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Modern Studies > Unit 3- Democracy > Flashcards

Unit 3- Democracy Flashcards

1
Q

How many MSPS are there in Scotland?

A

129

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2
Q

What is the main function of the Scottish Parliament?

A

The main function of the Scottish Parliament is to make laws, which affect the Scottish people.

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3
Q

What is devolution?

A

Devolution is a system of government which allows decisions to be made at a more local level. In the UK there are several examples of devolved government including: the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh assembly, the Northern Ireland assembly and the greater London authority.

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4
Q

What are devolved matters?

A

Things that are decided at the Scottish Parliament and don’t need consent from the uk Parliament.

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5
Q

What is a reserved matter?

A

Only the United Kingdom Parliament can pass laws on reserved matters.

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6
Q

Examples of devolved powers?

A

Health, education, housing, sports and arts, agriculture, forestry and fishing, emergency services, planning, social work, heritage, some transport and tourism.

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7
Q

What are examples of reserved powers?

A

Defence, UK foreign policy, social security, financial and economic matters, employment, constitutional matters, immigration and nationality, monetary system, common markets, some transport, data protection, energy, gambling, medical ethics and equal opportunities.

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8
Q

What is the Scottish Parliament?

A

The Scottish Parliament is this devolved national, legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh.

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9
Q

Examples to put with devolved matters in exam?

A

heath- alcohol minimum pricing 2012
education- post 16 and education bill 2013
social work- adoption of a child act 2007

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10
Q

Examples to pit for resolved matters in exam?

A

equal opportunities- equality Tact 2008
employment- increase statutory pay rates
data protection- data protection act 1998

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11
Q

What is question time?

A

Is the main chance for MSPs to question and hold to account the actions of the Scottish government. This is where MSPs can ask questions and raise issues on behalf of their constituents.
First ministers question time takes place every Thursday between 12 and 12.30pm. The main leaders and MSPs are able to question the leader.
Question time to Scottish ministers takes place on a Thursday afternoon and takes around 60 minutes. This allows MSPs to ask relevant questions.

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12
Q

What is a Members’ bill?

A

According to the Scottish parliaments rules, each MSP has the right to put forward two Members’ bills during one parliamentary period ( 4 years ) These bills may be as a result of their constituents contacting them and the MSPs have decide to put it forward as a bill. Many members’ bills are unsuccessful. One example of an excepted bill comes from February 2004, Stewart Maxwell, Ban tobacco smoking in public places.

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13
Q

What happens at the debates?

A

MSPs can contribute during a debate. Particularly if it is in direct concern of their constituent. Debates are useful as problems can be solved and new laws can be debated. While things are being discussed media may get involved and let the rest of the country know what is going on.

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14
Q

What happens when MSPs get to vote?

A

At the end of each business day in the chamber, MSPs need to vote. This is called decision time. And as a result of this vote a decision can be made whether or not a bill needs to be passed on to the next stage of the legislative process. MSPs must consider the views of their constituents and political parties before voting. In the Scottish Parliament they vote by electronic key pads.

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15
Q

Stages of a bill?

A

First stage- The most appropriate committee will scutinise the bill ( health committee scrutinise the alcohol law) and take evidence. It will then produce a report of whether the committee agrees with it or not. The whole parliament will then consider the report and decide whether the bill should pass onto the next stage.

Second stage- If the bill makes it to the second stage it is then scrutinised by other committees and sometimes other MSPs. Usually amendments will be made at this stage and changes will be made to the final legislation.

Third stage- Finally, the bill goes back to the chamber and all the MSPs consider the amended bill. Again, amendments can be made at this point. After any amendments a vote will take place whether you are for or against the bill. It will then be srutinised by law officers to ensure that it falls within the devolved remit of the Scottish Parliament.

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16
Q

What are the two way in which MSPs work on behalf of their constituents?

A
  1. The work they do in the Scottish Parliament

2. The work they do for their constituents

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17
Q

What are committees?

A

Committees are small, cross-party groups of MSPs who meet on a regular basis to scrutinise the work of the Scottish Government, conduct inquires into subjects within their remit and examine legislation. They’re many committees in parliament, e.g. The economy energy and tourism committee.

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18
Q

What do committee have the power to do?

A 
Introduce new bills (draft laws), which are specific to the  committee. These are known as committee bills. 
When amendments (changes) are being made to the bill they are sent to specific committees for the chance to be scrutinised. 
Committees have the power to contact people form outside groups such as Trade unions and witnesses to support evidence on an enquiry that has been given to them by a local constituent. They focus on trying to fix the situation as fast as possible.
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19
Q

What do MSPs do during the day?

A

Replying to things such as letters, emails, and phone calls they have received. Constituents have the right to contact their MSPs during the day and for the MSP to reply.
Hold surgeries, where constituents can go and meet their MSP one-on-one about any problems they may be facing.
Attend local meetings, to find out things about local concerns of their local constituencies.
Organise fact-finding visits. When a constituent races a concern the MSP usually goes out of their way to look at the situation first hand for evidence when putting forward the bill.
Work with the media to highlight an issue brought to them by a constituent.

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20
Q

What do MSPs do Monday 9AM?

