social studies, dutch politics

8/19/2019 Social studies, Dutch Politics

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Social studies, School exam Politics

1.1 The aim of social studies

Democratically = by means of elections, citizens have a certain amount ofinuence on the rules and regulations which apply in their

society.

Social problem = 1 has consequences for large groups of people in society

2 is caused by social developments

3 has to do with conicting

interests 4 demands a social

solution

Conicting interests = problems arise from dierences in ! political vision,

religious conviction, philosophy of life or socio"economicstatus.

Dilemma = # di$cult choice between two or more alternatives.

alues = basic principles that people consider important and

for which they therefore want to aspire.

!orms = views on how we are supposed to behave on basis of

a certain value.

"deals = %oncrete values that we very much want to realise.

"nterest = something which is to the advantage or disadvantage of a

group or person.

Po#er = having authority to forcible inuence the behaviour

of others.

Dynamics of a society = the constant changing of norms, values and

interests. &epends on place time and the group of people.

Social cohesion = 'he degree to which people who are bound together

socially get the feeling that they belong together.

1.$ %no#ing #hat is going on

Communication = passing on information

&anipulation = when facts are purposely left out or distorted without the

receiver being aware of it.

Propaganda = intentionally giving one sided information to the purpose ofinuencing people(s opinion.


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"ndoctrination = by which systematically and forcefully, one sided views are

imposed on the public for a long time so that the public

accepts these views uncritically.

$.1 The concept an origin of the rule of la#

State under the rule of la# = a state in which citizens have basic rights and

are protected against the power and arbitrary actions of

government authorities.

The rule of la# = a social contract between citizens and the

government. )oth have their duties. 'he citizens for

e*ample have to go to school and the government has to defend

the citizens in case of danger.

'undamental rights = rights that are so basic to the freedom, personal

development, welfare and protection of the individual and of

groups, that they have been embedded in the

constitution.

Principle of legality = the government is only allowed to restrict the liberty

of citizens if those restrictions have already been set down in

laws and apply to everyone.

$.$ The constitutional and fundamental rights

Constitution = grondwet , was +rst drawn up in 114. %onsisted

from 3 parts! 1 'raditional basic rights

2 )asic social rights

3 -rganisation of power

ome rights are conicting because they spea/ against each other and there is

no order of importance between the laws in the constitution. 'he order in which

they apply is decided by the 0udge who loo/s at the current importance of the

dierent laws. or e*ample in the past religion was important whereas after the

depilarisation it became less important.

$.( Trias politica ) Seperation or balance of

po#ers*

Trias politica 'he trias politica was found by ontesquieu in 14.

5t is about the the separation of the powers in a society.

5t consisted of 3 powers ! 1 the 6egislative power

7ma/ing, changing and abolishing rules8. 2 e*ecutive


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power 7implementing the laws in concreate cases8. 3 0udicial

power 79udgement on laws and solving problems with the 6aw8.

Trias poltica "n the !etherlands

:arliament ! 1st and 2nd chamber

inisters 9udges

:olice

The interplay bet#een the po#ers

5f a law is made by the parliament 7legislati+e po#er8 that you have to carry a

5& from the age of 14 to be able to identify yourself. 'he police 7executi+e

po#er8 has the tas/ to control if people have their 5& with them but that(s only

permitted if someone as/s suspiciously or bro/e a law. 5f the accused person

thin/s he didn(t do anything wrong he can go to court 7 udicial po#er8 so an

independent 0udge can loo/ at a case and ma/e the decision if the police o$cer

was right or not.

6egislatieve ';5#

:-65'5%#

e*ecutive 9udicial

';5# :-65'5%#

inisters


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# wea/ness of the 'rias politica in the =etherlands is that the e*ecutive power is

able to propose laws as well while the concept of the trias politica is that all

powers are independent which they clearly aren(t because of the e*ecutive power

can propose laws as well.

(.1-hat is Politics*

:olitics is the way a country is ruled.

'here are 2 main ways in which to control a country !

• &ictatorship

• &emocracy

Dictatorship

eatures of a dictatorship !

• 'he three powers 7trias politica8 cannot be separated and are in the hands

of a small group of people.

• # dictatorship has no rule of law.

• 5ndividual freedom is restricted.

• 'here is no political freedom. 7opponents are sometimes even murdered8.

• 'hose in power defend their power with a hard hand.

• =o independent 0udiciary

•ass media and art world are censored by the government.

5n an autocratic dictatorship there is one leading +gure often a military o$cer

whereas in a totalitarian dictatorship emerges when a party seizes power via an

ideological revolution.

