendums.

(a) Distinguish between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ pressure groups. (b) How do pressure groups influence government? (c) Why are some pressure groups more powerful than others?

(a) What is representative democracy? (b) Outline the workings of any **three** electoral systems currently used in the UK (c) What has been the impact on parties of the use of proportional electoral systems in the UK?

(a) What is a political party? (b) What are the main policy areas that divide the Labour and Conservative parties? (c) To what extent has ‘new’ Labour broken with the party’s traditional ideas and values? 

**Winter 2003**
(a)Outline two differences between a referendum and an election. (b) Describe the circumstances of three referendums held in the UK (c)What are the disadvantages of referendums?

(a)What is a political party? (b) Outline the major ideas of the modern Conservative Party. (c) To what extent has the Labour Party abandoned its traditional principles?

(a) Outline two ways in which pressure groups differ from political parties (b) Why is it sometimes difficult to distinguish between pressure groups and political parties? (c) What are the most important factors that contribute to pressure group success?

(a) Define democracy. (b) How do elections promote democracy? (c) In what ways has democracy in the UK been criticised?



(a) Outline two functions of a general election. (b) How does the Westminster electoral system differ from the other electoral systems used in the UK? (c) What have been the effects of the use of proportional electoral systems in the UK?
 * Summer 2003**

(a) Outline two features of a political party. (b) In what ways do political parties promote democracy? (c) How effective are political parties in promoting democracy in the UK?

(a) Distinguish between sectional and promotional pressure groups. (b) What methods do pressure groups employ to influence the political process? (c) Why are some pressure groups more successful than others?

(a) Define representative democracy. (b) What are the features of representative democracy in the UK? (c) What are the advantages and disadvantages of representative democracy in the UK?



Summer 2004
(a) Outline two functions of a political party. (b) Distinguish between consensus politics and adversary politics. (c) To what extent do the policies and ideas of the Labour and Conservative parties overlap?

(a) Distinguish between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ pressure groups. (b) Explain the main differences between pressure groups and political parties. (c) To what extent do pressure groups strengthen the democratic process?

(a) Outline the features of the ‘first-past-the-post’ electoral system. (b) Describe __three__ other electoral systems which are currently used in the UK. (c) Analyse how these other electoral systems have affected the representation of political parties in the UK.

(a) Define direct democracy. (b) Explain the main features of representative democracy. (c) To what extent has the UK political system become more democratic in recent years?



**Summer 2005**
(a) Define a pressure group (b) In which ways can pressure groups be defined? (c) To what extent do pressure groups undermine the democratic process?

(a) Outline two features of a political party. (b) How do political parties achieve their aims? (c) How effective are political parties in promoting political participation?

(a) What is proportional representation? (b) Explain the workings of AMS and STV in the UK. (c) To what extent has the use of more proportional electoral systems affected the political process in the UK?

(a) Outline two differences between direct democracy and representative democracy. (b) How has direct democracy been used more in the UK in recent years? (c) What are the arguments for and against direct democracy?



**Winter 2006**
(a) Distinguish, with examples, between an insider and an outsider pressure group. (b) What methods do pressure groups employ to influence the political process? (c) Why are some pressure groups more successful than others?

(a) What is a political party? (b) Explain the main functions of a political party. (c) To what extent are political parties declining in importance in UK politics?

(a) What is a referendum? (b) Why have referendums been used more frequently in the UK since 1997? (c) To what extent do referendums promote democracy?

(a) Define democracy. (b) What are the main features of democracy in the UK? (c) Assess the limitations of the UK democratic system.



**Spec Unit 1**
(a) Outline two functions of elections. (b) Describe the first-past-the-post’ and the additional member (AMS) electoral systems. (c) How have different electoral systems affected the representation of parties in the UK?

(a) What is a pressure group? (b) What are the main types of pressure groups? (c) In what ways do pressure groups strengthen democracy?

(a) What is a referendum? (b) Outline __three__ examples of the use of referendums in the UK? (c) What are the arguments against the use of referendums?

(a) Outline two functions of political parties? (b) Describe __three__ issues over which Labour and Conservative parties disagree? (c) How different is ‘new’ Labour from ‘old’ Labour?