Exam Questions: Various

Question 1

What is social policy?

Give 5 examples

Answer 1

What governments chose to do or not to do
About the well-being of people
Housing
Health
Environment
Transport
Education
Welfare
Economy

Question 2

What are the different forms that social policy can come in?

Name at least 3

Answer 2

Proposal
Decision of government
Formal authorisation
A programme
An output
An outcome
A field of activity eg. education

Question 3

Who are the key actors involved in the policy making process?

Answer 3

Ministers
MPs
Departments and officials
Judiciary
Interest groups
Citizens/stakeholders

Question 4

Can you name the 5 stages of the policy cycle?

Answer 4

Agenda setting - where ideas come from, command govt attention
Formulating policy - fleshing out issues
Making decisions - to act or not
Implementation
Evaluation

Question 5

What is involved in formulating policy?

Answer 5

Working out the issue/s
Identifying solutions, possible actions
Assessing consequences
Consulting with stakeholders/interest groups

Question 6

When are policies evaluated?

Answer 6

Once in place

While they are being implemented or after implementation

Question 7

Name 3 strengths of the policy cycle

Answer 7

Useful tool
Imposes order
Identifies progress

Question 8

Name 3 weaknesses of the policy cycle

Answer 8

Not rational
Assumes value free
Doesn’t show complexity or people involvement

Question 9

What are the 2 different types of constitutions which countries can have?

Answer 9

Written or unwritten

NZ is not formally codified

Question 10

Name 3 places where you could locate parts of NZ’s constitution

Answer 10

T.O.W.
Common Law
Statutes
Electoral Act 1993
Constitution Act 1986
Official Information Act 1988
State Sector Act 1988
Bill of Rights Act 1990

Question 11

What are the 3 branches of government and what does each do?

Answer 11

Legislature - makes law
Executive - initiates and administers law
Judiciary - applies law (develops common law)

Question 12

What does the term ‘responsible government mean?

Answer 12

Ministers must be elected MPs
Government needs support
Confidence of the House
Political executive must be drawn from the House
Single parliamentary chamber

Question 13

What does unicameral mean?

Answer 13

Single chamber - just House of Representatives

As opposed to double which has senate and House of Representatives

Question 14

What is the role and function of Parliament?

Answer 14

Passing law
Royal assent (by GG)
Scrutinising the executive
Parliament makes law and holds the government to account for its policies, actions, and spending

Question 15

What word do we use to describe the Political Executive and what do they do?

Answer 15

Cabinet

Location of agenda setting and decision making

Question 16

What is the Administrative Executive and what do they do?

Answer 16

Public sector - implements policy/law and may evaluate, advise

Are accountable to ministers, financial reviews of spending

Question 17

What are the 4 different types of Bills that can be passed through Parliament?

Answer 17

Government Bills
Member Bills
Local Bills
Private Bills

Question 18

Name the stages of the legislative process (there’s 6)

Answer 18

Intro - first reading
Select Committee
Second reading
Committee
Third reading
Royal assent

Question 19

What does proportionality mean?

Answer 19

Should reflect party make up

Question 20

What are the steps involved in a committee processing a Bill?

Answer 20

Call for submissions
Briefing from officials
Hearing the evidence
Consider Department report
Ask council to draft amendments
Commentary - report

Question 21

Who are the judiciary and what role do they play?

Answer 21

The courts

Administer law and interpret meaning of law

Question 22

What does it mean to have separation of powers?

Answer 22

Judicial independence

Security of tenure

Question 23

What is MMP and when did it come into effect in NZ?

Answer 23

Mixed Member Proportional
1993 Referendum
1996 Implementation

Question 24

What are the 4 types of government you can have under MMP?

Answer 24

Single party majority
Coalition majority
Single party minority
Coalition minority

Question 25

What are the key differences between First Past the Post (FFP) and Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)?

Answer 25

FFP - 1 person = 1 vote (electorate vote). Person with the most votes wins the seat. Larger party usually wins a share of seats larger than their share of all votes across the country (120 seats).

MMP - 120 seats. 70 electorates - each elects an MP, other MPs are elected from party lists (List MPs). 2 votes = party, electorate. Political party must win 1 electorate or 5% of party votes.

Question 26

Why are coalition agreements so important?

Answer 26

May enable government to get confidence + supply votes.

Sets structure for agenda setting and decision making on particular issues

Question 27

What are the functions of political parties?

Answer 27

Provide representation - electoral + political party
Offer choice
Machinery of politics
Speak up for local concerns

Question 28

What political parties currently have seats in Parliament?

Answer 28

7 Parties in 51st Parliament

Green, Labour, National, NZ First, Act, Maori, United Future

Question 29

Describe a left wing versus right wing political system

Answer 29

Collectivist
Universalism
Strong welfare state

Individual
Market
Minimal state
Safety net

Question 30

How do interest groups differ from political parties?

Answer 30

Not political parties
No need for membership
Private
Not in parliament

Question 31

Why are interest groups important and what role do they perform?

Answer 31

Opportunity to have collective influence

• chance to have a say
• shared interests
• lobbying political parties and MPs

Question 32

What are the main differences between a two party and multiparty political system?

Answer 32

2 party - majoritarian, elected ‘dictatorship’, speed to get legislation through.

Multiparty - many parties; slower for decision making, and implementation, more voices, contested.