Summary Social Studies

Something is a social problem/issue, when the following questions can be answered by yes (characteristics of a social problem) 1. Does it have consequences for large groups in society? 2. Is it caused by social developments? 3. Does it involve conflicting interests? 4. Does it have to be solved jointly(society and government)? * the appreciation of rules can be different. E.g. bedtime. Parents: important, kids: stupid. *society as a whole. Rules depend on: ( in de Netherlands, rules are laid down democratically) - the view of the person(s) with the most power - the influence of those in an inferior position - the means of power available to either group. Conflict of interest. Different points of view (can also occur within one person) 1. socio-cultural point of view * values and norms, which van differ from individual or group, place and time. Social dynamics 2. socio-economic point of view * interests. Financial (dis)advantages, costs 3. political-legal point of view * compromises, considerations, most acceptable solution 4. the comparative point of view * historical and geographical perspective Social problems become political problems because rules and laws have to be made. Values = the principles people find important and worth following .. ideals e.g. freedom Standards/ norms = views on how we ought to behave on the basis of certain values Interests = the advantage or disadvantage someone gets from something. Often financial Power = the ability to influence the behaviour of others Authority = formal power e.g. teachers rules and laws Sources of power = where power is exercised through; money, position, profession, knowledge, persuasiveness, prestige, number, violence Social cohesion= when people in one country feel that they belong together Politics = the way in which a country is governed. Its all about making choices & its necessary that everyone in a country makes politics their concerns, because everyone finds other things important Political power In all countries, political decision are made, only the ways are different The Netherlands = a representative democracy (people govern) *All citizens have political power: they can influence political decisions& keep check on them * people vote representatives = parliamentary democracy Direct democracy: all people vote on all decisions. Referendum to hold a plebiscite = volksstemming Indirect democracy : our parliamentary system. We elect people to make all the important decisions for us

Characteristics if Dutch democracy * all Dutch citizens over 18 have the right to vote and stand candidate for themselves * Everybody has the right to set up a party of association * Everybody has the right to demonstrate or express his/her views in a different manner * the Members of the States General (1st and 2nd chamber) are elected in a secret ballot * the government and the States General establish laws jointly Leftwing - key term = equality * income * education - government should have a very active role in society many laws and rules * Rightwing - key term = freedom * individual/personal freedom (speech) * economic freedom ( determine wages) - the role of the government should be passive (too active restricts peoples freedom)

- taxes are higher(especially for the highest - taxes lower and more equally divided over income groups income groups - better for the poorer - more stress on environment and social benefits *according to right wing: betutteling Progressive * vooruitstrevend want many changes in society - future orientated - better for the richer - more stress on army, defence, police, infrastructure - people have their own responsibility to make their lives successful conservative * behoudend not many changes & focussing on whats been achieved already - present orientated - moral values have preference (obedience, no gay marriage etc.) - reactionary = want to go back to a situation in the past

Ideological movements LIBERALISM *freedom, individual; responsibility, tolerance. People are of equal .value. What is good for individuals is good for society. *18th century: the middle and upper class (factory workers), scientists * free market economy. Government is not involved, but core tasks * VVD PVV D66 TON * free market economy, economic freedom,personal freedom, own initiative, right wing, passive government, progressive, Geert Wilders active government, left-wing, disadvantaged position, equality *equality in its most extreme form. *seize power by revolutions *present examples of communist countries: China, Cuba * non-existent in NL anymore (SP) * seize power by elections* equality in all area

SOCIALISM communism

Social-democrats

* emerged on behalf of the labourers, they had to improve labour conditions * SP PvdA Ecologists * save the environment * market orientated-environmentally friendly economy * Groenlinks PvdDieren

CONFESSIO* policy is based on religious believes (Christian) NALISM * everybody has his own role in society and depends on each other Christian democrats * take care of each other, love neighbour, stewardship * religious government, according to the bible. Supplementary role. * cornerstone of society is family * CDA SGP CU Moral standards, political centre, conservative, shared responsibility, reactionary, stewardship FACISM * based on inequality of races. * own people and their leader were glorified, other not important * in history NL: NSN, now in NL: neo-Nazis, NVU (demonstrations) * vox populi = voice of people * peoples opinion is important, against too many rules, against immigration * PVV TON

