US Government and Politics (AS only) 8293
Explore US government, political processes and civil liberties. Use sources to explain institutions and evaluate political arguments.
What you'll cover
- The Constitution
- Institutions of Government
- Features of Politics
- Constitutional Protections and Civil Rights
Published syllabus exam years: 2028, 2029, 2030. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge International AS Level US Government & Politics 8293 syllabus map
2028–2030 Version 1 · standalone AS Level
15 of 15 syllabus topics have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
Original teaching and guided, independent and transfer practice are mapped to all 15 sections of the 2028–2030 Version 1 syllabus. Section 4.4 has separate lessons on race, gender and disability rights. This remains a partial preparation resource: full digital exam-length practice, full analysis of all mandatory documents and landmark cases, subject-specialist review and official marking are not provided. This is a standalone AS Level qualification for centres in the United States of America. The syllabus is for June examinations in 2028–2030, uses digital exams and is not available in every administrative zone. Confirm local availability and entry with Cambridge and the exam centre.
This is a standalone AS Level qualification for centres in the United States of America. The syllabus is for June examinations in 2028–2030, uses digital exams and is not available in every administrative zone. Confirm local availability and entry with Cambridge and the exam centre.
Choose your paper route
- Component 1 · Government1 hour 30 minutes · 50 marks · 50% · digital exam
Six short-answer and extended-response questions on Topics 1 and 2. A question is linked to a mandatory key document. Teaching now covers all listed topics; full component practice and complete key-document review remain outstanding.
- Component 2 · Politics1 hour 30 minutes · 50 marks · 50% · digital exam
Six short-answer, data-response and extended-response questions on Topics 3 and 4. A question is linked to a mandatory landmark Supreme Court case. All listed sections have mapped original teaching and staged practice; full component practice and complete mandatory-case review remain outstanding.
View syllabus coverage
This is a standalone AS Level qualification for centres in the United States of America. The syllabus is for June examinations in 2028–2030, uses digital exams and is not available in every administrative zone. Confirm local availability and entry with Cambridge and the exam centre. This original StudyForA course maps teaching and staged practice to all 15 syllabus sections, including separate race, gender and disability-rights lessons under section 4.4. Full digital examination practice, complete analysis of all mandatory documents and landmark cases against official resources, and subject-specialist review remain outstanding. It is not Cambridge-authored material and does not provide official marks.
Topic 1 · The Constitution
- Democracy and the American Revolutionary Era1.1
- Articles of Confederation and the Need for the Constitutional Convention1.2
- Constitutional Debates and Checks and Balances1.3
- Federalism1.4
Topic 2 · Institutions of Government
- Legislative Branch2.1
- Executive Branch2.2
- Judicial Branch2.3
Topic 3 · Features of Politics
- Political Beliefs and Political Parties3.1
- Political Participation3.2
- Interest Groups3.3
- The Media3.4
Topic 4 · Constitutional Protections and Civil Rights
- First Amendment Rights4.1
- Second Amendment Rights4.2
- Other Civil Liberties in the Bill of Rights4.3
- Expansion of Civil Rights4.4
Assessment gap
- Digital assessment practice and reliable markingDIGITAL-PRACTICE · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Specialist review gap
- Complete mandatory document and landmark-case reviewDOCUMENT-CASE-REVIEW · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Government · Topics 1 and 2Component 1 · 7 lessonsDemocracy and the American Revolutionary EraThe Articles of Confederation and Shays’ RebellionConstitutional debates, compromises and ratificationFederalism and the division of constitutional powersCongress: lawmaking, representation and procedureThe President and the executive branchThe federal judiciary and constitutional interpretation
All listed topics have original lessons and staged practice. Full component assessment, complete mandatory key-document review and digital timed practice remain outstanding.
- Politics · Topics 3 and 4Component 2 · 10 lessonsPolitical beliefs and political partiesElections, voting and public opinionInterest groups and political influenceThe media and political influenceFirst Amendment rightsSecond Amendment rightsOther civil liberties: accused people and privacyCivil rights protections and raceCivil rights protections and genderCivil rights protections and disability rights
Every Topic 3 and 4 syllabus section has mapped original teaching and staged practice. Full component practice and complete mandatory-case review remain outstanding.
Lessons and worked examples
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- 01
Democracy and the American Revolutionary Era
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Not started - 02
The Articles of Confederation and Shays’ Rebellion
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Not started - 03
Constitutional debates, compromises and ratification
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Federalism and the division of constitutional powers
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Not started - 05
Congress: lawmaking, representation and procedure
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Not started - 06
The President and the executive branch
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Not started - 07
The federal judiciary and constitutional interpretation
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Not started - 08
Political beliefs and political parties
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Not started - 09
Elections, voting and public opinion
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Not started - 10
Interest groups and political influence
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Not started - 11
The media and political influence
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Not started - 12
First Amendment rights
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Not started - 13
Second Amendment rights
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Not started - 14
Other civil liberties: accused people and privacy
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Not started - 15
Civil rights protections and race
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Not started - 16
Civil rights protections and gender
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Not started - 17
Civil rights protections and disability rights
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These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
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Browse 15 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.