Democracy in Scotland

Question 1

Scottish Political Parties

Answer 1

-Scottish Labour Party
-Scottish National Party (SNP)
-Scottish Conservatives
-Scottish Liberal Democrats
-Scottish Green Party

Question 2

Devolved Powers

Answer 2

-Some Transport
-Education
-Emergency Services
-Social Work
-Energy

Question 3

Reserved Powers

Answer 3

-Tourism
-Immigration and Nationality
-Defense
-Finance & Economy
-Social Security

Question 4

Some Transport Devolved Power Example

Answer 4

Transport Scotland is currently (2023) in the process of delivering a plan for National Transport Strategy across with a vision for a sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system

Question 5

Education Devolved Power Example

Answer 5

The Scottish Parliament
decided to close Scottish
secondary schools during the
COVID pandemic in 2020 and
2021.

Question 6

Emergency Services Devolved Power Example

Answer 6

Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 was passed by Scottish parliament and came into force in December 2021 meaning children under the age of 12 can no longer be charged or arrested

Question 7

Immigration and Nationality Reserved Power Example

Answer 7

Scotland cannot choose to welcome
more refugees from Ukraine unless it is allowed by the UK Parliament

Question 8

Defense Reserved Power Example

Answer 8

The UK Parliament maintains control over all British military forces and makes decisions about how they are deployed. In August 2021, the UK Government chose to withdraw from Afghanistan, but the Scottish Parliament had no say in the decision

Question 9

Features of a Democracy - Right to vote in an election

Answer 9

In Scotland, people can vote for an MSP to represent them in Parliament. 64% of Scotland turned out to vote in the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Elections and the SNP won with 64 MSPs.

Question 10

Features of a Democracy -
Freedom of speech

Answer 10

The media has the right to question the government and scrutinize the decisions they make. January 2023, ‘The Scotsman’ describes FM Nicola Sturgeon as being in ‘rough waters’ stating that the SNP independence referendum plans are unsupported by members of her own party.

Question 11

Features of a Democracy - Freedom to protest

Answer 11

In Scotland, people have the right to publicly protest policy areas they wish to see reformed. 10.1.23 - Striking teachers gathered outside of COSLA’s head office Haymarket, Edinburgh in protests over pay.

Question 12

Rights held within a Democracy - The right to join a pressure group

Answer 12

This means that individuals have the right to join a pressure group that focuses on an issue they feel strongly about so they can participate to try and resolve it. Friends of the Earth Scotland campaign for environmental justice and a transition to a fossil fuel free Scotland

Question 13

Rights held within a Democracy - The right to privacy

Answer 13

This means that individuals have the right of their personal data and information being kept safe and unshared, online and in person. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Scottish laws prevent organizations from sharing your personal data without your permission

Question 14

Ways Scottish citizens can get involved - join a political party

Answer 14

Scottish citizens can join a political party so they can do things such as vote for new leaders and select party candidates, be involved in campaigning and potentially stand as a candidate at either local or national level. For example, many people have joined the SNP since the
Independence referendum as they want to become more involved in politics.

Question 15

Ways Scottish citizens can get involved - Vote in elections

Answer 15

When you are over 16, you are eligible to vote. You can vote in local council elections, devolved Scottish Parliament elections and referendums. This will influence who wins seats and who has power to make decisions in each elected body. For example, young people over 16 voted for the first time in Independence Referendum Sept 2014.

Question 16

Ways Scottish citizens can get involved - Take part in a protest/demonstration

Answer 16

People may protest / demonstrate about issues such as the environment, nuclear weapons, Brexit and more. Protests are often organized by pressure groups and usually take place in busy locations. These protests often focus on the government – encouraging
them to change a law or pass a new law. For example Environmental groups have recently protested against fracking in SCOTLAND. They claim that they have been successful – the Scottish government have banned fracking in SCOTLAND.

Question 17

Roles of the First Minister - Promoting and representing Scotland at home and abroad

Answer 17

The First Minister promotes and represents Scotland at home and abroad. For example, Nicola Sturgeon spoke about encouraging Scottish charities (at home) to donate basic needs to Ukraine (abroad).

Question 18

Roles of the First Minister - Represent Scotland’s devolved interests within the UK

Answer 18

The First Minister is responsible for Representing Scotland’s devolved interests within the UK. During Covid-19, Nicola Sturgeon decided many things that the country would do to prevent the spread of covid, like closing schools, workplaces and more places

Question 19

Roles of the First Minister - Chairs and appoints MSPs

Answer 19

The First Minister must Chair and appoint MSPs to Cabinet to oversee Government policy. For example, Kate Forbes is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy

Question 20

Ways people in Scotland can participate in politics - Music

Answer 20

Many Scottish artists and bands have expressed their Political views and feelings through their songs. The Proclaimers’ song ‘Cap in Hand’ include lyrics which show the duo’s political opinions

Question 21

Methods used by pressure groups to attract the attention of the media - Protests

Answer 21

One method used by pressure groups to attract the attention of the media is protests. This is when pressure groups carry out a protest, usually a march or something in public, to gain attention from the public and media. For example, Insulate Britain protesters glued themselves to roads outside Parliament to bring attention to their cause and to attract the media

Question 22

Methods used by pressure groups to attract the attention of the media - E-petitions

Answer 22

Another method used by pressure groups to attract the attention of the media is by e-petitions. This is when pressure groups create an online petition for their cause and to attract attention from the media as they can sign the petition if they agree with the cause. For example, a “Retain bans on cat, dog, seal fur imports, and extend to ban all fur imports” e-petition was created by a pressure group and it currently has over 25,000 signatures from the media.

Question 23

One advantage of the AMS is local link.

Answer 23

AMS keeps a strong link between parliament and the people. Due to one of the ballot papers being to elect a constituency MSP, this allows voters to keep a strong local link. The MSP can focus on local issues and get to know and support the issues in that area.

For example, Keith Brown has been heavily involved in lots of local issues such as increased funding for a British Indian Army memorial outside Kelvingrove Art Museum.

Question 24

One advantage of AMS is fairer representation.

Answer 24

Because the way the votes are counted, annd seats given out, the number of seats a party gets is close to the number of votes they get. This makes the outcome fairer.

For example, in 2021 the Conservatives got around 20% of the vote and around 20% of the seats, which seems fair.

Question 25

One advantage of AMS is more choice.

Answer 25

AMS works by having voters select a local representative for the constituency and then choosing a party for the region that they live in. This means people could vote for two different parties in one election

For example, many people might vote SNP in the constituency vote but Green in the region as both support independence.

Question 26

One disadvantage of AMS is unelected MSPs.

Answer 26

Due to the second vote being a regional vote if a regional MSP resigns there is not another election to replace them. Instead the next person on the parties list moves up and becomes an MSP even though no one has had a chance to vote for them.

For example when Kezia Dugdale resigned she was replaced by Sarah Boyack who was next on the Labour list in 2016.

Question 27

One disadvantage of AMS is multiple representatives.

Answer 27

Scottish voters have 8 representatives that they can go to with an issue. These representatives are very often from different political parties. This can lead to confusion about who is responsible for what or who they can go and see if they have a problem.

For example people in Clackmannanshire can go to Keith Brown or any of the list MSP from the Conservatives/Greens/Labour.

Question 28

One disadvantage of AMS is constituency vote is a simple majority.

Answer 28

This means that it uses a winner takes all system which isn’t seen as fair - successful candidates for constituency MSP may receive less than 50% of the vote.

For example, Keith Brown, the MSP for Dunfermline, won less than 50% of the vote in 2021 (17.2%).