Mods PEEs
Crime and Law
Crime trends
P - One crime trend in Scotland is that overall crime is decreasing.
E - This is because we have gotten better at stopping and preventing crime due to increased security measures.
E - Overall crime has reduced by 14% since 2012 in Scotland.
P - Another crime trend in Scotland is that s3xual crimes are increasing.
E - This is because historical s3xual crimes are being reported later and in addition, in 2018 a new s3xual crime of disclosing indecent images was created.
E - S3xual crimes have increased by 70% since 2012 in Scotland.
Victims of crime
P - One group more likely to be a victim is younger people.
E - Young people are likely to be surrounded by others their own age who are also the most likely to commit a crime.
E - For example, the Scottish Crime and Justice survey in 2021-2022 showed that 16-24 year olds experienced a 15.4% risk of crime whereas those over 60 experienced around 5%.
P- Another group more likely to be a victim is those living in deprived areas.
E - Crime rates are highest in deprived areas such as Dundee and parts of Glasgow, compared to more affluent areas like East Renfrewshire or Dunblane.
E - For example, Scotland’s 15% most deprived areas experienced a 4% higher risk of crime in 2021-2022.
Biological causes
P - One biological cause of crime is the ‘nature argument’ - that some people are born bad.
E - If someone has the MAOA gene (also known as the warrior gene), they become predisposed to violence as they are less able to control their emotions.
E - Criminals are thought to lack empathy and get angry more easily due to the warrior gene.
P - Another biological cause of crime is young age.
E - Teenagers’ prefrontal cortices are smaller than adults’ which makes them less able to make decisions, making them open to peer pressure and leading to crime.
E - The brain does not fully develop until the age of 26.
Social causes
P - One social cause of crime is lack of education.
E - Staying in school makes crime seem less appealing as you learn about the consequences of crime. As well as this, it makes you more attractive to employers and those with a stable income are less likely to commit crimes.
E - For example, 59% of prisoners in England and Wales regularly truanted from school compared to only 5% of the general population.
P - Another social cause of crime is upbringing and ACEs.
E - If someone experiences abuse or neglect in childhood, they may go on to copy this behaviour in adulthood, leading to crime.
E - For example, 97% of UK prisoners have experienced at least one ACE.
Economic causes
P - Crime is highest in Scotland’s most deprived areas which suggests that poverty leads to crime.
E - People living in poverty may commit crimes such as theft or fraud in order to provide for themselves or their family.
E - For example, 1 in 9 young men living in Scotland’s most deprived communities will spend time in prison before they turn 23.
P - Theorist Robert Merton argued that those with the least opportunities are most likely to commit a crime.
E - Due to limited resources and inequality not everyone can be wealthy.
E - If someone is unable to achieve the goal of wealth, they may turn to illegitimate means such as fraud or drug dealing as an alternative route to success. This is called innovation.
Impact of crime on victims
P - One way crime impacts victims is physical injuries.
E - Victims of violent crime can sustain numerous injuries such as bruising, broken bones, loss of limbs and concussion.
E - For example, in 2017 in Scotland the most common violent-crime-related injury was minor bruising and black eyes at 60%.
P - Another way crime impacts victims is financially.
E - Victims may lose possessions or money due to fraud or theft.
E - For example, in 2017 in Scotland the most common value of items stolen in property theft was £100 and under.
Impact on perpetrators
P - Going to prison can have a positive impact on perpetrators.
E - In prison perpetrators can access rehabilitation such as drug counselling, anger management courses and skills training. This makes them more employable upon release and less likely to reoffend.
E - For example in Greenock Prison inmates can learn how to paint and decorate.
P - Going to prison can negatively impact perpetrators’ mental health.
E - Prisons are very violent places and there are a lot of negative attitudes. As well as this, prisoners spend much of the day locked in cells which increases tension and poorly impacts mental wellbeing.
E - For example, between 2017 and 2018 Scottish prisoners’ self-harm rates increased by 43%.
Impact on perpetrators’ families
P - Having a family member in prison can have an emotional impact.
E - Family members may miss the perpetrator and the perpetrator may not be present for important events. Children with a parent in prison may also be bullied or avoided at school.
E - For example, children with a parent in prison are twice as likely to suffer from a mental illness.
P - Having a family member in prison can also have a financial impact.
E - The perpetrator’s family is now missing an income and most likely will suffer financially. This means that many families with a member in prison can no longer afford rent or mortgage and may have to move house or lose their home.
E - In addition, the person in prison may also request their family send money to them or they may have to pay to visit the person in prison.
Impact on society
P - One impact crime has on society is that fear increases.