POPULSIM

CDA : Pieter van Geel -Help each other, shared responsibilities -Trade unions and workers should take care of the working conditions -Christian schools more influence on rules -Family is cornerstone of society parental leave for both parents VVD : Mark Rutte -Cut the government expenses and labour costs -Protect the rights of employers -Building more roads and lowering the tax on petrol -more had one prisoner in one cell should be allowed -AIVD improve security services -tougher punishments for criminals PvdA : Maritte Hamer -make a good and sustainable immigration and integration policy -government should interfere and be at the wheel of the economy to prevent huge numbers of unemployment -lower incomes should rise faster than higher incomes -progressive tax system; the more money you make, the more you pay -equal treatment of less wealthy people -close contact with trade unions in legislations about he labour market D66 : Alexander Pechtold -introducing a district system and a binding referendum -directly elected mayors and prime minister -extra investments for technological innovation by the government -establishment of small schools -invest the benefits of economic growth and education

-D66 is a staunch defender of the liberal Dutch policies towards euthanasia, gay marriage, abortion and prostitution - the party has a very positive attitude towards European integration SP : Agnes Kant -works also directly for the people e.g. (medical) healthcare & show how they deal with it -make the public sector the heart of our civilization -shrink the differences between incomes -capitalism should disappear -socialism should rule the world, starting with the Netherlands -disadvantaged people deserve extra attention -resign from the NATO Groenlinks : Femke Halsema -extend the use of public transport, e.g. by making it free -the government should force companies t produce more environmentally friendly -the government should take its responsibility to interfere in the economy to make sure that economic growth isnt at the expense of the environment and the poor -legalisation of the production of soft drugs -generous asylum policy -cut back the expenses for Defence and military developments and use the money for humanitarian aid PVV : Geert Wilders -decrease most welfare benefits and lower taxes -cut state regulations by making it mandatory to scrap two legal rules for every one to be instated -an American-style three strikes law with obligatory life sentences for violent crime -non-Dutch people who commit a crime, are expelled from the Netherlands immediately -no more new mosques and Islamic schools for the next five years -foreigners who arrive in the Netherlands dont have any right to social benefits for ten years PvdD : Marianne Thieme -insert animal rights into our Constitution and on a global level even into the Universal Declaration of Human rights -stop/restrict intensive stock farming -restrict fishing quota -stop animal testing. Focus and subsidize animal friendly alternatives -tougher punishment on cruelty against animals -banning the genetic manipulation and cloning of animals Kleinrechts: CU : Arie Slob and SGP : Bas v.d. Vlies -respect for unborn life; ban abortion -Euthanasia should become penal -severe punishment for murder (death penalty?) .-people living together can never have equal rights to married couples -more norms and values should be preached at schools -shops must stay closed on Sundays Coalition: CDA. VVD. CU Protest parties: -backroom politics, D66, dissatisfaction, fortuyn, Geert Wilders *people who have another nationality, but lived in the Netherlands for 5 years, has the right to vote in local and government elections

* prisoners and people who are declared incompetent to perform legal act, are excluded from the voting right The Netherlands England Proportional representation district system/ majority system * basic principle of % of votes = % of seats * basic principle is divided into constituencies * quota (kiesdeler) = the number of votes * nr. of constituencies = number of seats in You need to win one seat parliament Total number of votes * per constituency, theres only one person for Total number of seats(150) each party on the list e.g. 9.000.000 * person(so party) with the highest % of votes 150 =60.000(votes for 1 seat) wins the seat *preference votes require 25% of the quota * all the other left over votes are lost * 11 parties 150 seats * 3 parties 650 seats Some countries with a proportional representation e.g. Germany and Austria, have an electoral threshold : parties must win e.g. 5% of the votes to win a seat. *This is to prevent that there are too many small parties in the parliament. Coalition= a combination of various parties that intend to collaborate in administrative bodies The following conditions must be followed when forming a party -the party had to be officially registered with the Electoral council -In each of the nineteen electoral districts candidates and 30 citizens -11.000 euro. If 75% of the votes, you get your money back Who to vote on ? - the partys views - your own interests - the chance of the party getting into the government : strategically - the party leader manifesto =verkiezingsprogramma = major plans and views In Holland, we elect persons, not parties, so therefore, once someone has a seat, he or she can establish his/her own party and keep the seat. He/she can also join another party. preference votes =votes for a person in particular (often not the party leader) for a certain reason e.g. popularity, origin *In the Netherlands, there has never been one party with a majority, in England there has. *In the Netherlands, there is therefore a coalition. *Not all ministers have a State Secretary *When cabinet falls, they can decide to stay on for a certain period as a demissionair kabinet(outgoing cabinet). They rule, without making important decisions. They can wait until the regular elections. The fall of a cabinet Motion of no confidence = when the minister or secretary of State is unwilling to compromise on the bill, this can be passes by the 2nd chamber. The minister does not need to step down, but they always do. If a cabinet steps out, there are two possibilities: 1. the Queen appoints an informateur/formateur to investigate the possibilities of forming a new cabinet 2.early elections will be announced to elect a new Second Chamber

