Democracy: Participation

Question 1

Rights/responsibilities of individuals in a democracy

Answer 1

Right to vote, responsibility to use vote
Freedom of speech, but must not use hate speech
Right to protest, but must be peaceful

Question 2

Use your vote example

Answer 2

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, only 63.5% of the electorate voted

Question 3

Peacefully protest example

Answer 3

Members of the pressure group Just Stop Oil have been arrested for breaking the law during protests

Question 4

No hate speech example

Answer 4

The Westboro Baptist Church is banned from coming to the UK because of the homophobic things it says

Question 5

Ways people can participate

Answer 5

Voting, joining a pressure group, creating/signing a petition

Question 6

Participation voting example

Answer 6

The last Scottish Parliament election was in 2021

Question 7

Petition example

Answer 7

There is currently a petition to remove PSE from the Scottish curriculum on the Scottish Parliament website

Question 8

Pressure group example

Answer 8

Just Stop Oil is a pressure group who campaigns for the government to stop using fossil fuels

Question 9

Reasons why people participate in politics

Answer 9

They know how important it is, they know they can make a difference, to protect their rights

Question 10

Participation, know how important it is example

Answer 10

The Scottish Government is responsible for devolved matters such as health and education

Question 11

Participation, know they can make a difference example

Answer 11

In Scotland university is free

Question 12

Participation protect rights example

Answer 12

In recent years, young people gained the right to vote and same sex marriage became legal

Question 13

Reasons why some people don’t participate in politics

Answer 13

They feel excluded, they don’t think it matters, they don’t know how

Question 14

Participation, feel excluded example

Answer 14

There has only ever been 1 woman in charge of Scotland’s democracy

Question 15

Participation, don’t think it matters example

Answer 15

Despite many protests from pressure groups such as Scrap Trident, the UK’s nuclear arsenal still remains in Scotland

Question 16

Participation, don’t know how example

Answer 16

Most people are not members of a political party and only around half of those who can vote do vote in Scottish elections

Question 17

Stages of an election

Answer 17

Dissolution of parliament, campaign, election day

Question 18

Dissolution of parliament example

Answer 18

When parliament was dissolved in 2016 all former MSPs were only allowed in the Scottish parliament building as members of the public though this did not happen in 2021 because of COVID

Question 19

Election campaign example

Answer 19

During the election campaign in 2021 all the leaders of the main political parties took part in Leaders Debates

Question 20

Election day example

Answer 20

In 2021 the SNP gained the largest number of votes in the election as well as seats, so they were declared the winner

Question 21

Methods used by political parties

Answer 21

Manifestos, canvassing, taking part in debates

Question 22

Manifestos example

Answer 22

In 2021, the SNP said in their manifesto that all students should have a laptop or tablet in school

Question 23

Canvassing example

Answer 23

During the 2021 election campaign, Ben MacPherson would have canvassed the local communities in Edinburgh North and Leith

Question 24

Taking part in debates example

Answer 24

2021 Leaders Debates

Question 25

Reasons why campaigns are successful

Answer 25

Large number of members, having the right leader, using social media

Question 26

Campaign success, large number of members example

Answer 26

In 2021 the SNP had over 100,000 members who often volunteer their time to promote the party

Question 27

Campaign success, having the right leader example

Answer 27

In 2021 the Conservatives promoted their ex-leader Ruth Davidson because she was more popular than the actual leader Douglas Ross

Question 28

Campaign success, using social media example

Answer 28

In 2021, the SNP had almost 300,000 twitter followers compared to the next closest party who had 55,000 followers

Question 29

Role of individuals

Answer 29

Be informed, stand as candidates, vote

Question 30

Stand as candidates example

Answer 30

Nichola Sturgeon stood as a candidate in the 2021 election

Question 31

Be informed example

Answer 31

Individuals could watch the Leaders Debates or Party-Political Broadcasts as well as reading the manifestos of the political parties

Question 32

Individuals voting example

Answer 32

Millions of people voted in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election

Question 33

Role of political parties

Answer 33

Recruit/promote candidates, produce a manifesto, campaign

Question 34

Recruit/promote candidates example

Answer 34

All parties except the Conservatives introduced policies to promote more female candidates in the 2021 election

Question 35

Produce a manifesto example

Answer 35

In 2021, the SNP said in their manifesto that all school students should have a laptop or tablet

Question 36

Campaign example

Answer 36

In the 2021 election, Ben MacPherson would have canvassed local communities in Edinburgh North and Leith

Question 37

Role of the media

Answer 37

Scrutinise political parties, provide a platform for parties, promote public concerns

Question 38

Scrutinise political parties example

Answer 38

During the 2021 election campaign, the BBC asked Nichola Sturgeon questions about a hard border in an independent Scotland

Question 39

Provide a platform for parties example

Answer 39

In 2021, most parties had Party Political Broadcasts (PPBs) shown on the BBC

Question 40

Promote public concerns example

Answer 40

In the 2021 election, party leaders all took part in the BBC Leaders Debate where Nichola Sturgeon and other leaders took questions from the public through zoom about COVID and a second referendum