Chapter 8 S.S. Test

the plan of action of a political party or government to achieve certain goals

policy

a formal, written statement outlining the policies of political party

platform

political action taken by ordinary people and organizations at the local level

grassroots

organizations of people who share social, political, and other goals, and act together to influence governments; may be local, national, or international in scope; also called “lobby” groups or pressure groups

Interest groups

a direct yes-or-no vote on a particular issue, policy, or law

referendum

a person who will be affected by a decision

stakeholders

in a parliament, a motion by an opposition party to try to force the government to resign over important legislation. If more than half the members present do not support the legislation, the government is defeated and an election will usually be called

non-confidence

groups within political parties in which young members, including those under voting age, can be active in forming policy and supporting party candidates

youth wings

a survey of public opinion; the place where citizens go to vote on election day

polls

Policies fall into six basic areas:

• social (health, education)

• financial (taxes)

• international (trade)

• public works (transportation)

• resources (agriculture)

• legal (justice)

So while its not exciting or entertaining, citizens MUST ____ ____ to as many policies as they can. Citizens MUST hold their government ______

PAY ATTENTION

ACCOUNTABLE

Policies address the _____ and ______ of our complex society

wants and the needs of our complex society

Consequences of a policy

Just like everything else a true democratic government does, policies are made for the _____. They are designed to:

COMMON GOOD

• do what is best for most people

• protect the weakest in society

• provide fairness and equity

• create a clean community

Major influences on Policy

1. Political party membership

2. civil service advice

3. judicial opinion

4. economic realities

5. ingovernmental concerns

6. international pressures

7. interest groups

The process of turning a policy into a law is clearly laid out at all three levels of government, and all levels are ____ to each other; only the federal government has a ____

similar

senate

This process must be followed; any step skipped means it_____________

would not become a law

How Policy becomes law

1. from idea to bill

2. first reading

3. second reading

4. commitee stage

5. report stage

6. third reading

7. the senate

8. royal assent

9. in force

Platforms and Policies

Each ____ is a specific separate action the party wants to accomplish

In other words, a policy is a goal for the party, what the politicians want to get done. They deal with issues and problems in the real world. It is not ____, but can eventually become law.

Policy

Law

Youth involvement

1. Contact your representative

2. Get involved at the grassroots level

3. Public opinion polls

4. VOTE!

Stakeholders

The individuals and groups who stand to _____ or _____ from a policy or law are called stakeholders

Benefit

Lose

Interest groups and policy makers

Interest groups use different methods and media to try to ___ policy decisions:

INFLUENCE

• mailings

• Petitions

• advertising campaigns

Interest groups and policy makers

They are also called ____ groups (talk to policy makers in the lobby) and _____ groups (pressure policy makers)

LOBBY

PRESSURE

what is prohibition?

When did they ban it?

The banning of alcohol

1916

The passage of municipal laws

The biggest difference at the municipal level is that there is NO _____ _____ OR ______

ROYAL ASSENT

SENATE

Prohibition

Why did they ban it?

The policy was made to reduce alcohol-related crimes and to protect spouses and children from drunk adults in the house

what happens when you make something illegal?

It goes underground

Consequences of a policy

To sum it all up, while the ______ of a policy can be good, the ______ can be unexpectedly negative

INTENTIONS

CONSEQUENCES

What is the difference between policy and platform

A policy is a specific plan to deal with one issue, like education or healthcare. A platform is a collection of policies that show what a political party stands for on many issues