Social studies, School exam Politics

1.1 The aim of social studies

Democratically
influence on the
society.

= by means of elections, citizens have a certain amount of

rules and regulations which apply in their

Social problem

interests
solution
Conflicting interests
religious conviction,
status.
Dilemma

1 has consequences for large groups of people in society

2 is caused by social developments
3 has to do with conflicting
4 demands a social
= problems arise from differences in : political vision,
philosophy of life or socio-economic

= A difficult choice between two or more alternatives.

Values
for which they

= basic principles that people consider important and

therefore want to aspire.

Norms
a certain value.

= views on how we are supposed to behave on basis of

Ideals

= Concrete values that we very much want to realise.

Interest
group or person.
Power
of others.

= something which is to the advantage or disadvantage of a

= having authority to forcible influence the behaviour

Dynamics of a society = the constant changing of norms, values and

interests. Depends on place time and the group of people.
Social cohesion = The degree to which people who are bound together
socially get the feeling that they belong together.

1.2 Knowing what is going on

Communication = passing on information
Manipulation

= when facts are purposely left out or distorted without the

receiver being
aware of it.

Propaganda

= intentionally giving one sided information to the purpose of

influencing peoples opinion.

Indoctrination

= by which systematically and forcefully, one sided views are

imposed on the public for a long time so that the public
accepts these views uncritically.

2.1 The concept an origin of the rule of law

State under the rule of law = a state in which citizens have basic rights and
are protected against
the power and arbitrary actions of
government authorities.
The rule of law
= a social contract between citizens and the
government. Both have their
duties. The citizens for
example have to go to school and the government
has to defend
the citizens in case of danger.
Fundamental rights
= rights that are so basic to the freedom, personal
development, welfare
and protection of the individual and of
groups, that they have been
embedded in the
constitution.
Principle of legality
= the government is only allowed to restrict the liberty
of citizens if those
restrictions have already been set down in
laws and apply to everyone.

2.2 The constitutional and fundamental rights

Constitution
from 3 parts:

= grondwet , was first drawn up in 1814. Consisted

1 Traditional basic rights
2 Basic social rights
3 Organisation of power

Some rights are conflicting because they speak against each other and there is
no order of importance between the laws in the constitution. The order in which
they apply is decided by the judge who looks at the current importance of the
different laws. For example in the past religion was important whereas after the
depilarisation it became less important.

2.3 Trias politica : Seperation or balance of

powers?
Trias politica
= The trias politica was found by Montesquieu in 1748.
It is about the
the separation of the powers in a society.
It consisted of 3 powers :
1 the Legislative power
(making, changing and abolishing rules).
2 executive

power (implementing the laws in concreate cases).

power (Judgement on laws and solving problems with the Law).

3 judicial

TRIAS
Legislatieve
POLITICA
Power

Trias poltica In the Netherlands

executive
Power

Judicial
power

Parliament : 1 st and 2nd chamber

TRIAS POLITICA

Ministers Qualified by the

parliament, Makes the laws that
the police have to follow.

Ministers

Makes rules on which

judges have to base
their judgement

Check

Judges

Police

The interplay between the powers

If a law is made by the parliament (legislative power) that you have to carry a
ID from the age of 14 to be able to identify yourself. The police (executive
power) has the task to control if people have their ID with them but thats only
permitted if someone asks suspiciously or broke a law. If the accused person
thinks he didnt do anything wrong he can go to court (judicial power) so an
independent judge can look at a case and make the decision if the police officer
was right or not.

A weakness of the Trias politica in the Netherlands is that the executive power is
able to propose laws as well while the concept of the trias politica is that all
powers are independent which they clearly arent because of the executive power
can propose laws as well.

3.1What is Politics?
Politics is the way a country is ruled.

There are 2 main ways in which to control a country :

Dictatorship
Democracy

Dictatorship
Features of a dictatorship :

The three powers (trias politica) cannot be separated and are in the hands
of a small group of people.
A dictatorship has no rule of law.
Individual freedom is restricted.
There is no political freedom. (opponents are sometimes even murdered).
Those in power defend their power with a hard hand.
No independent judiciary
Mass media and art world are censored by the government.

