Modern Studies - Democracy

• debates explain

  These happen in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament and may be on a motion or on a Bill. MSPs can use them to raise concerns and can scrutinise Government and force Ministers to defend themselves and their policies.
• question time explain


  This is when MSPs ask questions of the head of the Scottish Government, First Ministers Question Time (FMQs) takes place on Thursday at 12 noon and lasts for half an hour. Questions must be lodged in advance by MSPs and six are selected by the Presiding Officer. MSPs can submit written questions this enables MSPs to ask Scottish Government Ministers or Cabinet Secretaries for detailed information on any devolved matter which the Scottish Parliament holds the Government to account.
• decision time explain

  This is the time when MSPs vote on the motions that are discussed and provide MSPs with the opportunity to represent their constituents by voting in accordance with their wishes. Using this the Scottish Parliament can hold the Scottish Government to account by voting against unpopular Government policies.
• debates example


  In 2019, they debated on protecting Scotland’s interests in negotiating our future relationship with Europe.
• committees example

  Committees can hold inquires into subjects relating to work of the committee, examine and subordinate legislation.
• question time example


  On the 23 April 2024, Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentland, SNP asked the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme in Scotland.
• decision time example


  On the 18th April 2024, decision time was placed for Mark Griffins motion for the Scottish Employment Injury Advisory Council Bill at stage 1 be agreed? The outcome came to a majority of no and was therefore not put in place.
• committees analysis

  However, the lack of scrutiny or movement to hold the government to account were highlighted in the 2011-16 Parliament.

   

  Insufficient scrutiny led to concerns about the quality of legislation – particularly true of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
• question time analysis


  However, written questions allow the FM or ministers being questioned to access the questions before the session and create prepared responses meaning these are often well thought out and allows the FM to avoid backlash and accountability.
• decision time analysis


  However, if there is a majority government not everyone is fairly represented during decision time as the party in majority will probably be the decider to what happens next.
• standing as a candidate explain

  In Scotland anyone over the age of 18 can stand as a candidate to become an MSP to raise more awareness to their issue and to help influence decision making by taking part in the decisions.
• protesting explain


  This is when people take to the streets or a public platform to make their voices heard on their political views and spread awareness. If there a range of media presence protests can influence decision making as the government face more pressure from the public as they are becoming more aware of issue the people are protesting about.
• social media explain


  This is when people share their opinions and ideas to help influence decision making by persuading people to see their point of view and to keep up with political parties such as the SNP or Labour with their ideas and opinions on issues of interest
• standing as a candidate example

  In the 2021 Scottish Election, Clare Adamson was re-elected as an MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw (SNP) she was first elected in 2016
• protesting example 


  In 2022, teachers protested for a 6.5% pay rise following inflation
• social media example 


  Labour has 270k followers on Instagram and share their ideas and opinions in hope to gain more voters.
• voting analysis


  By voting it gives the public choices on who they wish best will represent them in further situations such as finances
• protesting analysis


  However, many protests do more harm than good as many usually turn into riots or violence causing disturbance of the peace to the public not involved in the protest
• social media analysis


  However, there can easily be fake news spread following parties talks or interviews as things can be taken out of context either helping them gain voters due to false info or lose voters due to fake info
• petitions explain


  Pressure groups can use these to raise awareness among politicians of public feeling regarding a certain issue. If a petition receives more than 10,000 signatures the issue is brought up in government. The media presence can be used to spread awareness and may help the pressure group expand and influence the government to hear them.
• petitions analysis


  However, if a petition doesn’t receive enough attention or enough signatures the government or other authorities will not take action to them as they find it less relevant as not many people care about them.
• marches explain


  Pressure groups can take to the streets and commence marches usually in busy areas of large cities where they are more likely to attract media attention to help spread awareness on their issue and why they are marching and can influence government decision making as the more media presence the more people hear about it. Putting pressure on the government about their issue which means they can therefore influence decision making as they face pressure from the public.
• marches example 


  On the 26 June 2021, anti-lockdown and climate change demonstrators marched through central London in a day of protests.
• marches analysis


  However, some marches are not successful as they don’t gain anything out of their protest and only gain anger as they caused disturbance.
• lobbying explain


  This is when members of a pressure group meet with members of parliament to try and get them on their side of an issue and allows them to discuss these issues in parliament to bring more awareness about there issue in politics.
• lobbying example


  Cigar lobbyists have campaigned for cigars not to be associated with cigarettes. They have lobbied for years to avoid government scrutiny and to promote the idea cigars are not harmful.
• blockades example


  Just Stop Oil activists shut down sections of the M25 by climbing onto gantries along the motorway during rush hour on the 7 November 2022
• blockades analysis


  Although this is successful and grabs the public and media attention, it is also ignorant as they pause everyone’s lives meaning the public get annoyed at them rather than see their reasoning for protesting.
• AMS explain


  This is used to elect MSPs and is a mixture of FPTP and the Party List System where voters get 2 votes – one for a constituency MSP and a second vote for a party on a regional list. Each person is represented by 8 MSPs. In each constituency the candidate with the most votes and becomes an MSP. In each region, MSPs are picked from a list made up by the political party and they can put the candidates in whatever order they want. The higher on the list, the more chance of getting elected. Overall, the party that gets the most MSPs wins and becomes the government.
• AMS example 


  In the 2021 Scottish Election, Clare Adamson was re-elected as an MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw (SNP) she was first elected in 2016.
• STV example

  If there were 4 seats available in the Strasbourg ward and 150,000 people voted, then the QUOTA would be 30,001 votes required to be elected as a councillor.

   

  In the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election the DUP had 3 candidates and alliance had 2 candidates standing in the Belfast East Constituency