Democracy in Scotland

Question 1

Is health a devolved or reserved power?

Answer 1

It is a devolved power.

Question 2

How many MSP’s are there in the Scottish Parliament?

Answer 2

There are 129 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. This is split up in to 73 constituency MSPs and 56 regional MSPs.

Question 3

What are the two types of committees called?

Answer 3

There are two types. These are :

Mandatory committees (committees which must exist)

Subject committees (committees which the government chooses to set up)

Question 4

Is immigration a devolved or reserved power?

Answer 4

It is a reserved power.

Question 5

How many of the MSPs in the current Scottish Parliament are women?

Answer 5

45 are women – that is 35% of Parliament

Question 6

When is First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) held?

Answer 6

Thursday at midday

Question 7

Who can join a political party in the UK?

Answer 7

You do not have to be of voting age. Anyone can join a political party.

Question 8

Do Political parties have a limit on what they can spend?

Answer 8

Yes the parties are limited as to what they can spend on the campaigning unlike American elections.

Question 9

In which year was the Scottish Parliament established?

Answer 9

1999

Question 10

What are Scottish Parliamentary committees?

Answer 10

Scottish Parliamentary committees do not try to influence decision-makers. Scottish Parliamentary committees examine legislation and the work of the Scottish government.

Question 11

What is the name given to the electoral system used to elect MSPs to the Scottish Parliament?

Answer 11

MSPs are chosen for the Scottish Parliament using an electoral system called the Additional Member System or AMS.

Question 12

What is the name given to electoral system used to elect local government (councils) in Scotland?

Answer 12

Single Transferable Vote

Question 13

How do voters fill out an STV ballot paper?

Answer 13

They rank the candidates in order of preference

Question 14

Which type of media news does the law require to be fair and balanced?

Answer 14

Radio and television news must be fair and balanced and must allow representatives of different political parties express their views on issues that are reported.

Question 15

What does a party political manifesto contain?

Answer 15

The party manifesto provides the basis for action should a party win an election.

Question 16

Who is the current Scottish Labour Party Leader?

Answer 16

Anas Sarwar

Question 17

In what year was the Scottish Independence Referendum?

Answer 17

2014

Question 18

True or False: People feel that one of the biggest disadvantages of AMS is that it’s too complex?

Answer 18

True - Elections are more complicated with two votes and in deciding which candidates are elected from the regional list.

Question 19

Who did Nicola Sturgeon succeed as First Minister?

Answer 19

Alex Salmond

Question 20

What are some of the roles of an MSP?

Answer 20

One role of an MSP is to ask question at FMQs.

Another is to bring forward legislation called a Private Members Bill.

MSPs can take part in committees in the parliament such as the health or justice committee.

Another role of an MSP is to take part in debates in the chamber.

Question 21

Who is the current leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats?

Answer 21

Willie Rennie.

Question 22

Is housing a reserved or devolved power?

Answer 22

Housing is a devolved power of the Scottish Parliament. This means the parliament can decide on rent controls or funding new social housing. For example, the Scottish Parliament voted to end the right to buy council houses in 2016.

Question 23

Who is in charge of appointing the Scottish Cabinet?

Answer 23

The First Minister-Nicola Sturgeon.

Question 24

True or False- A weakness of AMS is it can give smaller parties too much power?

Answer 24

True - One weakness of AMS is that smaller/fringe parties have a greater chance of being elected to the parliament. This is because these parties can end up with too much influence in the parliament and can often hold the government to ransom especially in times when the government as a minority. The Greens, despite only having a few MSPs, very often get things they want passed as the SNP government rely on their votes. For example the SNP have regularly had to take on Green Party policies such as the ‘car park tax’ on spaces at places of employment.

Question 25

True or False - Misogyny (dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.) is not one of the main reason’s why women may be under represented in Scottish Politics?

Answer 25

False - Woman may be underrepresented is because many may not want to get involved in a job knowing the misogyny that exists in politics. Many woman have highlighted the abuse they have received particularly on social media. Some being so severe that they have had to be reported to the police. Many think that this puts woman off entering the profession. For example Kezia Dugdale has spoke of the death threats she has received on twitter. A lot of the abuse she shares is based around the way she looks and her as a woman.

Question 26

What age do you need to be to vote in a Scottish Parliament Election?

Answer 26

16 years of age.

Question 27

Who are the leaders of the Scottish Green Party?

Answer 27

Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater are joint leaders.

Question 28

True or False: One criticism of AMS is that it is more likely to create a coalition Government?

Answer 28

True - Coalitions more likely: Coalition or a minority government (SNP 2006-2011), with compromise politics, is more likely as it is difficult, although not impossible, for one party to form a majority government.

Question 29

When is the next Scottish Parliament Election?

Answer 29

The 6th of May 2021.

Question 30

Who is the current Deputy First Minister of Scotland?

Answer 30

John Swinney