The following FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) usually come to a candidate's mind when opting for POLITICAL SCIENCES and CONSTITUTIONAL LAW as Specialist subjects.I'll try to cover each question that comes to my mind,but to err is human,therefore,if any important detail is overlooked please don't hesitate to add it.

Ready?Let's go:

1-What is POLITICAL SCIENCE?

-A subject worth 200 marks,Political Science,as the name suggests,is an aquaintal with the political systems of the world,their ORIGINS,EVOLUTIONS,CONCEPTS and WORKING.Every country has some unique political feature to offer and today there are nearly 200 known countries in the entire world (don't stare at the screen so wide eyed,you do'nt have to study them all)!!!

2-Why should i opt for POLITICAL SCIENCE?Is it a SCORING subject?

-It's a very popular choice although not as scoring as MERCANTILE LAW,PURE MATHEMATICS,APPLIED MATHEMATICS,and ACCOUNTANCY n AUDITING,but the only sane choice for candidates whose skill in the above named subjects is zilch!
Then again,candidates have been known to bag 145/200 marks in it as well whereas even 110/200 is considered a good score.

3-What should i know about Political Sciences (P.S) Paper 1?

-The paper totals a 100 marks and comprises of 8 questions,of which you will be required to attempt 5;2 from each section;4 descriptives and 1 compulsory Multiple Choice Question (MCQs).

*P.S Paper 1 is called POLITICAL THOUGHT AND THEORY.It is divided into 2 sections.
*SECTION A is further sub-divided into:

~Western Political Thought,and
~Muslim Political Thought.

4-What does the Western Political Thought cover?

-It refers to the political ideas of well known political thinkers of the Greek and Western history,namely;PLATO,ARISTOTLE,MACHIAVELLI,MONTESQ UIEU,HOBBES,LOCKE,ROUSSEAU,BENTHAM,MILL,MARX,LENIN and MAO.

5-What does Muslim Political Thought cover?

-It embraces the political ideas,opinions and works of well known Muslim Political Scientists,including; AL-FARABI, AL-MAWARDI, NIZAM-UL-MULK TUSI, AL-GHAZALI, IBN E KHALEDUN and Dr.ALLAMA MOHAMMED IQBAL.

6-Do i have to attempt questions both,from the Western and Muslim Political Thought?

-The examiners did not question the candidates on Muslim Philosophy at all in 2003 (only). Therefore,many candidates generally shun Muslim Philosophy aside in the hope of availing choice questions on Western Political Thought.However,since you will be required to attempt atleast 2/3 or 4 questions in this section,and know they will be tricky ones,therefore,it's best to study both.

7-What does SECTION B cover?

-This section of the paper is called POLITICAL THEORY.It involves the following:

(a) THE NATURE AND EMERGENCE OF MODERN STATE SYSTEM,ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF STATE.

(b) POLITICAL CONCEPTS,SOVEREIGNTY,LAW,LIBERTY,EQUALITY,RIGHTS and DUTIES.

(c) POLITICAL DYNAMICS:PUBLIC OPINION,PROPOGANDA,POLITICAL PARTIES AND PRESSURE GROUPS.

(d) POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS:LEGISLATURE,EXECUTIVE,JUDICIARY,POLIT ICAL ELITES,CIVIL AND MILITARY BUREAUCRACY.

(e) FORMS OF GOVERNMENT:MONARCHY,DEMOCRACY,DICTATORSHIP,UNITARY ,FEDERAL,PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY.

(d) TOTALITARIANISM:FASCISM,COMMUNISM.

(e) LOCAL SELF GOVT (DEVOLUTION PLAN): THEORY AND PRACTICE,WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO OUR HOMELAND.

8-What should i know about Political Sciences (P.S) Paper 2?

-The basics here are the same as in Paper 1.

*SECTION A revolves around Super Powers and the functioning of their Political Institutions.
*These States include:The United States of America (U.S.A),United kingdom (U.K),France and the Former Soviet Union (U.S.S.R)

*SECTION B deals with the developing countries and the functioning of their Political Institutions.
*These States include:The Islamic Republic of Pakistan (I.R.O.P),India,China,Iran and Turkey.
*This section also touches the rise of Muslim Supra-Nationalism in South Asia (S.A) and the role played in it by Muslim leaders namely,SIR SYED AHMED KHAN, Dr.ALLAMA MUHAMMED IQBAL and the political wizard QUAID E AZAM MUHAMMED ALI JINNAH.
*A question is also thrown in relating to the comparision and critical analysis of the 1956.1962,1973 and 1985 Constitutions of Pakistan.

9-Who are the suggested authorities on the discipline?

- The favoured authors are:
~P.S 1/Sec.A: (Western Political Thought) JUDD HARMON-Political Thought From Plato To Present

~P.S 1/Sec.A: MUHAMMED ASLAM CHAUDHRY-Muslim Political Thought (Previously titled Sages Of Ages)

~P.S 1/Sec.B: A.C.KAPUR-Principles of Political Sciences

~P.S 2 : MUHAMMED ASLAM CHAUDHRY-Modern Constitutions,and
MAZHAR UL HAQ-Modern Constitutions (You'll need both)


10-What should i know about CONSTITUIONAL LAW?

-It is a subject of Law totalling 100 marks.
*It is divided into 2 Sections. (Super Powers and the not so Super Powers)
*Revolves around the subject study of the constitutions of the world,Governments and the functioning of their Political Institutions.
E.G:The hot issue of Pakistani politics,the LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER (L.F.O) /17TH Ammendment to the Constitution of Pakistan.
*In its wake,it covers the Constituitions of the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN (I.R.O.P),INDIA,THE UNITED KINGDOM (U.K),THE FORMER UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC (U.S.S.R),and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (U.S.A)

11-Why do candidates prefer to opt for CONSTITUTIONAL LAW in combination with POLITICAL SCIENCES?

-Because the syllabi of the two subjects overlap just like the History of Pakistan and India covers the entire syllabus of Pakistan Affairs.So it saves the time of preparing for an extra subject.

12-Are the questions in both the subject papers the same?

-Absolutely not ! The examiners are aware of this loophole therefore,each subject paper has it's distinctive style of questioning and the examiners STRICTLY stick to this pattern of questioning inorder to avoid duplication.

13-Is it a SCORING subject?

-Candidates have been known to even get 78/100 marks.

14-Which authors are suggested in this discipline?

-MUHAMMED ASLAM CHAUDHRY-Modern Constitutions,and
-Prof.Dr.MUHAMMED SARWAR-Comparitive Governments

15-I have no background in either subjects,will i be able to comprehend them easily?

-My answer to this one always is that did we know how to talk when we were born???(ofcourse,other than the occassional geegee googoo gagaz) If we can learn something as difficult as talking,we can sure as hell do just about anything in this world;provided we apply ourselves to it!

16-Are POLITICAL SCIENCES and CONSTITUTIONAL LAW interesting subjects?

-Depends entirely on personal preferences/apptitudes.

17-What is the best way to attempt the answers?

-Please refer to the thread concerned with the issue,SCORE BOOSTING TACTICS/TIPS AND EXPERIENCE SHARING.

18-Where can i get the past papers?

-In the related thread,PAST PAPERS.Hit 2005 for latest updates and trends.

(NT:I have attemted to take you on an exhaustive survey of the aforementioned subjects but if you have any further queries then please post them here and i will try to answer as often as possible)

Regards,
36th Commons.

__________________
No one is listening,until you make a mistake !!