13.3 Political Pressures

Question 1

What are the 3 political pressures?

Answer 1

• domestic political pressures
• internal political pressures
• international political pressures

Question 2

What are domestic political pressures?

Answer 2

• makes sure that members of parliament and the government are responsive to the needs of the people

Question 3

What are the strengths of domestic political pressures?

Answer 3

• enables individual members of the community, business groups and organisations and pressure groups to have a sense that they can influence members of the government

Question 4

What are the weaknesses of domestic political pressures?

Answer 4

• small but vocal minority pressure groups and powerful businesses and organisations may place excessive pressure on politicians and impede important law reform

Question 5

What are internal political pressures?

Answer 5

Individual members of parliament may disagree with their party’s view and still feel compelled to vote in accordance with their party.

A member may “cross the floor”

Question 6

What are international political pressures?

Answer 6

Politicians and governments can be influenced by political pressure from international forces including other countries, international organisations and multinational corporations

Question 7

What is ratification?

Answer 7

Confirming by a nation’s parliament of its approval of an international treaty signed by its government.

Question 8

What is a weakness of internal political pressures?

Answer 8

• Denial of a conscience vote can detract from a representative government
• Internal party disagreement can also distract the government from its legislative priorities

Question 9

What are the strengths of an internal political pressures?

Answer 9

• Voting along party lines ensure certainty and stability

Question 10

What are the strengths of International political pressures?

Answer 10

• ratifying international treaties can improve the quality of domestic laws and encourage stronger relationships with other countries

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of International political pressures?

Answer 11

• may restrict the parliament’s ability to pass different domestic laws to suit local circumstances
• International organisations may act in the interest of other countries instead of Australia’s