AQA - GCSE - Citizenship Studies

AQA GCSE - Citizenship Studies

Past Papers

GCSE | Citizenship Studies | AQA

Citizenship skills, processes and methods

This section focuses on the skills, processes and methods that underpin how citizens can try to make a difference.

01

Citizenship skills, processes and methods (1/3)

Students will:

gain the ability to form their own hypotheses, create sustained and reasoned arguments and reach substantiated conclusions about citizenship issues
understand the range of methods and approaches that can be used by governments, organisations, groups and individuals to address citizenship issues in society, including practical citizenship actions
formulate citizenship enquiries, identifying and sequencing research questions to analyse citizenship ideas, issues and debates

02

Citizenship skills, processes and methods (2/3)

Students will:

select and organise their knowledge and understanding in responses and analysis, when creating and communicating their own arguments, explaining hypotheses, ideas and different viewpoints and perspectives, countering viewpoints they do not support, giving reasons and justifying conclusions drawn
present their own and other viewpoints and represent the views of others, in relation to citizenship issues, causes, situations and concepts
plan practical citizenship actions aimed at delivering a benefit or change for others in society

03

Citizenship skills, processes and methods (3/3)

Students will:

critically evaluate the effectiveness of citizenship actions to assess progress towards the intended aims and impact for the individuals, groups and communities affected
show knowledge and understanding of the relationships between the different citizenship aspects studied, using the concepts to make connections, identify and compare similarities and differences in a range of situations from local to global.

GCSE | Citizenship Studies | AQA

Life in modern Britain

This section focuses on what it means to be British, how our identities are formed and how we have multiple identities.

01

What are the principles and values that underpin British society?

We will learn about:

The key principles and values underpinning British society today.
The human, moral, legal and political rights and the duties, equalities and freedoms of citizens.
Key factors that create individual, group, national and global identities.

02

What do we mean by identity?

We will learn about:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is comprised of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The impact of this on identity debates.
Changes and movement of population over time: the impact on different communities in the UK; the nature of immigration and migration to and from the UK.
The need for mutual respect and understanding in a diverse society and the values that underpin democratic society.
Identity and multiple identities; the diverse nature of the UK population.

03

What is the role of the media and the free press?

We will learn about:

The rights, responsibilities and role of the media and a free press in informing and influencing public opinion, providing a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas and opinions, and in holding those in power to account.
The right of the media to investigate and report on issues of public interest subject to the need for accuracy and respect for people's privacy and dignity.
The operation of press regulation and examples of where censorship is used.

04

What is the UK's role in key international organisations?

We will learn about:

The role of the UK within the United Nations (UN), NATO, the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The UK’s membership of the EU and its impact upon the UK.
How the UK has assisted in resolving international disputes and conflicts, and the range of methods used.
How non-governmental organisations (NGOs) respond to humanitarian crises.

05

How can citizens make their voice heard and make a difference in society?

We will learn about:

The opportunities and barriers to citizen participation in democracy.
The range of actions a citizen can take who wishes to hold those in power to account; the advantages and disadvantages of joining an interest group or political party, standing for election, campaigning, advocacy, lobbying, petitions, joining a demonstration and volunteering.
The role of organisations such as; public services, interest groups, pressure groups, trade unions, charities and voluntary groups and how they play a role in providing a voice and support for different groups in society.
Two different examples of how citizens working together, or through groups, attempt to change or improve their communities through actions to either address public policy, challenge injustice or resolve a local community issue.
How those who wish to bring about change use the media.

06

Citizenship skills, processes and methods

Each of the questions that frame the subject content for this section helps establish a question or hypothesis. This will enable students to develop the citizenship skills, processes and methods listed in this specification. Many of the skills, processes and methods listed can also be developed through the use of a case study approach.

GCSE | Citizenship Studies | AQA

Rights and responsibilities

This section focuses on the nature of laws and the principles upon which laws are based, how the citizen engages with legal processes, how the justice system operates in the UK, how laws have
developed over time and how society deals with criminality.

01

What laws does a society require and why?

We will learn about:

The fundamental principles of law to ensure rights and freedoms, the presumption of innocence and equality before the law.
The nature of rules and laws in helping society to deal with complex problems of fairness, justice and discrimination.
Rights in local to global situations where there is conflict and where rights and responsibilities need to be balanced.

02

What are a citizen's rights and responsibilities within the legal
system?

We will learn about:

The operation of the justice system:

the role and powers of the police
the role and powers of the judiciary
the roles of legal representatives
how the different criminal and civil courts work
tribunals and other means of dispute resolution.

Rights and legal entitlements of citizens at differing ages: the age of criminal responsibility and other legal ages when young people become legally responsible for their actions (drive, marry, vote, join the forces).
How civil law differs from criminal law.
How the legal systems differ within the UK:

England and Wales
Northern Ireland
Scotland.

03

How has the law developed over time, and how does the law protect the citizen and deal with criminals?

