Politics in practice

12 important questions on Politics in practice

What is the 'system model' ?

It is an aid to understanding how political systems work. You can identify four phases of decision-making in this.

What are the four phases of decision-making?

- input
- conversion
- output
- feedback

Why are political parties also called the gatekeepers of democracy?

they have the opportunity to translate needs in society into concrete political demands.
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What is phase 2 : conversion?

Once an issue has been placed on the political agenda, the administrators have to convert it into policy. Civil servants investigate the issue and write their advice on the course of action to be taken : this is policy preparation.

What happens after policy preparation?

The minister then works out together with his civil servants how he will turn this course of action into a concrete measure or bill. In this phase of decision-making , the minister discusses his plans in parliament, where many changes can still be  made. After this, both Chambers vote on the bill.

What is phase 3: output?

When the decision is made, it must ten be implemented. Civil servants have to arrange everything so that work can get underway. In addition, they have to see to the financing of the project. During this policy implementation, the minister continues to bear final responsibility.

What is phase 4: feedback?

New laws, plans and other measure always evoke new reactions and actions from society and with this feedback politicians can assess if the policy has had the desired effect.

How does political decision-making come about?

through the interaction between politicians and all sorts of individuals, groups and agencies in society.

What do we call political and social actors?

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

What are pressure groups?

groups who put pressure on politicians in the hope of persuading them to support their point of view.

What are the five functions of media in our society?

- informative function
- It has an investigative or agenda function: the media observes and draws attention to problems in society and these problems are then put on the political agenda. 
- A commentary function
- A checking function. The media keeps a lose eye on what ministers are doing.

What is one of the very basic conditions for a  well-functioning democracy.

free media. That is why, there is money reserved for the media from government funds.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

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