Parliamentary Democracy:

How can ordinary citizens influence people with power?

Ch.7 Provincial government and local government (p.120-123)

Learning goals
You are able to:
• outline how the three levels of public administration in the Netherlands are
organized.
• describe what is meant with decentralization and mention chances and risks of
decentralization.
• mention the main tasks of local and provincial politics.
• mention chances and risks of the merging of council districts (gemeentelijke
herindeling).
• describe the possible tensions between local and provincial administrative
autonomy and the supremacy of national government.
 DIAGRAM POLITICAL GOVERNMENT

+ +

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
7.1 Decentralization
• Principle of subsidiarity:
“Decentralize if
possible,
centralize if necessary”
Lower authorities are:
• better informed
• more accesible to
citizens
• Local level
• Provincial level
• National level
• International level
e.g. European Union,
United Nations,
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization
Provincial government and local government
Provincial government Local government

Major task: Major tasks:

• Town and country • To see that public life in a

planning local district continues off in a
(regional plans) orderly fashion

• Filling in the details of the

regional plans
 Stichtse Vecht: Local government
• Coalition: VVD, D66, Streekbelangen, Christen-Unie/ SGP, GroenLinks
• VVD: 7
• CDA: 5
• Maarssen 2000: 4
• Streekbelangen: 3
• PvdA: 3
• D66: 3
• Het Vechts Verbond: 2
• ChristenUnie/SGP: 2
• GroenLinks: 1
• Breukelen Beweegt: 1
• Groep Frank van Liempt DVV: 1
• Duurzaam Stichtse Vecht: 1
• = 33 members
 Assignment in small groups
What: Analysis of local politics and formulating a modest policy
recommendation to local politicians
How: In groups of four or five
Time: Remaining part of this lesson and 15 minutes of the next
lesson
Aid: Course book, Internet, parents, local politicians and every
source you can use
Result: Short presentation (4 minutes)of current situation and a
modest policy recommendation about a current local
political issue
Finished: Read the course book p.124 - 129
Groups 4VE
• Group 1: Lucas, Sander, Ellen, Else
• Group 2: Tim, Luka, Sam, Noemi
• Group 3: Pim, Quirijn, Pien, Willemijn
• Group 4: Boris, Mike, Marit, Eline
• Group 5: Stefan, Felix, Jasmijn
• Group 6: Robin, Julius, Lotte, Silke
Groups 4VF
• Group 1: Frank, Isa B, Mats, Amber
• Group 2: Geert, Annabel, Janna
• Group 3: Sven, Saskia, Lies, Jade
• Group 4: Steyn, Lily, Inge-Lise, Meike
• Group 5: Yael, Isabel, Else, Romy
• Group 6: Joris, Lotte G., Evi Lola, Isa K.
Issues to be investigated
1. Are local media (e.g. VAR, Vechtstroom, RTV Utrecht) sufficiently capable of being
a watchdog of local democracy?
2. Are local politicians in Stichtse Vecht succesful in integrating refugees in Stichtse
Vecht?
3. Are local politicians in Stichtse Vecht dealing with youth care
(jeugdgezondheidszorg) in a responsible way?
4. Are local politicians in Stichtse Vecht succesful in reducing crime in Stichtse
Vecht?
5. Are local politicians in Stichtse Vecht doing enough to promote sustainability
(duurzaamheid) in Stichtse Vecht?
6. Are local politicians in Stichtse Vecht doing enough to promote safety on the
roads (verkeersveiligheid)?
Useful websites
http://www.varnws.nl/home

http://www.vechtstroom.nl/

https://www.stichtsevecht.nl/inwoners

http://www.rtvutrecht.nl/
Programme
Six presentations (of max. 4 minutes) about local political issues.
1. What is the situation in Stichtse Vecht regarding:
a. Media as watch dog of democracy
b. Refugees
c. Youth care
d. Crime
e. Sustainabilitiy
f. Safety on the roads
2. Which modest policy proposal does your group has for local
politicians?