Democracy in Scotland

Question 1

What happens in the SP - Holyrood

Answer 1

Where new laws affecting Scotland are made.

Question 2

What is Hamza Yousaf in charge of?

Answer 2

The Scottish Government.

Question 3

What are examples of democracy?

Answer 3

the right to demonstrate and protest, people vote for representatives from a wide list of parties, independant and free press, TV, trade unions and pressure groups, free speech - people can criticise their leaders.

Question 4

What are example of dictatorship?

Answer 4

demonstrations are illegal, people can only choose to vote for one party/person, criticism of the government is punished, press, TV, trade unions and pressure groups are controlled by government.

Question 5

What is the Scottish Parliament?

Answer 5

The body that makes laws for Scotland. This is based in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Its main functions are to make new laws, debate important issues of the day and scrutinise/check up on the work of the government.

Question 6

What is the government?

Answer 6

It is formed by the largest party in the SP. Currently Scotland has an SNP minority government.

Question 7

What is the Opposition?

Answer 7

The second largest party in the SP. Currently this is the Scottish Conservative Party.

Question 8

What is an MSP?

Answer 8

Members of the Scottish parliament. These people are chosen at elections to put forward the views of people in their area and vote in important issues in the Parliament.

Question 8

What is an election?

Answer 8

It is an opportunity for voters to choose who they want to represent them in parliament.

Question 9

What is a Constituency?

Answer 9

an area that elects representative. Scotland has 73 of these for the SP.

Question 10

What is a candidate?

Answer 10

a person who stands for election. They can be a member of a party or an independant with no party ties.

Question 11

What is a coalition government?

Answer 11

a government made up of two parties working together. For example, in 2003 the Scottish government was formed by a Labour-Liberal democrat coalition.

Question 12

What is a majority government?

Answer 12

over half. or when looking at individual constituency results it is the difference in votes between first and second.

Question 13

What is a minority government?

Answer 13

a government formed by the largest party but without a majority of the MSPs. The SNP currently has 63 MSPs so has formed a minority government. This means they may not get their way all the time. This can only happen if smaller parties decide to support them on individual votes.

Question 14

Give the responsibility and an example of the right to vote.

Answer 14

This means to use the vote in attempt to influence our representatives. For example, 4.2m voters registered to have their say in the Scottish Parliament 2021.

Question 15

Give the responsibility and an example of the right to be apart of a pressure group.

Answer 15

This means to be willing to listen and have a dialogue with the people who are going to be making the changes. It should be peaceful and not breaking the law. For example, in 2021/22 more than half (54.14%) of teachers said they experienced verbal abuse. EIS found in a survey that more than 600 members in Aberdeen found 28.54% had been physically assaulted.

Question 16

Give the responsibility and an example of the right to join a political party.

Answer 16

This means helping and supporting the party and do as much as you can. For example, the labour party supports helping everyone.

Question 17

Give the responsibility and an example of the right to have freedom of speech.

Answer 17

This means you can’t take it too far. For example, a Rangers v Celtic game.

Question 17

What can the Scottish Government do with the devolved power of Law and Order? Give an example aswell

Answer 17

They can make changes to the police, decide what is illegal and what punishments can be used. For example, in 2019 the Scottish Parliament passed a new law to make the smacking of children illegal in Scotland.

Question 18

Describe, in detail, 2 roles of the First Minister (6)

Answer 18

A role of the First Minister is to lead the Scottish Government. This means that he makes the final decision on what each other departments of government do in devolved areas such as Health and Education. For example, Humza Yousaf has introduced a Housing Bill to introduce long-term rent controls and new tenant rights, to try prevent homelessness.

Another role of the First Minister is to appoint cabinet secretaries and government ministers to the Scottish Government. This means, they will select other MSPs from the Scottish Parliament to take responsibility for the different departments of the Scottish Government. For example, Jenny Gilruth has been appointed as Cabinet Minister for Education and skills.

Question 18

Explain, in detail, why the FM is very powerful (8)

Answer 18

A reason the First Minister is powerful is because they are the leader of the Scottish Government. This is because they make the final decision on what each department of government does, they can approve and reject policies. For example, Humza Yousaf would have approved the decision to give nurses in Scotland a pay rise that stopped them from striking.

Another reason is because they can appoint and remove cabinet members. This is because one of his roles is to choose who is in charge of each government department meaning he has the power to remove those who he doesnt think are good enough. For example, John Swinney stepped down as Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary after the Covid 19 pandemic and the First Minister had to replace him.

A final reason is he approves deals with other parties. This means as the government doesn’t have a majority in Parliament other parties can try and get their policies passed in a deal with the government but only if the First Minister approves it. For example, the First Minister has approved deals with the Scottish Greens in the 2016-21 parliament to pass the budget that means under 22 year olds will have free bus travel.

Question 18

Explain, in detail, why the First Minister is not very powerful (8)

Answer 18

A reason the First Minister is not powerful is because he is only responsible for devolved matters. This means that the First Minister can only make decisions about issues that are devolved and has no power over revolved matters. For example, during the covid 19 pandemic Scotland couldn’t close the borders to international travel as only Westminster and the Prime Minister have that power.

Another reason is they sometimes have to agree deals to pass bills. This is because when the government does not have a majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament the First Minister, has to agree deals with smaller parties showing where they lack power. For example, the First MInister had to agree a deal with the Greens so that their governments budget passed each year since 2016.

A final reason is he must answer to parliament. This means that he must go there every week and answer questions that sometimes can embarrass him and his government. For example, each week Humza Yousaf takes part in First Minister’s Question Time on a Thursday at 12pm.