Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I: Getting Started with British Politics 5
Chapter 1: Taking in the Political Universe 7
Chapter 2: Understanding Why Politics and Politicians are Important 21
Chapter 3: Looking at Participatory Democracy 35
Chapter 4: Examining Political Ideologies 49
Chapter 5: Forming the British Political State 67
Part II: Elections and Britain’s Parties 81
Chapter 6: Counting the Votes: Differing Electoral Systems 83
Chapter 7: Voting Behaviour and Trends 99
Chapter 8: Homing in on Political Parties 117
Chapter 9: Piling on the Pressure Groups 141
Chapter 10: Scrutinising Politics and the Media 161
Chapter 11: Taking Politics to the Masses: Social Media 175
Part III: The Ins and Outs of Parliament 183
Chapter 12: Examining Britain’s Constitution 185
Chapter 13: Britain’s Parliamentary Democracy 199
Chapter 14: Gazing at the Summit: The PM and Cabinet 221
Chapter 15: Assessing Ministers and Civil Servants 237
Chapter 16: Taking in the Courts and Judiciary 249
Chapter 17: Laying Bare Local Government and Devolution 261
Chapter 18: Focusing on Devolution and the Independence Debate 271
Part IV: Politics Worldwide 291
Chapter 19: Understanding Britain’s Place in the World 293
Chapter 20: Taking In the International Stage 303
Chapter 21: Expanding Horizons: Europe and the EU 317
Chapter 22: Leading the Free World: US Politics 335
Part V: The Part of Tens 353
Chapter 23: Ten Great Prime Ministers 355
Chapter 24: Ten Major Political Scandals 363
Chapter 25: Ten Political Events That Shaped the Modern World 371
Chapter 26: Ten Political Trends for the Future 379
Index 385
