119th US Congress - Key Demographics and Trends. How representative is Congress? 30+ slide powerpoint covering the above. Includes a starter test and answers on related content. Source exercise - How representative does Congress look Theories of Representation - Resemblance Model and Mandate Model What is the 119th Congress The 119th Congress political party overview The 119th Congress and Gender x6 slides. Current and trends. Also look at LQBTQ+ representation The 119th Congress (and trends) and Race x6 slides The 119th Congress (and trends) and Religion x3 slides The 119th Congress (and trends) and age x4 The 119th Congress (and trends) and Education x2 slides The 119th Congress (and trends) and Occupation Is the US Congress Representative of the people? x3 slides Gerrymandering Conclusion source exercise

Congress and Finance. Power of the Purse. Student Notes with examples. Questions and answers.

US Congress - Functions - Student Notes - Questions and Answer Sheet - linked to assessment objectives

US Congress Structure as of 2025. Student Notes, with questions and answer sheet

The Bill of Rights. Student handout with summary. Considers significance, limitations and gives recent examples as evidence. Speciman essay response for self assessment.

Originalism V Living Constitution - Notes, Essay Plan and a few questions

Direct Democracy in USA - Initiatives / Referendums / Recall Elections. Inc. Qb - Source Analysis Question, Question Advice and Self Assessment Sheet. What is Direct Democracy? States in the USA that use Direct Democracy? Initiatives - What are they and how do they work Example Initiatives in california Initiatives – Good for Democracy - Points for and Against and Overall Conclusion Initiatives – Most recent examples from 2024 Election Referendums as Direct Democracy in the USA Referendums examples from 2024 election Differences between initiatives and referendums Recall Votes as Direct Democracy in the USA - What are they - How do they Work - Examples Question Analysis of 2024 AQA Paper 2 Section B Question on Initiatives. This includes advise on how to answer and a self assessment exercise of a full response.

Checks and Balances in the USA. Exam Question with response and assessment tool.

US Federalism. Overview Notes of each phase. Exam Questions and answers - Self Assessment Exercise Summary Sheet: Key Phases of Federalism in the USA Key Supreme Court Cases for each phase of Federalism and there significance Exam Questions Answers Self Assessment

US Constitution A Level Exam Questions with Mark Scheme - Self Assessment Activity. Also, set of notes and summary table looking at how effective the US Constitution is.

A 20 slide powerpoint looking at the US Presidential election process. Picks up with deciding on the VP and moves on to look at the role of th National Conventions. Based around the 2020 election. Aldo includes a starter test and answers. Plenty of activities. Visual recap of early stages of election campaign. Picking the VP - process Factors affecting the choice of VP The perfect VP - task Outline of the National Conventions and what they set out to achieve Selecting the candidate for President at the National Convention Delegates and voting in the 2020 National Conventions x2 Deciding the Party Platform - inc task Informal functions of the National Conventions Debate - arguments for and against National Conventions being important

Full PP lesson looking at debates surrounding the US Constitution in relation to the Founding Fathers. What did the Founding Fathers want to achieve from the Constitution? Has the US Constitution stood the test of time – Arguments AGAINST Has the US Constitution stood the test of time – Arguments FOR To what extent has the US Constitution been transformed beyond recognition of the wishes of the Founding Fathers? Arguments FOR and AGAINST

20 slide powerpoint presentation looking at the functions and powers of Congress. Also includes a starter test (and answers) as well as an illustration of how laws are passed. Powers of Congress - Cartoon analysis Overview of Congress - Functions and Powers x2 Represent - info slide Legislate - Info slide Oversight - x2 - Info slides The Constitution and Powers of Congress - info Exclusive and concurrent powers of the two chambers Powers of Congress - activity Elastic clause - info and activity Explanation of the significance of some of the powers of Congress More detail on concurrent powers - info slide Power of the purse How Congress checks the executive How Congress checks the Judicial branch Powers of Congress - cartoon - task.

