Md Unit S4 Democracy In Scotland Revision

What are three Features of a Democracy? (With examples.)

Freedom of speech, (SNP 2024, critisms for the hate crime act limiting free speech.)

Freedom of the media, (SNP were critisised for the ferry fiasco.)

Vote in elections, (2.7 million Scott’s voted in the 2021 election.)

What are three devolved matters in Scotland, (3 Examples.)

Transport, (2022, Under 22s get free travel with young Scot cards.)

Health, (2021, Free Period Products.)

Law & Order, (2019, Smacking Ban.)

What are 3 reserved matters in Scotland/UK

Defence, (UK sent Shadow Missiles to help Ukraine in the Russia conflict.)

Migration, (2025, Kier Starmer signed the one in one out agreement with France to return asylum seekers.)

Constitutional Matters, (September 2024, UK Parliament voted in favour of abolishing the hereditary peers in the House of Lords.)

What are the 3 powers of the first minister

Appoint Cabinet Ministers, (May 2024, John sweeney appointed Kate Forbes to be the Cabinate Secretary for economy,)

Leader of the government, (2023, Humza Yousaf lead the Scottish Govern in challenging the UK government.)

Represent Scotland abroad, (John Sweeney represented Scotland in the Scotland Vs Germany 2024 Euros match.)

What are 3 roles of the first minister

Appoint Cabinet Ministers, (May 2024, John sweeney appointed Kate Forbes to be the Cabinate Secretary for economy,)

Represent Scotland abroad, (John Sweeney represented Scotland in the Scotland Vs Germany 2024 Euros match.)

Answers MSPs questions at FMQs (2023, the leader of the conservatives accused the FM of desvitating local communities. With the FM responding that the conservatives had encouraged them.)

3 examples of roles in a democracy

To vote, (During 2021 2.7 million people used their right to vote.)

To join a political party, (For example, in 2025 the smp had 56,000 members.)

To stand as a candidate, (2021 Nicola sturgeon was the representive for the SMP in Southside Glasgow.)

Give 3 reasons why people would want to vote

They know how important it is. (For example, the Scottish parliament is responsible for devolved matters like health and education and people want to have a say.)

They can make a difference/influence politics. (Members of TIE, an LGBT inclusive charity, campaigned and were successful in encouraging the Scottish government to become the first country in the world to embed LGBT inclusive education across the school curriculum.)

To protect their rights. (For example, in recent years in Scotland 16 year olds have gained the right to vote and gay people are allowed to get married.)

3 Reasons why someone wouldn’t want to vote

They don’t think their participation will matter. (For example, the Faslane Peace Camp has existed outside Faslane Naval Base for decades but nuclear weapons are still in Scotland.)

 

They don’t know how. (For example, most people are not members of a political party and only about half of those who can vote, do vote in Scottish elections.)

 

They feel excluded from politics. ( For example, there were no female ethnic minority MSPs prior to 2021.)

Example 3 different ways the parties can campaign in Scotland

Public Broadcasts, (For example, in 2021 the SMP had a strongly emotive video that aimed to sway people into voting for them by showing the shortcomings of the UK Parliament for the average Scottish civilian)

Canvassing (Alex Cole Hammelton Canvassed 80,000 doors in Edinburgh in 2021.)

TV Debates (For example, in the 2021 SP election all five party leaders took part in the BBC Leader's Debate a few days before the election day.)

3 examples of how polical parties use the media

Entice younger people (For example, Nicola Sturgen had over 1,000,000 followers on Twitter. With her most used hashtag being #Vote SMP)

Appeal to older people, (For example, The Sun in Scotland has supported the SNP while the Daily Mail in Scotland has supported the Conservatives and spoke out against the SNP and Labour.)

Parties will use broadcast media to reach the most voters. (For example, in 2021 the SNP used their PPB to urge people to back them to stand up against west minster and achieve independence.)

Give 3 examples of what the media do in elections.

One role of the media is to scrutinise the political parties. (For example, during the 2021 election, the BBC asked Nicola Sturgeon questions about a hard border in an independent Scotland.)

Another role of the media is to provide a platform for parties. (For example, in 2021 the Scottish Conservative Party Political Broadcast focused on rebuilding Scotland after the COVID pandemic.)

A final role of the media is to promote public concerns. (For example, in the 2021 election the leaders all took part in the BBC Leaders Debate where Nicola Sturgeon and the other leaders took questions from the public through zoom about Covid and a second referendum.)

What are the 3 key features of AMS

It splits areas up into regions and constituency, You will receive papers to vote on, the first is a purple paper for your constituency MSP, the second an orange paper for your Regional MSP.

Your first vote is for the Constituency MSP, this first vote is the most linear, only caring which party one in each constancy. This will elect 1 MSP for each of the 73 constancies.

The second vote is for Regional MSP, which instead uses the AMS, this system uses an alagoryth to select 7 extra seats for the 8 different regions. This system makes it more difficult for those parties already with seats to get more seats.

Give 3 outcomes of the AMS

A majority government (For example, Between 2011 and 2016 the SNP government had a majority in the Scottish Parliament.)

 

A minority government. (For example, in 2025 when the SNP government relied on cooperation from a range of other parties to get laws passed.)

 

A coalition government (For example in 2021 when the SNP entered into a 'power-sharing agreement' with the Greens.)