E - If crime rates are high in an area people often become scared of becoming a victim themselves. Women and those living in deprived areas are more likely to fear becoming a victim.
E - For example, in the 15% most deprived areas in Scotland people were 16% more likely to feel unsafe walking alone at night.
P - Another impact crime has on society is that taxes go up.
E - Crime costs the taxpayer in many ways including the justice system, the police and crime-related healthcare.
E - For example, keeping one person in prison for a year in Scotland costs around £47,000.
Adult courts
P - One adult court in Scotland is the Sheriff court.
E - This is for slightly less serious crimes such as assault, theft and possession of drugs.
E - Punishments this court can give out are a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and unlimited fines.
P - Another adult court in Scotland is the High court.
E - This is for the most serious crimes like murder, rape and drug dealing.
E - Punishments this court can give out are unlimited prison sentences and unlimited fines.
Children’s hearing system
P - One way the children’s hearing system helps young people is by providing a relaxed atmosphere for children to discuss issues such as crime.
E - The meeting takes place around a round table which is less intimidating than an adult court.
E - The child is allowed to take someone along with them and can read reports from teachers and social workers beforehand so they know what is going to be said about them.
P - Another way the children’s hearing system helps young people is by discussing both justice and welfare issues.
E - Someone may be referred to the children’s reporter if they are being mistreated at home or if they have committed a crime.
E - The children’s hearing can take steps to protect the child, such as putting a supervision requirement in place or referring them to addiction counselling.
Sentences a court can give
P - One sentence a court can give is a prison sentence.
E - This is for serious crimes such as drug dealing and can range from a few weeks to life.
E - Prison sentences can be effective as they keep dangerous criminals away from the public. However, they are also expensive and prisons are overcrowded.
P - Another sentence a court can give is a fine.
E - This is given for minor crimes such as driving offences.
E - Fines can be effective as they deter the perpetrator from future crime. However they must be fined enough to have a significant impact on their finances but not so much that they fall into poverty.
Advantages of prison
P - One advantage of prisons is incapacitation.
E - If someone is in prison they cannot commit a crime against the public which makes the public feel safer.
E - Levels of violence in prisons is increasing showing the importance of keeping violent criminals away from the public.
P - Another advantage of prisons is that inmates can access rehabilitation.
E - While in prison criminals can access rehabilitation such as help with addiction, skills training and anger management courses.
E - For example at HMP Greenock inmates can learn how to paint and decorate.
Disadvantages of prison
P - One disadvantage of prison is that they are very expensive.
E - Prisons cost the taxpayer and a lot of people don’t want their money to go towards rehabilitating criminals.
E - Keeping someone in prison for a year costs around £47,000 in Scotland.
P - Another disadvantage of prison is that they are overcrowded.
E - Scottish prisons are severely overcrowded and this means that they don’t have the resources to give prisoners adequate rehabilitation. It also leads to increased time spent in cells, leading to more tension and increased violence.
E - For example, Barlinnie prison is operating at 140% of its capacity.
Advantages of alternatives to prison
P - One advantage of alternatives to prison is that they are cheaper.
E - While prisons are expensive and cost taxpayers money, fines actually bring in money for the country which can be spent on things like the NHS.
E - Keeping someone in prison for a year costs about £47,000 in Scotland and the total cost of prisons would be reduced if alternatives were used instead.
P - Another advantage of alternatives to prison is that they reduce overcrowding.
E - Scottish prisons are very overcrowded, meaning prisoners cannot access proper rehabilitation and violence is increased. This would be reduced if more people were given alternative sentences like fines or community payback orders.
E - Barlinnie is operating at 140% of its capacity and this would be reduced if more alternatives were used.
Disadvantages of alternatives
P - One disadvantage of alternatives is that they are not always achieved.
E - Some people fail to pay fines and don’t show up to community sentences.
E - For example in 2022 30% of offenders did not complete community sentences.
P - Another disadvantage of alternatives is that they don’t always prevent reoffending.
E - Alternatives to prison do not always include rehabilitation. This means that the offender is not necessarily deterred from crime and doesn’t change their mindset so might reoffend.
E - Fines also might be paid by family members so don’t have the intended deterrant impact on the offender.
Effectiveness of courts
P - One adult court that is effective is the Sheriff court.
E - The Sheriff court deals with semi-serious crimes such as possession of drugs, assault and theft. Punishments that can be given out include an unlimited fine and a maximum prison sentence of 5 years.
E - This court is effective as its punishments focus on deterring offenders from future crime, reducing crime rates overall.
P - Another adult court that is effective is the High court.
E - The High court deals with the most serious crimes such as murder, rape and drug dealing. Punishments it can give out include unlimited prison sentences and unlimited fines.
