Opportunities for Individuals Flashcards
What are three opportunities for individuals?
Voting in elections
Petitioning Parliament
Joining and campaigning with a pressure group
When do people use their opportunity to vote?
Usually at election time when the whole country is given the opportunity to choose who they want to represent them and become their MSPs or their local councillors.
How often are elections in Scotland and who can vote
Elections every five years and 16 year olds can vote in Scottish Elections.
When was the last SP election?
The latest Scottish Parliament election took place on 6th May 2021 where people voted for a party/MSP.
When was the most recent opportunity for people to vote in Scotland?
The most recent local (council) elections in Scotland were in 2022 and the SNP won 19 of the available Edinburgh council seats.
What is a petition?
A petition is a request for action (usually a change in the law) which sets out what an individual or group, want the Parliament to do and why.
A petition only needs one signature and there is no age restriction on signing and creating a petition?
True
There is currently a petition on the Scottish Parliament website to remove ____ from the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence
PSE
Another petition currently being reviewed is the petition to stop same day only GP appointments to make health care more accessible for all?
True
Each petition the Parliament receives must be looked at by the Public Petitions Committee and the petitioner must be given a response about what happens to their petition?
True
What is a pressure group?
A pressure group is a group of people who try and put pressure on the government to initiate changes in laws on various issues but don’t want to be in charge.
What methods do pressure groups use?
Methods that pressure groups use include contacting decision makers through letters of face to face meetings. You can also take part in demonstrations, marches and rallies.
A high-profile pressure group in Scotland now is_____ ______ ________ who campaign for governments in the UK to stop using fossil fuels.
Just Stop Oil
Another high-profile pressure group in Scotland now is the ______ union which is a teacher pressure group. They will rarely organise demonstrations or marches. Right now, Edinburgh______ is campaigning to #SaveOurSchools against the CEC budget cuts.
EIS