We will learn about:

How citizens' rights have changed and developed over time, from the importance of Magna Carta (1215) to today and the Human Rights Act (1998).
Common law, legislation and how they differ.
The right to representation; the role and history of trade unions in supporting and representing workers; the role of employers’ associations.
The nature of criminality in the UK today:

differing types of crimes
profile of criminality in the UK
factors affecting crime rates in society and strategies to reduce crime.

How we deal with those who commit crime:

differing forms of punishment available in the UK
the purposes of sentencing
the effectiveness of differing types of sentence
how the youth justice system operates.

04

What are the universal human rights and how do we protect them?

We will learn about:

The importance of key international agreement and treaties in regard to human rights:

the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights
the European Convention on Human Rights
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
the Human Rights Act (1998).

The role of international law in conflict situations:

to protect victims of conflict
how international humanitarian law helps establish the rules of war.

05

How do citizens play a part to bring about change in the legal
system?

We will learn about:

Students through their study, research, investigations or interaction with members of the community should understand the roles undertaken by citizens within the legal system and how the role of the citizen has been seen to be pivotal to our justice system. Students should understand the responsibilities and roles of citizens in the legal system; as a juror, witness, a victim of crime, magistrate, special constable, police commissioner or member of a tribunal hearing.
The roles played by pressure and interest groups, trade unions, charities and voluntary groups, public institutions and public services in providing a voice and support for different groups in society campaigning to bring about a legal change or to fight an injustice.
Students should be aware of the different forms of democratic and citizenship actions people can take to bring about change and hold those in positions of power to account in regard to issues relating to human rights and the justice system: joining an interest group; campaigning; advocacy; lobbying; petitions; joining a demonstration; volunteering.

06

Citizenship processes, skills and methods

GCSE | Citizenship Studies | AQA

Politics and participation

This section focuses on the nature of political power in the UK and the core concepts relating to democracy and government.

01

Where does political power reside in the UK and how is it

controlled?

We will learn about:

The concept of democracy and different forms of democracy, including representative democracy.
The values underpinning democracy: rights, responsibilities, freedoms, equality, the rule of law.
The institutions of the British constitution: the power of government, the Prime Minister and cabinet; the sovereignty of Parliament; the roles of the legislature, the opposition, political parties, the Monarch, citizens, the judiciary, the police and the Civil Service.
How the relationships between the institutions form an uncodified British constitution and examples of how this is changing.

02

What are the powers of local and devolved government and how can citizens participate?

We will learn about:

The role and structure of elected local government; the services provided by local government for citizens in local communities; roles and accountability of councillors.
The nature and organisation of regional and devolved government: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
How powers are organised between the Westminster Parliament and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; how relations are changing between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; the debate about ‘English votes for English laws’.
Who can stand for election and how candidates are selected.
Who can and cannot vote in elections and why; debates about the voting age.
Issues relating to voter turnout, voter apathy and suggestions for increasing voter turnout at elections.
How public taxes are raised and spent by government locally and nationally.
The practice of budgeting and managing risk and how it is used by government to manage complex decisions about the allocation of public funding.
Different viewpoints and debates about how governments and other service providers make provision for welfare, health, the elderly and education.

03

Where does political power reside: with the citizen, parliament or government?

We will learn about:

The nature of the 'First Past the Post' system based on parliamentary constituencies; the frequency of Westminster elections.
Other voting systems used in UK elections, including proportional systems and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
The difference between the executive, the legislature, the judiciary and the monarchy. The nature of bicameral Westminster parliament, the respective roles of and the relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords and the role of the monarch.
The major political parties contesting UK general elections; key philosophical differences between the political parties operating in UK general elections.
How parliament works: scrutinising government and making it accountable; parliamentary questions, committees, debates.
The role of Members of Parliament (MPs); representing their constituencies, debating policy; scrutinising legislation.
Ceremonial roles including Black Rod; key parliamentary roles including the Speaker, whips, front bench and back bench MPs.
The legislative process; parliamentary debates and deliberation of public issues and policy.
The formation of government by the leader of the political party with a majority in the House of Commons, or by a coalition of parties.
The role of the Prime Minister, cabinet and ministers; the power of the Prime Minister and cabinet.
The organisation of government administration into departments, ministries and agencies; role of the civil service.

04

How do others govern themselves?

We will learn about:

Electoral systems and processes used in European parliamentary elections; the impact of these systems on the composition of political parties representing citizens.
Key differences in how citizens can or cannot participate in politics in one democratic and one nondemocratic political system that is outside the UK.

05

How can citizens try to bring about political change?

We will learn about:

How citizens can contribute to parliamentary democracy and hold those in power to account.
How digital democracy, social media and other measures are being developed as a means to improve voter engagement and the political participation of citizens.
The different forms of action citizens can take to hold those in power to account for their actions; how the citizen can contribute to public life by joining an interest group or political party: standing for election; campaigning; advocacy; lobbying; petitions; joining a demonstration; volunteering.
The roles played by public institutions, public services, interest and pressure groups, trade unions, charities and voluntary groups in providing a voice and support for different groups in society.