Full PowerPoint lesson looking at US Election Campaign Finance - Speculative 2024, main data from 2022. Also includes a starter test (and answers) on related content Overview Factors affecting the outcomes of elections in the USA Importance of Campaign Finance - Source task What is Campaign Finance? Difference between hard and soft money Total spending on recent US Elections (speculative on 2024) x2 Spending on mid term elections - graph Democratic V Republican Spending over last 10 years Which political party spent most on campaigns in 2022 elections Average cost of a Senate seat Top 5 most expensive Senate seats - 2022 Average cost of a House seat Top 5 most expensive House seats - 2022 Spending trends in 2022 Spending on 2020 Presidential Election Source activity on the effects of money on campaigning WHY IS MONEY IMPORTANT IN ELECTION CASMPAIGNS – Overview of Campaign Finance legislation Source activity on restructions to Campaign Finance Public Funding - argumets for and against x4 What is private funding? Biggest priovate funders in 2022 Private Funding - PACs Private Funding - Super PACs Top 10 contributing PACs to Campaign funds in 2022 Elections Pacs and money and campaigning source activity x2 Arguments in Favor of Unlimited Campaign Spending Arguments AgainstUnlimited Campaign Spending What was money spent on during 2022 election campaign

Ideological division within US Parties - Republican and Democratic factions A History of Factions? Factions of Republicans Factions in Democratic Party Intraparty Factions - Overview Social Conservative Republicans and the Christian Right Social Conservative Republicans and the House Freedom Caucus Fiscal Conservative Republicans The origin of Fiscal Conservative Republicans and the TEA PARTY Moderate / Social Liberal Republicans Progressive / Liberal Democrats Progressive / Liberal Democrats – The Congressional Progressive Caucus Centrist Democrats Conservative Democrats and the Blue Dog Coalition EXAM QUESTION EXAM QUESTION – INDICATIVE CONTENT

Learning Intention: To understand what the two main parties stand for via their contemporary policies. To judge the degree of ideological polarisation of the two main political parties What is a Political Party Could the Democrats and Republicans be thought of as ideologically based in the 1950’s/60’s? x2 Are Democrats Liberals and are Republicans Conservatives? Umbrella Parties? x2 Range of Republicans Range of Democrats Consensus to Conflict? Southern Strategy as a factor in bringing about Polarisation x3 Ideological Parties? Increasing Political Polarisation Causes of Political Polarisation x2 Ideological American Politics - source activity x2 Ideological Polarisation - info and source activities Evidence of Political Polarisation. Red America and Blue America Ideological Parties in the Modern Era? Ideological Parties – Overview of Republican Beliefs Ideological Parties – Overview of Democratic Party Beliefs Polarisation of America - Typical voter profile Evidence of Political Polarisation x5 - source activities Exam Question Self Assessment Indicative Content

Lesson 1 - Primaries to Election Day 2020. 24 slide PP providing overview of the key moments in the campaign Candidates by party in June 2021 - Democrat and Republican x3 Smaller parties and the 2020 Presidential Election The election year - an overview Democrat Primary / Caucus Republican Primary Caucus Candidates get eliminated…example stories Campaign finance of Republican candidates Incumbancy and its effect on the nomination process Iowa causus result - Democrats and Republicans New hampshire - Democrats New Hampshire - Republicans Super Tuesday - March 3rd 2020 Joe Biden - Key takeaways Bernie Sanders - Key takeaways Mike Bloomberg - Key takeaways Elizabeth Warren - Key takeaways Opinion polls prior to election Lets get ready…Trump V Biden LESSON 2 - Results of the 2020 Presidential Election Facts about the 2020 Presidential Election Overview of results of 2020 election inc. video link Election 2020 in maps Voter turnout in 2020 comapred to other elections Voter turnout by categpry compared to other elections Voter turnout by race at 2020 election Key voter trends of the 2020 election Voting by race and education Geography as a feature of the 2020 election Factors that led to Trumps defeat x2 Trumps refusal to accept the election result x3 Bidens innaugaration

