Democracy in Scotland

• Features of a democratic political system (points)

  - Freedom of speech/ expression- Stand as a candidate for election- Vote in an election
• Features of a democratic political system - Freedom of speech/ expression (explain)

  - Voice your opinion - write email to your MSP- Criticise/ question work of the government
• Features of a democratic political system - Freedom of speech/ expression (example)

  Stephen Kerr/ Evelyn Tweed - MSPs
• Features of a democratic political system - Stand as a candidate for election (explain)

  - MP, MSP, MEP, Councillor- Join a political party- Get them to select you to stand for election and campaign to persuade people to vote for you
• Features of a democratic political system - Stand as a candidate for election (example)

  Last Scottish election was in May 2021
• Features of a democratic political system - Vote in an election (explain)

  - People can turn out and vote for any party of their choce on polling day- Labour, Conservative, SNP, Liberal Democrat, Green
• Features of a democratic political system - Vote in an election (example)

  - Last general election 2019- Last Scottish election 2021
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament (points)

  - Health- Education- Sport
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament - Health (explain)

  - MSPs have the power to discuss, change and introduce laws about health in Scotland- like smoking/ alcohol/ dietMake several decisions to improve health of Scottish people
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament - Health (example)

  - Age to buy tobacoo increased from 16-18-Can only buy packs of 20 instead of 10- Can't buy vapes under 18- Shops have to ask for ID if person looks under 25
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament - Education (explain)

  - Discuss/change/introduce laws on education in Scotland- Things like teachers pay/building new schools/spending money on technology for schools
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament - Education (example)

  - Free uni tuition fees- Rest of UK has to pay
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament - Sport (explain)

  - Can decide rules/ arrangements about sport in Scotland- Funding for Scottish sport- Separate football team from England
• Devolved matters of the Scottish Parliament - Sport (Example)

  - Scottish parliament decided whether they want a Video Assisted Referee (VAR) or not - Provide financial support for Scottish football Teams during covid-19
• Reserved powers-UK government (points)

  - Foreign Policy- Constitutional Reform- Defence
• Reserved powers-UK government - Foreign Policy (explain)

  - Decide things to do with membership of international organisations- Scottish government can't decide
• Reserved powers-UK government - Foreign Policy (example)

  - UK leaving EU (brexit)
• Reserved powers-UK government - Constitutional Reform (explain)

  - Can change electoral system- Abolish monarchy
• Reserved powers-UK government - Constitutional Reform (example)

  - Queen not head of state- Additional Member System now used to elect MPs at Scottish Elections
• Reserved powers-UK government - Defence (explain)

  - Decide if military is sent into war- Resources like troops, tanks, navy (ships and submarines)
• Reserved powers-UK government - Defence (example)

  - Decided if we send help to Afghanistan and Ukraine
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister (points)

  - Appoint members of government- Introduce bills- Represent Scotland
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister-Appoint members of government (explain)

  - Can decide who the members of the cabinet secretary are- Cabinet secretary=senior members of government=for key areas of public policy
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister-Appoint members of government (example)

  - Shirley Anne Somerville MSP = Minister of education- Keith Brown = Cabinet secretary for justice and veterans
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister-Introduce bill (explain)

  - Input ideas into parliament- can pass through and become laws
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister-Introduce bill (example)

  - 2021/2022 - Nicola Sturgeon- put forward bill to tackle, address and reduce drug deaths- Put forward national care service bill to help Scotland recover from covid-19.
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister-Represent Scotland (explain)

  - Face of Scotland in UK gov- Represent Scotland in devolved matters- Meet leaders of countries/ go to world events representing Scotland
• Role and Power of the Prime Minister-Represent Scotland (example)

  - Nicola Sturgeon met leader of Catalan in June 2018- Catalan- region in Spain wanting to become independent
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens (points)

  - Right to a fair trial- Right to have freedom from torture- Freedom of religion
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens-Right to a fair trial (explain)

  - If accused of braking the law- Innocent until proven guilty-right to defend themselves in court+be heard- Heard in a public hearing and by an impartial court within a reasonable time.Responsibility-to tell the truth in court
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens-Right to a fair trial (example)

  - 22,543 first instance criminal cases registered in Scottish courts 2022/23
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens-Right to have freedom from torture (explain)

  - Free from torture and slavery- People must not be harmed-physically and mentally- Responsibility-Not to harm others
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens-Right to have freedom from torture (example)

  - The charity freedom from torture - fights against torture-helps asylum seekers
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens-Right to freedom of religion (explain)

  - Right-to choose your own religion- Many different religions+people who aren't religious- Responsibility-Respect others beliefs
• Rights and responsibilities of citizens-Right to freedom of religion (example)

  Christian, Islam,Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Non religious
• How can individuals participate (points)


  - Stand as a candidate for election- Vote- Protest
• How can individuals participate - Stand as a candidate for election (explain)

  - Right so stand as a candidate - who has most votes becomes MP/MSP- Ask a party to put you forward/stand as an independent candidate- Candidate pays £500 deposit - receive 5% of votes you get a refund- More likely to be elected if your from a larger party - tend yo have more support
• How can individuals participate - Stand as a candidate for election (example)

  - 2016-Claire Haughey stood as candidate for Rutherglen to become MSP and was elected
• How can individuals participate - Vote (explain)

  - Age 16-Scottish elections, Age 18-General elections+have to be registered- Polling station, proxy vote, postal vote- Most common way or participating in a democracy
• How can individuals participate - Vote (example)

  - 2017 General election-32mil vote- 2021- People could choose between SNP, Labour, Conservative