📰| 4. Rights & Responsibilites

Question 1

Rights

Answer 1

• Vote
• Protest
• Free Expression

Question 2

Responsibilites

Answer 2

• Make an Informed Vote
• Protest Peacefully
• Use Free Expression Wisely

Question 3

Rights:

Right to Vote

Answer 3

• One right enjoyed by individuals in Scotland is the right to vote.
• Individuals are able to vote in Scottish elections from the age of 16 in order to express their views, elect who they believe will be the best candidate, or exercise their right out of respect for having it.
• For example, in the 2021 Scottish Parliament Elections 63.5% of those eligible to vote did so.

Question 4

Rights:

Right to Protest

Answer 4

• One right enjoyed by individuals in Scotland is the right to protest.
• Individuals may gather in large groups to chant, sing and use signs to put a message across or advocate for change.
• For example, climate activists marched through the streets of Edinburgh in September 2023 to protest against fossil fuels.

Question 5

Rights:

Right to Free Expression

Answer 5

• One right enjoyed by individuals in Scotland is the right to free expression.
• Individuals have a freedom of speech that they may use to debate topics or hold the government to account.
• For example, many people openly criticised the Scottish Government’s response to Covid-19 both during and after the pandemic.

Question 6

Responsibilities:

Make an Informed Vote

Answer 6

• One responsibility of Scottish citizens is to make an informed vote.
• When voting in elections, an individual should be aware of who they are voting for and make an informed, personal decision.
• For example, when voting a citizen would be responsible for looking into media reports and political campaigning when making a decision.

Question 7

Responsibilities:

Protesting Peacefully

Answer 7

• One responsiblity of Scottish citizens is to protest peacefully.
• When protesting, all individuals should avoid violence, obey the law and inform the police beforehand in order to have a peaceful protest.
• For example, some citizens breached this responsiblity when participating in a pro-Palestinian protest in November 2023 - they were arrested after occupying the Scottish Parliament roof.

Question 8

Responsibilities:

Use Free Expression Wisely

Answer 8

• One responsibility of Scottish citizens is to use free expression wisely.
• When using their freedom of speech, all individuals should avoid discriminating against others and participating in hate speech - both of these are punishable by law.
• For example, the Hate Crime and Public Order bill was passed in Scotland in March 2021 to protect against hate speech.