Assignment 1 Parliamentary Democracy

Ch. 1 What are politics?

Step 1: read Ch 1 Step 2: summarize using this template Step 3 make the MC test;
results in answer sheet .

Your ð ’ ð Deadlin
Name: □ P2 P3 P4 e:
Jona P
1
26-2-
Sem
21
Elise

Key-question: What is Chapter 1: Parliamentary

politics? democracy

Keywords Explanation

Politics The ways a country is governed

Citizen involvement in public decision making

participati
on of
citizens

The three powers are not separated and are in the hand
dictatorshi of a small group of people
p

Relating to a ruler who has absolute power

autocratio
n

One man is in power and political influence is only to

totalitarian people who the ideology
dictatorshi
p

ideology A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms

the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set

indoctrinat of beliefs uncritically
ion

theocracy A dictatorship in which religion becomes the state

ideology

A system of government by the whole population or all the

democrac eligible members of a state, typically through elected
y representatives

A vote by the people on a particular government bill

referendu
m

The people elect representatives who make the

represent decisions and who are held accountable for by the
ative people for policies when elections are held
democrac
y

The directly elected parliament is the highest

parliament administrative organ in the country
ary
system

When a country has a king or queen but there is still a

constitutio parliament of elected representatives
nal
monarchy
 The president is head of executive power
presidenti
al system

power to The mandatory simultaneous going out of office of all of its

dissolve members, in anticipation that a new assembly will
parliament reconvene later with possibly different members

oligarchy Government by the few

governors Politicians and administrators regulate political matters

hip culture among themselves and pass on the most important jobs
to each other

Summary

Answer the key question!

1.1 The importance of politics

The way a country is governed is called politics. It is about making choices. Most issues
that occupy politicians are in the general interest of everyone in the country. Making a
political decision takes a lot of time because they are very important and they have to be in
the best interest of everyone. A big dilemma in politics is choosing either a quick efficient
administration or choosing for maximum participation of all citizens in politics.

1.2 Dictatorship
In countries with a dictatorship those issues do not exist. In countries with a
dictatorship one man rules the country and makes all the decisions. There is no
participation of citizens in politics. In a dictatorship the three powers (legislative,
executive and judicial) are not separated. This means normal citizens have no say
in politics. There is also no rule of law. Some other features of a dictatorship are
the restriction of individual freedom and freedom of speech. A lot of dictators are
very cruel, they rule with an iron fist. There is also no independent judiciary. The
media is censored and the internet is filtered.

There is a difference between two kinds of dictatorships. On the one hand you
have an autocratic dictatorship. An autocratic dictatorship one leading figure is the
face of power. Sometimes this dictator is assisted by a Junta, a group of military
leaders. There is still room for religious freedom sometimes.
On the other hand we have a totalitarian dictatorship. A totalitarian dictatorship
happens when a group of people seize power via an ideological revolution.
Everything is regulated by the dictator. People get indoctrinated and everyone has
to have the same ideology as the dictator. Sometimes there is a theocracy, where a
religion is the state ideology.

1.3 Democracy- the power of many

The power of many is the opposite to the power of one ruler (autocracy) or of a small
number (totalitarian dictatorship). The rule of law guarantees individual freedom,
fundamental political rights, separation of powers (trias politica) and it limits the power of
police and the army. In some countries we still have a relic of direct democracy in the form
of a referendum.

Representative democracy is almost everywhere. In this democracy the people elect

representatives who make the decisions and who are held accountable for by the people
for policies when elections are held. Political power is distributed over a number of people.
A democracy is usually based on the rule of law in which citizens have rights and freedom.
Other features of a democracy are: Individual freedom, basic political rights, restriction of
army and police power, independent judiciary and freedom of the press.

In countries with a representative democracy we make distinction between parliamentary

and presidential systems. In a parliamentary system elected parliament is the highest
administrative organ. Parliament is built up of different people from different parties who
have been elected by the people. The head of the state has a limited amount of power
because of the constitution. If there is also a king or queen who does not have any real
power, we speak of a constitutional monarchy.
In a presidential democracy the people also elect a president. We speak of a presidential
system when the president is the head of the executive power. To restrict his power, the
president cannot dissolve parliament.

Constitutional changes show just how important the values of freedom and equality are for
a democracy: everyone is allowed to take part and it is up to you how you make use of
your political rights.

