power and decision making

• What are services provided by the local council

  • Schools/education
  • Leisure services
  • Refuse collection
• What are the key features of a democracy

  • Governments are elected by the people
  • Regular and free elections take place
  • People are allowed to voice their opinion including criticising the government
  • All citizens have rights and responsibilities
• One key feature of a democracy is that all citizens have rights and responsibilities

  • In a democracy the citizens will have their human rights protected by and from the government. Many democracies even grant extra rights to their citizens. With these rights come responsibilities such as following the law
  • For example, in Scotland it is recognised that even if you are in jail, most of your human rights won't be taken away from you and you will be safe
• Another key feature of a democracy is that governments are elected by the people

  • This means that the citizens of a country have chosen the people who run the country on their behalf. Citizens get too have a say on who is charge
  • In most democracies like Scotland citizens vote every five years for the Scottish Parliament , UK Parliament and local councils. Citizens vote for who they want to represent them. Elections take place often and the party that wins forms the government
  • For example, in 2021 Scottish Parliament election the public voted and the SNP won the most seats so they formed government
• Another key feature of a democracy is that regular and free elections take place

  • This means that elections will happen often so that citizens are able to give approval to the current government or get rid of them by voting for other political parties. Free elections are where people can vote for other political parties without fear or intimidation
  • For example, Scottish Parliament elections take place every five years with the most recent one being May 2021, and it was a fair election
• Another key feature of a democracy is that people are allowed to voice their opinion including criticising the government

  • This means that the citizens of a democracy are able to voice their support for the decisions made my government or criticise them and they won't face punishment for doing so
  • For example, in 2023 some citizens criticised Humza Yousaf's government over the newly introduced Hate Crime Law, but they weren't punished for doing so
• What are devolved powers

  Powers the Scottish Parliament has
• What are the devolved powers

  • Health
  • Education
  • Law and Order
• One devolved power is education

  • This means that the Scottish Parliament has responsibility for setting the curriculum. Scottish pupils sit Nationals and Highers whereas English students sit GCSEs and A levels
  • For example, the Scottish government decided to cancel all SQA exams during covid-19 and pupils were to do online learning from January to March 2021
• Another devolved power is health

  • This means that the Scottish Government oversees the NHS in Scotland. It is also responsible for looking at areas such as drink/drug abuse, dentistry, mental health and prescriptions
  • For example, in 2021 the Scottish Government introduced free dental care to everyone aged 26 and under
• Another devolved power is law and order

  • Police Scotland was created in 2013 to maintain law and order in Scotland. This is a single national police force to replace the regional forces
  • For example, the not proven verdict exists in Scotland whereas England only has guilty and not guilty
• What are the roles of the First Minister

  • To lead the Scottish Government
  • Recommend new judges to be appointed
  • Appointing and reshuffling Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers
  • Represent Scotland at home and abroad
• One role of the FM is to appoint and reshuffle Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers

  • Cabinet secretaries are MSPs from the party in power who have the responsibility for a government department
  • For example, John Swinney appointed Kate Forbes to be deputy FM and the economy secretary in May 2024
• Another role of the FM is to lead the Scottish government

  • The FM is responsible for running the country including areas such as health and education. He will also set out the priorities of the Scottish government and respond to events as they happen
  • For example, John Swinney must defend his government at First Ministers Question Time every Thursday in Holyrood
• Another role of the FM is to recommend new judges to be appointed

  • This is a very important power of the FM as it ensures that Scotland's justice system works effectively. The FM will listen to the law profession and recommend to the King new judges who should be appointed
  • For example, 3 new Sheriff Court judges were appointed to Courts in Scotland after Nicola Sturgeon recommended them to Queen Elizabeth in January 2022
• Another role of the FM is to represent Scotland at home and abroad

  • The First Minister will regularly travel to other countries to represent and promote Scotland as a place to live, visit and do business with. This helps to maintain and create jobs. They will also meet with the Prime Minister to put forward Scotland's views and needs in the UK.
  • For example, in June 2023 Humza Yousaf went to Brussels to meet with US and European associates to discuss Scotland's relationship with the European Union
• What are the powers of the FM

  • Can appoint and remove Cabinet Secretaries
  • FM sets government and has the final say in government
  • Can get a lot of media attention
• The FM is powerful as they can appoint and remove Cabinet Secretaries

  • The FM can choose who he wants to work with him and to be in his cabinet. This makes him powerful because he promote people that he likes and who he believes is doing a good job but he can also remove cabinet members if they are doing a bad job
  • For example, John Swinney appointed Kate Forbes to be Deputy FM and the economy secretary in May 2024
• Another way the FM is powerful is because they set the government priorities and has the final say in government

  • The FM has the final say over decisions that his party makes. Many people work in government but John Swinney's approval is always needed before action is taken and he decides what the governments priorities should be
  • For example, there are many devolved powers but John Swinney decided to make education his government's priority when he was elected FM
• Another way the FM is powerful is because they can get a lot of media attention

  • This means that what the FM says will be reported in the media, so this makes them powerful as they can get the public to talk about issues that they think are important
  • For example, John Swinney has 113 thousand followers on twitter so when he tweets about certain issues the public and media will talk about it
• What are the limitations to the FM power

  • Only powerful is their party is in power
  • Does not have control over reserved powers
  • Members of FM party an remove him if they're unhappy with his leadership
• one way the FM power has limitations is because the FM is only powerful if their party is in power

  • Currently the SNP government is a minority government, meaning the party doesn't have enough votes to pass a law on its own. This limits the FM power because he needs to work with other parties and make compromises or else his government bills won't pass
  • Foe example, following the 2021 election, Nicola Sturgeon had to rely on the Green party to vote with the SNP so that she could get the government's budget to pass
• Another way the FM power has limitation's is because they do not have control over reserved power so he has to follow some West minister decisions

  • The FM can not make decisions on reserved powers, this limits his power as the Scottish Parliament need to follow some decisions that are made by the UK Government even if they disagree with them
  • For example, the SNP cannot call a second independence referendum without permission from the UK Government as the constitution is a reserved matter
• Another limitation to the FM power is that members from their party can remove them if they are not happy with his leadership

  • If members of the SNP Party are unhappy with with the FM, they could decide to ask him to resign or force the party to hold a leadership contest. This limits his power as if he lost this, then he would not be able to stay on as FM
  • For example, if SNPs MSPs believed that John Swinney was not following through with his promises and showing good leadership, they could have him removed as leader and someone else such as Kate Forbes could take over as FM