Government = ministers Cabinet = ministers Parliament = 1st Chamber Lower House Second chamber House of commons Elected by the people More important Tasks: legislation -Right of initiative to put forward a bill -Right of amendment to change a bill -Voting right (1st round) to vote on a bill -Budget right - to change the budget

(& queen)/ head of State & States Secretaries &2nd Chamber Upper House First Chamber/ Senate House of lords elected by provincial council -less important Tasks: legislation -voting right (2nd round) -budget right

supervising the government supervising the government -Right to question - to ask questions -right to question -Right of interpellation - emergency debate (at least 30 people support request) -Right of inquiry- to have an independent inquiry -right of inquiry -Right of motion - treurnis,afkeurig,wantrouwen Fulltime job part-time job 150 seats 75 seats
The government Ministers & head of state/queen e.g. minister of education council of ministers = ministerraad = meeting of ministers, in which they discuss policy proposals (beleidsmaatregelen) *ministers and secretaries of state are both responsible. *minister without portfolio = a minister without a ministry The Queens primary tasks: -signing all laws that are passed -reading the Queens Speech on the third Thursday of September -appointing fomateurs and informateurs -having regular consultations with the prime minister or cabinet policy Informateurs: politicians investigating the viability of a proposed cabinet Formateurs: politicians who form a new government The queen has immunity and comes under ministerial responsibility. This applies to all members of the Royal House Civil servants work policy out into more detail bills A bill always goes to the Council of State first. (the highest advisory body to the Dutch government) the bill goes to the second chamber. Often: right of amendment. the 1st chamber can only accept or reject the bill. bill is published in the Staatsblad. Bill= law

Royal Decrees = decisions taken by the government without discussing it in the 1st and 2nd chamber e.g. appointing a mayor Government Decrees: the same, but e.g. the number of hours for physical education. Parliament 1st and 2nd chamber (the States General) 2nd chamber has primacy in politics. Because they are elected by the people. Members of the 1st chamber are chosen indirectly by the members of the Provincial Council. Relationships between government and parliament Dualism = administrators, such as a minister, cannot be members of the body that keeps check on them. Separation of powers (1st and 2nd chamber) 1. executive = the power to carry out a law(1st) 2.legislative = to power to put forward a bill, or to amend it(2nd) -Ministers share the legislative power with the parliament -Division of powers the same for all administrative levels Political culture = the way the government and parliament, also determined by traditions e.g. Polder model = between employers and employees. Government CU-CDA-PvdA Queen, ministers Propose bills MPs = members of parliament 1. input (social problem) mass media 2. Gatekeepers clearly Define problem& make it public 3. Conversion(come up With solutions for the problem = policy) parliament CU-CDA-PvdA coalition PvdA TON GL VVD SP PVV D66 SGP opposition lower house & upper house Discuss & reject/approve bills

5 feedback (look back has the problem been solved?) 4.ouptut (carry out Policy)

Gatekeepers of democracy = able to translate vague needs into political demands Political actors = all citizens, groups, administrative bodies and government agencies involved in the process of political decision making. civil servants Assist administrators with policy preparation and policy implementation Policy = the conscious deployment of means to realize an intended goal advisory bodies 1.coucil of state Officially chaired by the queen. The governments appoints the members. Important role in administrative law. 2.Social and economic council

1/3 representations of unions. 1/3 of employers organizations. 1/3 independent (Crown members) 3.schientific council for government policy Appointed by the government e.g. urban development, ethnic minorities. citizens Approach local councils, give opinion at local council meetings, write a letter, demonstrate pressure groups Fifth power Lobbying = gaining support for your views through personal contact -interest groups e.g. consumentenbond -action groups single clear issue for a short period -action organizations e.g. Greenpeace mass media (free media in NL) -informative role : make problem public -mouthpiece role : different views are made public -agenda role : puts a subject on the political agenda -commenting role : comment in newspaper -checking role : criticism on the ministers and civil servants Principle of subsidiarity = decentralize if possible, centralize if necessary. The closer to citizens, the better. Delegation of powers = detail implementation of a policy is left to the local authorities

Gemeenteraad Burgemeester Wethouders Gemeente Provinciale Staten Gedeputeerde Staten Commissaris vd Koningin Dagelijks bestuur

Local level Mayor Aldermen Municipality Provincial Council Provincial Executive Royal Commissioner Executive board