Exam Questions: Various Flashcards
What is social policy?
Give 5 examples
What governments chose to do or not to do About the well-being of people Housing Health Environment Transport Education Welfare Economy
What are the different forms that social policy can come in?
Name at least 3
Proposal Decision of government Formal authorisation A programme An output An outcome A field of activity eg. education
Who are the key actors involved in the policy making process?
Ministers MPs Departments and officials Judiciary Interest groups Citizens/stakeholders
Can you name the 5 stages of the policy cycle?
Agenda setting - where ideas come from, command govt attention Formulating policy - fleshing out issues Making decisions - to act or not Implementation Evaluation
What is involved in formulating policy?
Working out the issue/s
Identifying solutions, possible actions
Assessing consequences
Consulting with stakeholders/interest groups
When are policies evaluated?
Once in place
While they are being implemented or after implementation
Name 3 strengths of the policy cycle
Useful tool
Imposes order
Identifies progress
Name 3 weaknesses of the policy cycle
Not rational
Assumes value free
Doesn’t show complexity or people involvement
What are the 2 different types of constitutions which countries can have?
Written or unwritten
NZ is not formally codified
Name 3 places where you could locate parts of NZ’s constitution
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
What are the 3 branches of government and what does each do?
Legislature - makes law
Executive - initiates and administers law
Judiciary - applies law (develops common law)
What does the term ‘responsible government mean?
Ministers must be elected MPs Government needs support Confidence of the House Political executive must be drawn from the House Single parliamentary chamber
What does unicameral mean?
Single chamber - just House of Representatives
As opposed to double which has senate and House of Representatives
What is the role and function of Parliament?
Passing law
Royal assent (by GG)
Scrutinising the executive
Parliament makes law and holds the government to account for its policies, actions, and spending
What word do we use to describe the Political Executive and what do they do?
Cabinet
Location of agenda setting and decision making
What is the Administrative Executive and what do they do?
Public sector - implements policy/law and may evaluate, advise
Are accountable to ministers, financial reviews of spending
What are the 4 different types of Bills that can be passed through Parliament?
Government Bills
Member Bills
Local Bills
Private Bills
Name the stages of the legislative process (there’s 6)
Intro - first reading Select Committee Second reading Committee Third reading Royal assent
What does proportionality mean?
Should reflect party make up
What are the steps involved in a committee processing a Bill?
Call for submissions Briefing from officials Hearing the evidence Consider Department report Ask council to draft amendments Commentary - report
Who are the judiciary and what role do they play?
The courts
Administer law and interpret meaning of law
What does it mean to have separation of powers?
Judicial independence
Security of tenure
What is MMP and when did it come into effect in NZ?
Mixed Member Proportional
1993 Referendum
1996 Implementation
What are the 4 types of government you can have under MMP?
Single party majority
Coalition majority
Single party minority
Coalition minority
What are the key differences between First Past the Post (FFP) and Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)?
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.
Why are coalition agreements so important?
May enable government to get confidence + supply votes.
Sets structure for agenda setting and decision making on particular issues
What are the functions of political parties?
Provide representation - electoral + political party
Offer choice
Machinery of politics
Speak up for local concerns
What political parties currently have seats in Parliament?
7 Parties in 51st Parliament
Green, Labour, National, NZ First, Act, Maori, United Future
Describe a left wing versus right wing political system
Collectivist
Universalism
Strong welfare state
Individual
Market
Minimal state
Safety net
How do interest groups differ from political parties?
Not political parties
No need for membership
Private
Not in parliament
Why are interest groups important and what role do they perform?
Opportunity to have collective influence
- chance to have a say
- shared interests
- lobbying political parties and MPs
What are the main differences between a two party and multiparty political system?
2 party - majoritarian, elected ‘dictatorship’, speed to get legislation through.
Multiparty - many parties; slower for decision making, and implementation, more voices, contested.