1.4 Theories about democracy and dictatorship.

Democracy and dictatorship are completely opposites. According to the sociologist Robert
Michels, both democracies and dictatorships are inclined to develop into oligarchies:
government by the few. The political parties who have power in a democracy become
bigger and more complex and, because of that, they become less and less democratic.
According to Michels, the desire for a strong leader emerges when the population is
apathetic and indifferent. In the governorship culture that you meet in Dutch politics:
politicians and administrators regulate political matters among themselves and pass on the
most important job to each other. Politicians rule less in the name of the people and more
over the people. This can also be found in dictatorship.

The American political sociologist Seymour Lipset states that wherever there is an
increase in prosperity and people are better educated, there is the longing for more
democracy. He stated this on the basis of empirical research. He concluded that because
of this, all countries in the world will eventually become democratic.

Answer sheet

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 12 1 14 15
1 3

C B C A B A D B A C D A C C B

1 WHAT ARE POLITICS?

1. Politics is important because:

 A. decisions must be made on matters of general interest.

B. the Netherlands is a democracy.

C. it should be prevented that one person acquires absolute power.

D. politicians have much power.

2. We speak of absolute power if:

A. a King has political power.

B. the head of state can reign without being held accountable.

C. the Constitution lays down that one person has the authority.

D. someone abuses his (or her) position of power.

3. Below are a number of persons with political power:

I. A member of the Second Chamber.

II. A minister.

III. A member of an action group.

IV. The Queen.

Which of them is a politician?

A. I, II and IV.

B. All answers are correct.

C. I and II.

D. Only I.

4. We call the Netherlands a representative democracy because:

A. in the Netherlands, representatives are elected to govern the country.

B. in the Netherlands, the government is elected indirectly.

C. we do not have a presidential system.

D. officially, everyone can become a member of a political party.

 5. What are the characteristics of a dictatorship?

A. There has been an ideological revolution; indoctrination; much violence

by the government.

B. Individual and political freedom are restricted; no freedom of the press;

censorship.

C. The government has a monopoly of violence; censorship; no

independent judiciary.

D. Individual and political freedom is restricted; indoctrination; government

appoints the courts.

6. Who are often troubled in a dictatorship by restrictions that the government

imposes?

I. The army.

II. The media.

III. Opposition parties.

IV. Citizens.

A. II and IV are correct.

B. II, III and IV are correct.

C. Only IV is correct.

D. All answers are correct.

7. In a dictatorship:

I. the power is in the hands of one person or a small group of people.

II. no elections are held.

III. there are no political parties.

IV. censorship is forbidden.

A. Only I is correct.

B. I and IV are correct.

C. I, III and IV are correct.

D. I, II, III and IV are correct.

 8. What is a junta?

A. The government of a totalitarian dictatorship.

B. The government of a military dictatorship.

C. The leaders of a fundamentalist theocracy.

D. An attempt to seize power.

9. I. There is only one party in China, the communist party. So we can

speak of a totalitarian dictatorship.

II. In autocratic dictatorships power usually remains in the hands of one

family for many generations.

A. I is correct, II is incorrect.

B. II is correct, I is incorrect.

C. I and II are both correct.

D. I and II are both incorrect.

10. The government forces citizens to do something or actually not to do

something. This happens:

A. in particular in dictatorships.

B. in particular in democracies.

C. in both dictatorships and democracies.

D. in particular in countries where manipulation and indoctrination prevail.

11. In a direct democracy:

*A. there are no political parties.

B. parliament votes on bills.

C. the population elects a parliament.

D. the population elects the government.

 12. In a system of indirect democracy:

A. the population elects a parliament indirectly.

B. the population elects a parliament directly.

C. only men have political power.

D. the population elects the government.

13. Which concepts match?

A. Indirect democracy and autocracy.

B. Direct democracy and the Second Chamber.

C. Indirect democracy and parliament.

D. Direct democracy and the States General.

14. The aim of trias politica is:

A. that parliament keeps check on the ministers.

B. that the government has the legislative power.

C. to prevent sitting political administrators acquiring too much power.

D. that the people have more influence on the legislative power, the
executive power and the judiciary.

15. The Constitution lays down:

I. who is allowed to vote.

II. that you may demonstrate.

III. what the rights and duties are of the head of state.

IV. how members of the States General can be elected.

A. I and II are correct.

B. Only I is correct.

C. I, II and IV are correct.

D. All answers are correct.