Exam Questions: Section B

Question 1

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the MMP electoral system for effective minority representation/Maori representation.

Answer 1

The percentage of votes cast translates into an equivalent number of seats in parliament.
Minority parties are more able to gain seats in parliament.

Question 2

What role do coalition agreements play in the policy making process and what tensions exist for those involved?

Discuss with relation to the current coalition arrangement.

Answer 2

• “Confidence and Supply” - while a party is not in govt it will support the govt on procedural motions (eg voting for govt for confidence of the House).
• Or Cooperation Agreement where parties do not commit themselves to supporting the govt on all issues.
• Takes time, strategy, trade-offs and negotiations.
• Parties must settle on a single policy agenda.
• Parties must balance policy specificity and flexibility.

National, ACT, United Future, Maori Party

Question 3

Discuss what it means to have a ‘majoritarian’ legislature and explain the impact of this on policy making.

Answer 3

FPP Parliaments were dominated by Labour and National and minor parties were generally only able to win a small number of seats.

Majoritarian governments do not equally represent the diversity of the population and it’s citizens and therefore when policies are being made, this process reflects this.

Question 4

What is policy formation and when does it occur?

Answer 4

It occurs after the agenda-setting.

Used to research policy issues, goals, possible actions, assessing costs and alternatives.

Question 5

What is policy formation and when does it occur?

Answer 5

It occurs after the agenda-setting.

Used to research policy issues, goals, possible actions, assessing costs and alternatives.

Question 6

Discuss the benefits (advantages and disadvantages) of having a constitution that is not codified (unwritten) in one document.

Answer 6

A constitution is the rules which set out how a government can use its power.

• It allows flexibility for some changes to easily occur.
• MMP was the biggest change to the constitution which allowed a better representation of NZ citizens, which limited the power of the executive.
• The government can be held accountable for it’s actions.
• Parliament can abuse it’s power.
• Rules for the institutions and procedures for the exercise of power were scattered.
• As it’s not supreme law, the NZ judiciary does not have the role or power to strike down other laws as inconsistent with the Act.