AP/PPAS 3190 6.

00
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Summer 2017
FINAL ASSIGNMENT
By: Summandeep Dass
1. To what extent, and in what manner, do interest groups (pressure groups) threaten or enhance
democracy in Canada? Which branch of government legislative, executive or judicial is most likely
to be influenced by interest groups? Why might this be so and how does this impact democracy? In
composing your answer, you may refer to interest groups that you belong to, or are familiar with.

Interest groups also known as pressure groups are organizations of individuals that attempt to
furthermore their common interests by influencing public policy. These groups often create methods such
as protesting, lobbying techniques and building alliances to gain the attention of political decision makers.
Within Canadian society today, there are hundreds of interest groups that represent almost every topic in
society. These organizations include womens rights, environmentalists, farmers, gender equality and
many more. Interest groups can be considered as both an augmentation of a democratic society and a
threat to democracy. There are many ways that interest groups can influence democracy and these include
the following:

Ways in which Interest/Pressure Groups enhance democracy:

These groups often represent issues and causes that have been ignored or not identified by
political parties and leaders.
Help politicians and the government process by providing detailed advice about current issues.
These groups help educate and inform society about important information and causes, which
allows the public to form opinions and judgments without the influence and biased opinions of
the government.
These groups can provide an outlet for the public to release tension and promote issues they
believe in.
It allows the community and individuals to participate in political activities.

However, even though there are several reasons in which interest groups can influence and enhance
democracy, many argue that they actually propose a big threat to a democratic society.

Ways in which Interest/Pressure Groups threaten Democracy:

Interest groups may promote causes and issues that undermine and disagree with the authority of
elected governmental officials and parliament.
Interest groups can provide information to the public that can be considered as biased or one-
sided.
Some wealthy interest groups can have much more influence than displayed to the community,
some pressure groups pay parties and politicians for election campaigns, peerages etc.

Interest groups can have a huge influence on society and the community as a whole, but can also have an
even larger influence on the government. Interest groups play a vital role in influencing the executive
branch of the government, specifically influencing politicians (such as our prime minister) and political
parties. These groups use various strategies to influence government officials and politicians to favor their
beliefs. Wealthy interest groups such as industry groups have the financial means to make donations
towards political elections and campaigns, creating an incredible alliance with politicians. This allows
politicians to promote the ideas and issues of interest groups ultimately spreading awareness to their
ideologies with the help of powerful governmental officials. Interest group leaders and lobbyists also
attempt to directly meet with politicians and other governmental officials to make their case and spread
knowledge of their beliefs.

Other interest groups who may not have a lot of money and financial resources to donate in political
campaigns often resort to the mass media to spread information. This often puts pressure on politicians to
act and provide their support. This tactic is extremely effective in engaging with the younger generation
who grew up in the technological era. This can be seen in LGBT or womens rights groups who often
resort to social media campaigns to put pressure on politicians to engage and act. Scientists associated
with these groups often create research reports with statistics and facts in hopes that it will reach the
executive branch, and politicians will take these findings into account, and implement change, which may
help create new laws in the legislative branch and maintain the well-beings of Canadians.

Interest groups can deeply affect democracy because many believe that they represent the politics of self-
interest, displaying biased and untruthful information to the public. With the help of politicians and other
powerful officials, the content of this information makes it all too believable. Putting power in the hands
of a few and spreading biased information from a few elites may not consider the population as a whole
ultimately hindering the notion on which a democratic society operates.

2. Which one of the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) do you believe is
the most crucial in ensuring that Canada is, and remains, a democratic nation? Explain your answer
by analyzing why the other two branches are not as important in this regard. Then suggest one change
in the branch of government that you have identified as being most crucial that would further enhance
or protect democracy in Canada. Explain why the change you propose will enhance democracy.
Conclude by discussing how the change will affect the other two branches of government.

The branch of government that ensures that Canada is, and remains a democratic nation is the executive
branch. The word democracy describes a political system in which all citizens have the right to participate
in political activities in making the changes that affects them. Canadians elect a politician to represent
their nation titled the Prime Minister; this representative will help implement changes in different levels
of government. The Government of Canada is formed by three branches, legislative, executive and the
judicial branch. The executive and legislative branch has a complex and fused relationship. Even though
the legislative branch creates laws, and ensures that laws are in place that represents the Canadian
democratic nation, the party in power elected by the people, who are in the executive branch, dominates.
The executive branch of Canada consists of the Crown/Governor General, Prime Minister and Cabinet
Members.

There are major factors that embody a democratic nation, these factors are vital in ensuring Canada
remains a healthy democracy. The factors that are included in this report all comprise within the executive
branch of Canada and confirm why this branch is so significant in ensuring Canada remains a democratic
nation.

