Parliamentary democracy - Politics in practice

Question 1

System model

Answer 1

A model that serves as an aid to understanding how political systems work. It is divided into four different phases: input, conversion, output and feedback.

Question 2

Input

Answer 2

The phase where society puts forward all sorts of needs and requirements

Question 3

Conversion

Answer 3

The phase where the administrators convert the issue place on the political agenda into policy

Question 4

Output

Answer 4

The phase where the made decision is implemented

Question 5

Feedback

Answer 5

When reactions and actions from society are evoked, because of the new bill > politicians can assess if the policy has had the desired effect

Question 6

Gatekeepers

Answer 6

Consisting of the mass media, pressure groups and political parties. They have the opportunity to translate needs in society into concrete political demands

Question 7

Policy preparation

Answer 7

When civil servants investigate the issue and write their advice on the course of action to be taken

Question 8

Policy implementation

Answer 8

The step where the policy is implemented: civil servants arrange everything so that work can get underway and see to the financing of the project. The ministers bear final responsibility

Question 9

Political and social actors

Answer 9

All the individual citizens, groups, administrative bodies and agencies who are involved with the political decision-making process

Question 10

Political debate

Answer 10

All the various interests are not only considered, but also solutions are proposed that satisfy as many people as possible in the interaction between political and social actors

Question 11

Policy

Answer 11

The conscious use of ways and means to realize an intended goal

Question 12

Civil servants

Answer 12

Civil servants who assist administrators are concerned with policy preparation, policy formulation and policy implementation. Civil servants are the fourth power.

Question 13

Pressure groups

Answer 13

Groups that put pressure on politicians in the hope of persuading them to support their point of view

Question 14

Special interest groups

Answer 14

A type of pressure group that defends the interests of a certain group in society

Question 15

Action organizations

Answer 15

A type of pressure group that works to draw attention to a particular theme or issue

Question 16

Lobbying

Answer 16

A method which consists of trying to get support for your views and interests by approaching decision makers personally

Question 17

Social partnes

Answer 17

The most prominent interest groups: the trade unions and the employers’ organizations

Question 18

Freedom of Information Act

Answer 18

A law that obliges the government to make all information public. Matters which have to do with the security of the state or the privacy of individuals do not fall under this law

Question 19

Pluralism of the media

Answer 19

That there is a wide variety of media to choose from: newspapers, TV stations, websites and magazines

Question 20

Surrounding factors

Answer 20

Factors that are not directly a part of the problem, but which do influence the decision-making: demographic, ecological, cultural, economic, technological, social, international.