Political and Policy Passages

Political and policy passages are a staple of LNAT Section A. They discuss government decisions, public policy debates, political principles, and the exercise of power. These passages test your ability to evaluate competing claims, recognise ideological assumptions, and follow arguments about what governments should or should not do — all without requiring any specialist knowledge of politics.

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What Political and Policy Passages Look Like

These passages typically argue for or against a particular policy, critique a government decision, or explore a political principle (such as the limits of state power, the role of democracy, or the balance between liberty and security).

Common Topics

Category	Example Topics
Criminal justice	Sentencing policy, prison reform, rehabilitation vs. punishment
Constitutional reform	House of Lords, devolution, electoral systems, a written constitution
Civil liberties	Surveillance, freedom of speech, protest rights, censorship
Social policy	Healthcare funding, education policy, welfare reform, housing
International affairs	Military intervention, foreign aid, international law, sovereignty
Economic policy	Taxation, austerity, public spending, privatisation