Control over decisions about public policy and decisions by elected representatives.
Elected representatives of the government are chosen by the citizens in fair and frequent elections.
All citizens in society over the legal voting age have the right to vote in elections and run for office.
All citizens have the right to form and participate in independent groups and organizations including
interest/pressure groups and independent political parties.

The executive branch is the administrative arm of the Government of Canada, and it is the branch that
directly associates with society, a persons needs and ultimately acts like a face to the public. This branch
includes Public Administrators which play a vital role by studying and gaining knowledge about current
issues and concerns in society by the people and providing advice to politicians. Politicians often take this
advice into deep consideration and by active involvement, enforcing and adjudicating laws and
regulations. This acts as an arm of democracy because it gives a voice to the people, the people are able to
join interest groups, express their opinions and beliefs which attract the attention of public administrators
and ultimately the Prime Minister. This ensures that the citizens needs and met, and democracy stays
intact. The Prime Minister wants to have the support of citizens, and citizens want the support of
politicians so their requirements are met, and their rights are exercised, enhancing a democracy.
One change that the executive branch of government can take to further protect and enhance democracy
in Canada is to create methods and tactics that will promote democratic administration. These changes
can include creating ways in which citizens can participate in the administrative process such as through
social media campaigns, rallies, events, citizen boards and community groups much more and for more
causes, which will allow citizens to gain greater access to information about policies, administration and
decisions. Political knowledge can also be taught in schools for young children much more so when they
reach the age to vote, they have thorough knowledge about the political realm. The government can also
make it a legal right to those affected by issues to participate. This will create less secrecy in the
government and lets citizens have access to knowledge and information that will influence their political
decisions. Giving more power to citizens and less to officials enhances a democracy and gives power and
standing to the permanent executive which is the public service.

The changes in the executive sector, especially in terms with democratic administration can affect the
other branches of government. It can affect the legislative and judicial branch because it can help change
and implement new laws in society which are created in the legislative branch. If the Prime Minister puts
pressure and importance of particular issues of society, it can help implement new laws. Examples of this
can include the legalization of marijuana and same-sex marriages. This can also affect the judicial branch
because even though judges do not legislate or enforce the law, their role is to interpret and apply the law
in various cases. Changing the laws on certain issues will change judicial rulings and interpretations and
how they apply the common law.

3. What model of organizational design (both in structure, such as degree of hierarchy; and in how
employees are supervised/motivated) would you wish to work within, and why? What model of
organizational design do you suspect you will likely see in your working career, and why? If there is a
discrepancy between your first two answers, what do you think accounts for the difference?

The type of organizational structure that I would wish to work in is

the Matrix structure. The Matrix structure of organization is a
structure in which people with the similar skills and abilities are
separated and assigned to different work assignments, which can
result in more than one manager to overlook employment
expediters. For example, if all accountants are pooled into one
department, these accountants can be assigned to different projects
for multiple companies and report to different managers depending
on that current project. This allows employees to work with several
different managers and work on many different projects.

Employees in this sector are hired based on their skills in the related
field of the department they are working in. For example for
engineers, they are hired based on their skills, knowledge and education in that specific field of
employment. In terms of getting assigned to different projects within the department, employees are
assigned based on the tasks given and if certain employees specialize in a specific area that relates to that
task, they will be assigned to that job.

There are many advantages to this organizational structure, the key advantages that organizations receive
when implementing a matrix structure include the following:
It increases cooperation and communication across the department, and discovers and acknowledges
different talents amongst employees.
 It helps discover and identify employees capabilities and helps develop employees with broader skills
and outlooks who can deliver intense value across the company and manage in a more complex and
unsupervised environment.
It delivers work across the organization much more effectively and efficiently and can serve global
customers and manage tasks outside of the organization in different functions and processes.

It breaks down hierarchy within an organization because it allows a good flow of communication between
managers and employees. Instead of having just one supreme power or manager where good
communication is lacking within the workplace environment, the matrix structure allows there to be
multiple managers therefore providing a good form of communication within the workplace. It also opens
the door for employees to network and build relationships with multiple companies and project managers
allowing the windows of opportunity to be endless. Although many say that a disadvantage of the matrix
structure is that it can create power struggles between managers due to the fact that there is dual
management, if the structure is used correctly it can allow a healthy relationship between managers, and
employees.

In my career, I believe I will work in the Matrix organizational structure, and this is for several reasons.
Wanting to possibly pressure Public Relations in a fashion or beauty company, many are often run as a
matrix organizational structure. These companies often have many different departments such as fashion,
beauty, advertising and social media management. Each of these sectors employs multiple people who
must work on several different projects with several companies across the nation and the world each with
their own project managers. Being a recent university graduate, a position in a company with this
structure will help me display my own skills and abilities aside from the many other employees within the
same department. It will enable me to network and work alongside other companies and allow me gain
greater assets that will help me excel in my career.