In an autocratic dictatorship there is one leading figure often a military officer

whereas in a totalitarian dictatorship emerges when a party seizes power via an
ideological revolution.

Democracy
The features of a democracy :

Everything is decided by referendums. (direct democracy)

The people elect representatives who make the decisions. (representative

democracy)
Power based on trias politica.(representative democracy)
Individual freedom.
Basic political rights apply.
Army and police have restricted powers.
There is an independent judiciary.
Freedom of the press.

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy.

3.2 Political movements

Ideology
develop.

= A body of related ideas about man and the way society should

Points of view that that emerge from ideologies have to do with three aspects :

Norms and values

Socio-economic relationships
Division of power

There are three main ideologies :

Liberalism
Socialism
Denomination nationalism

Liberalism

what is good for the individual is good for the individual

people are not the same but they are equal
personal and economic freedom
free market economy
The government should confine to the key tasks : defence, education and
safeguarding
VVD, D66 (right progressive)

Socialism

The concepts of freedom and equality only mean something when people
get equal opportunities.
Show solidarity
Fighting for equality
Communists wanted the workers to take power through revolution.
The Social democrats wanted to achieve social improvements
constitutionally.

Knowledge, income and power

PvdA, SP Groenlinks (left progressive)

Denomination nationalism

Based on religious views

Organic concept
Cristian democrats
Social intermediaries
Stewardship
CDA, Cristen Unie and SGP (conservative parties).

3.3 Political parties

the political cross:

Freedom

Modern
Individualistic

Progressie
ve
Extreem links

norms and values

Equality

Left wing

Right wing
Low level of income difference
difference

high level of income

Big role government

small role of government

Lots of social services

big army and police force

High taxes

low level of taxes

Conservatie
ve

Old fashioned
Religious
Collectivistic
The vertical line is called the socio-economic cleavage.
The horizontal line is called the ethical cleavage.

Progressie
ve
D66

Groen
links
PvdA
PvdD

Left wing

SP

CDA

Right wing
VVD
CU

PVV

SGP

Conservatie
ve

The CDA is moving to the middle !

3.4 Elections
There are 2 main election systems :

Proportional representation
District system

Proportional representation

Votes casts are distributed between the available number of seats.

Quota = the number votes you need to win one seat.
Strength : every vote counts.
Weakness : small parties have their say in debates which makes them
longer.

District system

Country divided in districts.

Each district sends 1 representative (the one who gets most votes).
Strength : representative knows the district.
Weakness : only the majority of votes count but not every vote.
Representative might be more interested in the district
than the country.

We base our vote on :

The views of the party

Our own interests
The party who does best in the rankings
The charisma of the party leader

After the elections

1. Second chamber appoints an informateur (seeks the most suitable

combinations of parties).
2. They make a governmental agreement (collections of plans and laws the
coalition is agreeing on).
3. Second chamber appoints a formateur ( seeks for the most suitable
persons for the to be divided posts in the cabinet).
4. Crown appoints the new cabinet. (bordesfoto)

3.5 Government and Parliament

The Parliament consists of the First and 2nd chamber, jointly called the States
General.
2nd Chamber
The 2 main tasks of the 2nd chamber are :

To make and approve laws (co-legislation)

To keep a check on the government

To be able to perform there Co-legislative task they have some rights :

Right of amendment (wetvoorstellen wijzigen)

Right of initiative (zelf wetvoorstellen indienen)
Budgetary right

To be able to perform their Checking task the have some rights :

Right of motion (uitspraak van de kamer)

Right to question

Right of enquiry ( parlementaire onderzoeks commissie)

1st Chamber (Senate)

The role of the 1st chamber is to check laws and accept or reject them.

The 1st chamber has no right of initiative and amendment because they have to
check the law and are not allowed to change it because they can make mistakes
as well and it is not in their prescription to change laws.

2.6 Politics in practise

Surrounding Factors :

Demographic (composition of the population)

Ecological (interaction between man and environment)
Cultural (factors which arise from the countrys history)
Economic (the rate of economic development)
Technological ( development in medical and other technology)

Social (division into social classes)

International (EU)