Democracy

'he features of a democracy !

• >verything is decided by referendums. 7direct democracy8


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• 'he people elect representatives who ma/e the decisions. 7representative

democracy8

• :ower based on trias politica.7representative democracy8

• 5ndividual freedom.

• )asic political rights apply.

• #rmy and police have restricted powers.• 'here is an independent 0udiciary.

• reedom of the press.

'he =etherlands is a constitutional monarchy.

(.$ Political mo+ements

"deology = # body of related ideas about man and the way society should

develop.

:oints of view that that emerge from ideologies have to do with three aspects !

• =orms and values

• ocio"economic relationships

• &ivision of power

'here are three main ideologies !

• 6iberalism

• ocialism

• &enomination nationalism

iberalism

what is good for the individual is good for the individual

people are not the same but they are equal

personal and economic freedom

free mar/et economy

'he government should con+ne to the /ey tas/s ! defence, education andsafeguarding

??&, &@@ 7right progressive8

Socialism

'he concepts of freedom and equality only mean something when people

get equal opportunities.

• how solidarity

• ighting for equality

• %ommunists wanted the wor/ers to ta/e power through revolution.

• 'he ocial democrats wanted to achieve social improvementsconstitutionally.


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• Anowledge, income and power

• :vd#, : Broenlin/s 7left progressive8

Denomination nationalism

•

)ased on religious views-rganic concept

%ristian democrats

ocial intermediaries

tewardship

%, %risten Cnie and B: 7conservative parties8.

(.( Political parties the political cross) Freedom

Modern

Individualistic

Extreem links norms and values

Equality

Low level of income dierence high level of income

dierence

Big role government small role of government

Lots of social services big army and olice force

!igh taxes low level of taxes

:rogressie

%onservatie

6eft wing ;ight wing


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"ld fashioned

#eligious

$ollectivistic

The +ertical line is called the socio/economic clea+age.

The hori0ontal line is called the ethical clea+age.

:rogressie

&@@Broen

lin/s

B:

:

:??

%

%onservatie

6eft wing ;ight wing

:vd#

:vd&

??&

%C


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'he % is moving to the middle D

(. 2lections

'here are 2 main election systems !

• :roportional representation

• &istrict system

Proportional representation

• ?otes casts are distributed between the available number of seats.

• 3uota the number votes you need to win one seat.

• trength ! every vote counts.

• Eea/ness ! small parties have their say in debates which ma/es them

longer.

District system

• %ountry divided in districts.

• >ach district sends 1 representative 7the one who gets most votes8.

• trength ! representative /nows the district.

• Eea/ness ! only the ma0ority of votes count but not every vote.

;epresentative might be more interested in the districtthan the country.

-e base our +ote on )

• 'he views of the party

• -ur own interests

• 'he party who does best in the ran/ings

• 'he charisma of the party leader

4fter the elections


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1. econd chamber appoints an informateur 7see/s the most suitable

combinations of parties8.$. 'hey ma/e a governmental agreement 7collections of plans and laws the

coalition is agreeing on8.(. econd chamber appoints a formateur 7 see/s for the most suitable

persons for the to be divided posts in the cabinet8.. %rown appoints the new cabinet. 7bordesfoto8

(.5 6o+ernment and Parliament

'he :arliament consists of the irst and 2nd chamber, 0ointly called the tates

Beneral.

$nd Chamber

'he 2 main tas/s of the 2nd chamber are !

/ 'o ma/e and approve laws 7co"legislation8

/ 'o /eep a chec/ on the government"

'o be able to perform there %o"legislative tas/ they have some rights !

;ight of amendment 7wetvoorstellen wi0zigen8

;ight of initiative 7zelf wetvoorstellen indienen8

)udgetary right

'o be able to perform their %hec/ing tas/ the have some rights !

• ;ight of motion 7uitspraa/ van de /amer8

• ;ight to question

• ;ight of enquiry 7 parlementaire onderzoe/s commissie8

1st Chamber 7Senate8

'he role of the 1st chamber is to chec/ laws and accept or re0ect them.


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'he 1st chamber has no right of initiative and amendment because they have to

chec/ the law and are not allowed to change it because they can ma/e mista/es

as well and it is not in their prescription to change laws.

$.9 Politics in practise

Surrounding 'actors )

• &emographic 7composition of the population8

• >cological 7interaction between man and environment8

• %ultural 7factors which arise from the country(s history8

• >conomic 7the rate of economic development8

• 'echnological 7 development in medical and other technology8


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• ocial 7division into social classes8

• 5nternational 7>C8

social studies, dutch politics

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