A

Reply to emails, phone calls and letters from constituents.

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21
Q

What do MSPs do Monday 11AM?

A

Meet with constituents regarding an issue, this is a meeting called a case work.

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22
Q

What day of the week do MSPs debate?

A

Wednesdays and Thursdays

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23
Q

What day of the week does MSPs do question time?

A

Thursdays

24
Q

When do committees usually meet?

A

Usually Tuesday and Wednesday morning

25
Q

How many local councils in Scotland?

A

32

26
Q

What is the largest council in Scotland?

A

Glasgow city council, with 600,000 people

27
Q

What is the smallest council in Scotland?

A

Orkney, 20,000

28
Q

How are councilors elected?

A

By local residents of areas they represent, these areas are called ‘wards’

29
Q

How many elected councilors are their in Scotland?

A

1222

30
Q

How many wards and councilors are there n Glasgow city council

A

21 wards and 79 councilors

31
Q

How do you vote with STV?

A

Ranking the candidates in order of preference.

32
Q

Local government is a what matter?

A

Devolved

33
Q

What are local councils reliable for?

A

Planning, resourcing and delivering key public services.

34
Q

What are mandatory services?

A

Services the local council must provide by law. The biggest one is primary and secondary education as education is a must.

35
Q

What are discretionary services?

A

Services which are not a must by law but councils chose to have them to better then area. e.g. parks, leisure centers, museums.

36
Q

What happens if councils do not meet standards?

A

Their services can be shut down and the council can no long provide any services as this right has been taken away from them.

37
Q

How can councils raise money?

A

Through council tax. This is a service which is used to help pay for local services. The rate of tax you pay comes down to the size of property you live in. From A-H, A being the better house ( which you have to pay more council tax) and H being the less well off ( where you pay significantly less council tax. People who live in a single parent house can get more than 25% of council tax and other discounts can be applied due to different situations.

38
Q

What year was council tax frozen in?

A

2007

39
Q

What is the main role of the local councils?

A

To represent the people of their local ward.

40
Q

Are councilors mostly full time or part time?

A

Part time

So they do most of their work on evenings or weekends.

41
Q

How do councilors find out views of the people they represent?

A

By holding surgeries for people in their wards. Local people will come meet with their councilor and the councilor will help to try and sort their situation out as fast as possible. Councilors can pass on their concern to local MSPs if they feel that the situation needs to be taken further.

42
Q

Why do councilors need to attend meetings?

A

To deal with the major decisions made by the council. This is a chance for the councilors to make sure that all decisions made are in the best solution for their constituents.

43
Q

What do councilors do when they visit local events?

A

Have one-on-one conversations with their constituents and gain publicity in the media.

44
Q

When were salaries for local councilors first introduced?

A

2007, before this they were unable to claim expenses.

45
Q

What are ways that people that can participate in politics?

A 
voting in elections 
joining a political party 
standing as a candidate 
contacting a representative e.g. surgeries 
signing a petition 
contacting the media
taking part in protests or demonstrations 
joining a pressure group 
joining a trade union
46
Q

What is the most important way people can participate in politics?

A

Voting

47
Q

Examples of people who are not allowed to vote?

A

Under the age of 16
Not a UK resident
Those who are in prison
Anyone found guilty in the past five years of electoral malpractice

48
Q

What has happened to the turn out of voters over the last 10 years?

A

Since 1999 the turnout of voters has decreased by nearly 10% and nearly 20% in local council elections

49
Q

Why should we use our right to vote?

A

It will ensure that Scotland and the UK stay democratic
it ensures that people are represented democratically at local, national and European level
It allows us to hold representatives to account.
If we do not then unpopular parties may pass laws that we did not want in the first place
If representatives do not keep to their word and do what they said they were going to do they have the chance to vote for someone else the next time.
people have fought and died in the past for our rights to vote, so why are we not using them
people in dictatorships do not have the right to vote, we should be blessed with this right and take the chance that we have.
If you do not vote you do not have the right to criticise other governments decisions as you could have had the chance to change those decisions.

50
Q

What are the 6 most popular parties?

A
  • SNP
  • The Labour Party
  • The Scottish Conservative party
  • The Liberal Democrat Party
  • The Scottish Green Party
  • Independent Candidates
51
Q

What are ideologies?

A

Ideas that the party has to make the country a better place to live, the aims of an organisation.

52
Q

What is a manifesto?

A

This is an outline of the policies (plan or course of action) they promise to introduce if they are elected to form the government.

53
Q

Methods a party can do before an election to try and get more people to vote for them?

A
  • Putting up posters around the constituency with party promises, their name and their party.
  • Handing out leaflets with their manifesto promises
  • Going to peoples doors to talk to their constituents
  • Putting aloud speaker on the car and driving around their constituency talking about their policies
  • Visiting local businesses, schools etc
  • meeting with voters
  • party election broadcasts
  • organising transport for people to get to the polling station on election day
  • trying to persuade people at last minute, as they are entering the polling station, standing out side persuading people to vote for your party.
54
Q

When do elections usually take place?

A

The first Thursday of May

55
Q

What hours can you vote?

A

7 in the morning until 10 pm at night

Modern Studies (4 decks)

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