Democracy in Scotland Flashcards
The features of a democratic political society+ evidence
Elections - Scottish elections every 4-5 years
Rule of Law -Scotland has a 3 tier court system
Multiple political parties -SNP, Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, Green
Reserved matters + evidence
Defence - oversees nuclear deterrent at Faslane
Foreign Policy - support for Ukraine
Immigration - Conservative govt’s “Stop the Boats” campaign
Devolved matters+ evidence
Health - Scotland’s separate Covid response
Transport- free bus passes for under 22’s
Education- separate exams, N5, Higher etc
Role and powers of the Scottish first minister + evidence
Appoint cabinet - John Swinney appointed Jenny Gilruth as education secretary
Set political agenda - Swinney has prioritised eradicating child poverty and growing Scotland’s economy
Represent Scotland home and abroad - John Swinney met members of the Bavarian Government during Euro 2024
Rights and responsibilities of individuals+evidence
To vote (vote for a party who shares your views) -0ver 63% of the electorate voted in 2021
To protest (peacefully and legally) -anti racism protests throughout Scotland in Aug 2024
Free speech (don’t lie) -multiple Scottish newspapers with differing views
why people should exercise their right to vote+evidence
Every vote counts - NE Fife 2017 election won by 2 votes
People died - Emily Davison was killed by a horse in the 1913 Derby while campaigning for women to get the vote
Vote for parties who affect you - around 45% of young people voted SNP who introduced free bus passes for u 22’s
Why some people chose not to vote+evidence
Apathy over ⅓ of electorate couldn’t be bothered voting in 2021 election
Not represented - no Scottish African MSPs
Wasted votes - Shona Robison won her Dundee seat with 59% of the vote share
Other ways that citizens can participate in politics in Scotland+ evidence
Stand as a candidate - 808 candidates at 2021 election
Join a party SNP has c. 125k members
Protest - anti racism protests throughout Scotland in Aug 2024
Elections and campaigning methods+ evidence
canvassing- Daniel Johnson canvassed extensively in Edinburgh south before 2021 election
Social media -SNP has an extensive following on X
PEB’s- Labour PEB in 2021 focused on Anas Sarwar’s vision for Scotland
Why campaigning methods are successful+evdience
Money - SNP spent the most (£1m +) in 2021 so can have a sophisticated campaign
Social Media Presence SNP have over 300,000 followers on X so can reach many
Strong leader Nicola Sturgeon v popular cf Richard Leonard of the Labour Party unpopular in 2021 - the face of the party
Role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which media influences voters + evidence
Print media reports stories - Scotsman runs articles on NHS waiting times
Broadcast Media hosts debates - BBC had a leadership debate before 2021 election
Social Media allows parties to air views - SNP has 300,000 followers on X
Role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which media influences government + evidence
Set the agenda - reporting on NHS waiting times
Run campaigns - Daily Record campaign on drug deaths
Hold govt to account - Neil Gray accused of taking free chauffeur rides to Hampden
Pressure group methods + evidence
Letter writing - Surfers Against Sewage wrote to MSP’s supporting bottle deposit scheme
Petitions Fans Against Criminalisation got 6,500 signatures to have the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act repealed
Messages on Social Media Just Stop Oil have 71k followers on Instagram
Why people join pressure groups+ evidence
Mass action is better -Amnesty international has over 10 mill members
Experienced campaigners -Greenpeace founded in 1971
Media attention - Just Stop Oil disruption to sporting events gets attention
key features and outcomes of the system used to elect MSP + evidence
Wide electorate - voting age is 16
2 votes - One constituency and one regional
Proportional - regional seats get reallocated by the List Method
Advantages of AMS + evidence
More proportional - 2021 Conservatives has c22% of the vote and 24% of the seats
Small parties have a chance - 2021 the Greens had 8 MSPs from the Regional List
People have more representatives - voters in Edinburgh South have Daniel Johnson as their constituency MSP and 7 other Lothian Regional MSP’s including Miles Briggs
Weakness of AMS + evidence
Complicated -2 votes, 1 for a candidate and 1 for a party is confusing
Weak government - 2020 minority SNP government struggled to get a budget passed
Small parties have too much power -Greens usually lend their 8 MSP votes to the govt in exchange for pro-Green policies being implemented (bus passes)
The role of msps inside parliament + evidence
Debates - Daniel Johnson contributed to a planning debate in Nov 2024
Committees - Daniel Johnson sits on the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Motions - Daniel Johnson raised a motion supporting help for children with autism in Nov 2024
The role of msps outside parliament+ evidence
Surgeries - Daniel Johnson has surgeries in his constituency office every Mon and Fri Morning
Correspondence - Daniel Johnson can be contacted at Daniel.Johnson.msp@parliament.scot
Attending events - Aug 2023 Daniel Johnson visited Alzheimer Scotland to learn about their schools programme
Representation of women and minority groups in the Scottish parliament
Women make up 45% of MSP’s (under)
Women make up 8/11 of the Scottish Cabinet (over)
BAME make up 4.6% of MSP’s (over)
Reasons for under-representation of women +evidence
Lack of Role Models - only 1 current party leader is female (Lorna Slater)
Sexist Attitudes - “Legsit” headline when Theresa May met Micola Sturgeon
Working Conditions - limited childcare hours available in Parliament
Steps being taken to achieve equal representation for women
All Female Shortlists SNP replacing retiring MSPs in 2021 with women
Zipping Labour alternating women and men on the Regional List
Campaigns women5050.org
Purpose function and composition of committees in the Scottish parliament
Scrutinise Laws Rural Affairs and Islands COmmittee looked at Free Range Eggs regulations in Oct 2024
Hold Inquiries - 2023 Inquiry into provision of ASN in Scottish schools
Consider Petitions November 2024 Petition raising awareness of roadside litter
