Democracy In Scotland

• Features of a democratic society

  • Voting
  • Freedom of speech
  • Ability to stand as a candidate
• Reserved matters

  • Defence
  • Migration
  • Trade
• Devolved matters

  • Transport
  • Health and social services
  • Law and order
• Role/powers of the First Minister

  • Power to appoint cabinet ministers
  • Answers questions from MSPs at FMQs
  • Leader of the Scottish government
• Limits on the First Minister's powers

  • UK government
  • Supreme court
  • Minority government
• Why people participate in a democracy

  • They know how important it is
  • They can make a difference in politics
  • To protect their rights
• Why people don't participate in a democracy

  • They don't know how to
  • They feel excluded from politics
  • They don't think their participation will make a difference
• Role of political parties in an election

  • Recruit and promote candidates
  • Produce a manifesto
  • Campaign during elections
• Methods used by political parties in an election

  • Party political broadcasts (PPBs)
  • Canvassing
  • Take part in debates
• Why political parties use the media

  • To reach the most voters - broadcast media
  • To reach older voters - print media
  • To reach younger voters - new media
• Role of the media in an election

  • Scrutinise political parties
  • Promote public concerns
  • Provide a platform for parties
• Role of individuals during an election campaign

  • Stand as candidates
  • Vote
  • Get informed about the issues during the campaign
• Features of the Additional Member System (AMS)

  • Voters have more choice
  • Results are more proportional
  • Multiple representatives
• Advantages of AMS

  • Helps smaller parties
  • Voters have more choice
  • Results are more proportional
• Disadvantages of AMS

  • Elections are complicated
  • Not perfectly proportional
  • One party is less likely to get a majority
• Outcomes of AMS

  • Majority government
  • Minority government
  • Coalition government
• Role of MSPs in their region/constituency

  • Visiting schools
  • Local media
  • Surgeries
• Role of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament

  • Take part in FMQs
  • Take part in Motions and Debates
  • Be part of a Parliamentary Committee
• Why women are underrepresented in parliament

  • Lack of role models
  • Hard to balance family commitments with a political career
  • The perceived aggressiveness of politics puts women off
• Why ethnic minorities are underrepresented

  • Lack of role models
  • Fear of racism and prejudice if they get involved in politics
  • Concentrated in urban centres
• Composition of committees

  • Convenor (chairperson)
  • Proportional to the wider parliament
  • Never include cabinet secretaries
• Role of committees

  • Encourage public involvement in the Parliament's activities
  • Investigate topical issues of concern
  • Provide scrutiny of legislation
• Functions of committees

  • Consider petitions
  • Produce reports on issues of concern
  • Examine legislation in detail
• Role of the media

  • Inform the public
  • Hold politicians to account
  • Try to influence the public's opinions
• Methods used by the media

  • Live press conferences
  • Bias front page newspaper headlines
  • Conducting and publishing media investigations
• How the media influences democracy

  • Live press conferences
  • Party political TV ads
  • Bias newspaper headlines
• Role of pressure groups

  • Persuade decision makers
  • Raise awareness
  • Represent their members
• Methods used by pressure groups

  • Contact decision makers
  • Petitions
  • Marches/demonstrations
• How pressure groups influence democracy

  • Strikes and protests force the government to act
  • Secure important changes
  • If insider pressure groups have a good relationship with the government
• Limits of media influence on democracy

  • Decline of newspapers
  • TV neutrality
  • Public distrust of social media adverts
• Limits of pressure groups influence on democracy

  • Pressure groups‘ causes can be damaged by extreme tactics
  • Pressure groups often fail to secure change
  • Outsider pressure groups struggle to be heard