20 slide power point covering the 5 political party systems in the USA from the creation of the first political parties to the current political parties. What is a Political Party and who are the main parties in the USA? Overview of history US Political Parties (main two) Inc, video link 1st Political System - The First Political Parties – The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Inc video link. X2 slides 2nd Party System 1828 - 1854  2nd Political System 1828 - 1854 - The Democrats and the Whigs x2 slides 3rd Political System 1854 - 1896 - The Republicans and Democrats - map work 3rd Political System 1854 - 1896 - The Republicans and Democrats 4th Political System 1896 - 1932 - The Republicans and Democrats 5th Political System 1932 - 1960 - The Republicans and Democrats x2. Inc video link 6th Political System 1960’s – to present? - The Republicans and Democrats x5 slides…looking at incrased polarisation List of Republican and Democrat Presidents

Full powerpoint based lesson looking at Congressional Committees. Also includes a starter test (and answers) on related content. Link to video giving overview of CC’s. Different types of CC’s. Functions of CC’s. Overview of types of Standing Committees Committee stage of legislation Oversight Confirming Presidential appointments House Rules Committee Select Committees Conference Committees Are Committees the most significant aspect of the legislative process in Congress? Source task on importance of CC’s How significant a role is that of a Committee chairperson?? Criticisms of Congressional Committees

Powerpoint lesson looking at US Pressure Groups - Power and Influence of US Pressure Groups. Good or bad for democracy? Pressure Groups – Good or Bad for Democracy Pluralism V Elitism Pressure Groups – Good or Bad for Democracy Pressure Groups – Good or Bad for Democracy - Source activity Pressure Groups – Evidence FOR enhancing democracy Pressure Groups – Evidence AGAINST enhancing democracy Pressure Group Influence - Opposing groups is self-cancelling Pressure Group Influence - Who is more influential - Parties or Pressure Groups? Pressure Group Influence – How Politically Significant are Pressure Groups in the USA? Pressure Group Influence – factors affecting Pressure group Success x2 Pressure Group Influence – How do Pressure Groups Influence Policy making Exam q and Indicative Content

Full PP lesson looking at Primaries / Caucus in USA. Based around 2024 Election INCLUDING Super Tuesday. Explanation of full process. Also looks at Maine and Colorado decisions + Supreme Court decision regarding Trump. Also includes a starter test (and answers) on related content. When do Presidential elections take place? Info slide What are the basic requirements to become President of the USA? Info slides x2 Create your ideal Presidential candidate exercise. Overview of stages in the Presidential Election x2 - info and activity. What are invisible primaries - info slide Invisible Primaries - key determinants exercise Finance and the 2024 nomination process Democratic candidates for the 2024 nomination Republican candidates for the 2024 nominaion What are Primaries and caucuses - info slide - Inc. video link. Third Parties and nominating Presidential candidates History of Primaries / Caucuses - info slide Different types of Primaries x2 - info slides Number of delegates for each party Number of delegates to win for each party The first Primary and Caucuses - Iowa and New Hampshire - Cartoon exercise x2 Overview of Primaries and the 2024 nomination process x3 Democrat and Republican Primary results at different stages of the year for the 2024 nomination. Inc. Results in Iows and New Hampshire. What is Super Tuesday - who will vote 2024 A word about Trump and the 2024 Election x2 - Main and Colorado + Latest from Supreme Court Super Tuesday 5th March 2024 - Delegates up for grabs. Results. Look back to final stages of the 2020 election x4 Do primaries actually choose the presidential candidates or just confirm the front runners from the invisible primaries? - Indicative content What are the advantages and disadvantages of primaries? - Indicative Content Possible ways to improve the nomination process De Ja Vue?