democracy

• First Past - The - Post vote


  For FPTP, all Scotland is divided into 73 local area or constituencies. Voters in each constituency vote for one person to become their local MSP. This elects 73 MSPs, such as Gillian Martin Aberdeenshire East.
• Regional Party list vote

  Scotland is divided into 8 bigger regions: voters in each region vote for their favourite political party which helps them get regional MSPs. This elects 56 MSPs, including Maggie Chapman for the North East Scotland region.
• Proportional representation


  Proportional representation means that the percentage of votes every party is much closer to the percentage of MSPs they get. In 2021, the conservative recieved 24% of the votes & got 24% of MSPs
• disadvantages of the AMS

  • Creates conflict between local & regional MSPs: Who does what? Confusing? Eg- People in Aberdeenshire East unsure whether they can speak to regional MSP Maggie Chapman For do they need to speak to local MSP Gillian Martin?
• disadvantages of the AMS

  • Does not alaways mean Proportional Representation: Save parties can still be severely over-represented. E.g. In 2021, the SNP recieved 40% of voces -, but got nearly 60% of MSPs
• Features of Democratic society-

  Right to vote in elections: 64% of Scotland turned out to vote in 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections & the SNP won with 64 MSPs
• Features of Democratic society-

  freedom of speech: The media has the right to criticise the government and ask questions on the decisions they make.
• Features of Democratic society-

  Freedom to protest: In 2020- people in scotland protested as part of the BLM movement to raise awareness of police brutality & racism after George Floyds death
• Features of Democratic society-

  Right to vote in referendums: Scottish people voted in the 2014 Independence referendu, with the NO side winning 55% to 45%
• Devolved powers :

  Health: The scottish parliament has control over how patients in Scotland are treated & how much money is spent on NHS Scotland every year

  The scottish parliament have been responsible for the delivery of multiple different vaccines during COVID-19 pandemic since 2020
• Devolved powers: Education: Scottish parliment have control over the entire education system- primary, secondary & further education

  The scottish Parliament chose to bring back the SQA exams in 2022 after 2 years of grading students off teacher judgements
• Devolved powers: Tourism: The Scottish parliament have control over how they promote scotland as a tourist destination & the money it makes from tourism.

  In 2020, it was estimated that tourism contributed £6billion to the Scottish econom, around 5% of the Scottish GPD
• Reserved powers:

  Defence: The UK parliment maintains control over all British military forces & makes decisions about how they are deployed.

  In August 2021, the UK Government chose to withdraw UK troops from Afganistan and the Scottish Parliment had no say in the decision
• Reserved Powers:

  Immigration: The Uk parliament have control over all borders in the Uk including scotland

  Net migration to the UK was over 200,000 in 2021, & the Scottish Parliament has no control over how many of these people choose to live in Scotland instead of somewhere else in the UK
• Reserved powers:

  Constitution: The Uk Parliament maintains control over all constitutional decisions in the UK, meaning they decide how much power to give to scotland

  Scotland does not have the power on its own to have a second vote on becoming independent & would need the Uk Parliament to agree to it or win a battle of the courts
• Roles and powers of the first minister:

  Lead scottish gov- responsible for running the countr; setting the priorities
• Roles and powers of first minister:

  Answer questions at FMQs- defend the work of the government from opposition parties & their leaders on Thurs at 12pm
• Roles and powers of first minister:

  Appoint and Reshuffle the cabinet Minister- choose who will oversea important areas of government like the Treadury, Health, Education
• Roles and powers of first minister:

  Represent Scotland abroad & home- Speak to world leader to promote Scottish interests; Nicola Sturgeon represented Scotland during cop26 with Glasgow being the host city- met with world leaders & the UN
• powers of the first minister:

  sets government priorities: decides what to focus on and spend the most time on

  Nicola Sturgeon made Scotland’s Covid recovery plan a focus of her government as well as preparing for a second independence vote.
• powers of first minister:

  take advantage of the media coverage: almost anything the FM says will be reported in the media, this can be used to talk about important issues Nicola Sturgeon criticised the UK governments response to Ukrainian refugees and says more needs to be done to help
• powers of first minister:

  Appointed & reshuffle Cabinet ministers: choose he will be in charge of key positions like the Treasury, health, education

  2021- Nicola Sturgeon appointed Humza Yousaf as the new health secretary
• Limits of the first ministers power:

  The FM is only as powerful as her party in parliament: if the FMs party is no longer the largest in Scotland the FM will change

  The SNP currently has to work together with the Green party to form a majority government, meaning Nicola Sturgeon has to keep them happy with each decision
• Limits of the first ministers power:

  The FM does not have control over reserved powers: sometimes they need to follow the UK govs decisions and have no say

  Nicola Sturgeon cannot call a second independence referendum without permission from the UK government
• Limits of the first ministers power:

  members of the FMs party have the power to remove them if they’re unhappy: It is party to choose the first Minister not the public

  If members of the SNP were unhappy with Nicola Sturgeon, they could decide to ask her to resign or force party to hold a leadership contest
• RIGHTS:

  vote in elections- when you were 16 for e.g the Scottish Parliamentary elections
• RIGHTS:

  Vote in referendums- on important issues e.g. 2014 Scottish independence referendum
• RIGHTS:

  freedom of speech verbally or written e.g. social media, writing to newspapers
• RIGHTS:

  protest: issue we disagree on and change the governments mind

  e.g. trumps UK visits, BLM protest
• RESPONSIBILITIES:

  to be responsible citizens and use our vote to influence candidates and government
• RESPONSIBILITIES:

  to accept the decision of the majority even if we disagree with it
• RESPONSIBILITIES:

  Avoid telling lies or abusing others which is unlawful
• RESPONSIBILITIES:

  Protest within the law and be respectful of other peoples rights
• Participation:

  voting: simplist form turn up at election day to vote

  most basic way of voting- Scottish Parliamentary elections.

  In the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary election, the SNP won 64 seats, the most by any party
• Participation:

  Sharing opinions on social media: All you need is a phone & internet access- share opinions & interact with those who agree or disagree with you

  Nicola Sturgeon is on insta & twitter, as are most politician, to try and get support of voters
• Participation:

  contact a MSP: get in touch with one of your elected representatives if you have an issue which you would like fixed- you have 8 different MSPs that represent you

  You can speak to Gillian Martin MSP in Aberdeen Shire East about local issues
• Participation:

  Protest: attend a protest on an issue you care about, the more people who attend, the stronger the message it sends to the government

  e.g- black lives matter, anti-vaccinations
• Participation:

  • Join a pressure group
  • Join a political party
  • Stand as a candidate
• what is a role of the FM

  represent scotland abroad and at home