E - This court is effective as the prison sentences it gives out incapacitate dangerous criminals keeping the public safe.
Effective government responses to crime
P - One government response to crime that was effective is No Knives Better Lives.
E - This was a programme run by the government to young people living in areas of Glasgow where knife crime was high which tried to tackle the reasons why people carry a knife. It included showing hard-hitting videos focusing on the impact on the perpetrator’s families’ lives when a knife crime is committed.
E - This programme was effective because from 2011 to 2016 no one under 20 died in an incident involving a knife in Glasgow.
P - Another government response to crime that was effective was the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).
E - This was a programme run by the government that focused on tackling Glasgow gang crime by treating it like a disease. This included gathering many gang members in Glasgow and offering them the chance to leave behind their life of crime and start a normal life.
E - This was successful as murder rates in Glasgow dropped by 60% within 10 years.
Ineffective government responses to crime
P - One government response to crime that was ineffective is No Knives Better Lives.
E - This was a programme run by the government to young people living in areas of Glasgow where knife crime was high which tackled the reasons why people carry a knife. This included showing hard-hitting videos focusing on the impact knife crime has on the perpetrator’s family.
E - This was unsuccessful as there have been stabbings since then, such as in 2020 a 16 year old boy was stabbed in Port Glasgow.
P - Another government response to crime that was ineffective is the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).
E - This was a programme run by the government that tackled gang crime in Glasgow by treating it like a disease. This included gathering many gang members in Glasgow and offering them a chance to leave behind their life of crime and start a normal life.
E - This was not a success as in 2018 there was a drive-by murder of a gang member in Glasgow’s Maryhill area.
Structure of the police
P - One branch of the police is the Crime and Operational Support Branch.
E - This branch is only brought in when needed and operates nationally. This includes the Dog Branch and Underwater Unit.
E - For example, the Dog Branch is used to sniff out bombs, find missing people and search for other evidence.
P - Another branch of the police is the Local Police.
E - This branch focuses on building positive relationships with the local community so people feel safer coming to the police to report a crime.
E - For example, some of these police visit schools or even act as a ‘Campus Cop’ which focuses on making relations with the next generation.
Powers of the police
P - One power of the police is to stop and search someone.
E - If the police believe someone might be carrying an illegal item or other evidence they are allowed to stop and search them.
E - The police have to follow a code of conduct while doing this. For example, the person being searched does not have to give their name or other personal details.
P - Another power of the police is to detain someone for questioning.
E - If someone is suspected of committing an offence they may be taken in for questioning. The detainee is not allowed to be held for over 24 hours.
E - The police must tell the detainee why they have been detained and explain the general nature of the crime they are suspected of. They also must tell the detainee they do not have to give any information apart from their name, address and other personal details.
Roles of the police
P - One role of the police is to maintain law and order.
E - Police must be present at large public events like football matches to stop violent crime from happening.
E - For example in November 2025 the police were present at an Old Firm game in Glasgow.
P - Another role of the police is to prevent crime.
E - The police run programmes to stop and prevent specific types of crime in Scotland.
E - For example the Police ran the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) in 2025.
Effectiveness of the police
P - One way the police are effective is keeping the public safe.
E - The police are present at international events in order to keep everyone safe from violence and crime.
E - For example the police were present at Cop 26 which was the largest event ever hosted in the UK. There was no significant violence at Cop 26 which proves that the police are effective at this.
P - Another way the police are effective is through the investigations they carry out.
E - If someone commits a crime it is the police’s job to find them and make sure they are punished accordingly. They use their departments to gather evidence which means the court can prove someone guilty.
E - For example, between 2013 and 2022 there were 250 murders but only 2 went unsolved.
Ineffectiveness of the police
P - The police are less effective at tackling hate crimes due to hateful attitudes within the system.
E - The police cannot effectively stop hate crime if they are struggling with attitudes of hate towards certain groups within the police system. People will not feel safe to come forward and report crimes if they believe there is a culture of hate within the police.
E - For example there have been reports of the police discriminating against female and LGBTQ+ officers.
P - The police are less effective at tackling crime as not all crimes are solved.
E - A key role of the police is to investigate crimes but as so many crimes go unsolved this suggests they are not effective at this.
E - Foe example the BBC reported that almost 50% of crimes don’t make it to court.
USA pees
Branches of power
P- One branch of the US government is the Legislative branch.
E - This is responsible for making and passing laws.
E - This branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Together they are called Congress.
P - Another branch of the US government is the Executive branch.
E - This is in charge of running the country and implementing laws passed by Congress.
E - This branch is made up of President Trump and his cabinet.
Participation
P - One way Americans can participate in politics is by joining an interest group.
E - This is a group of people who come together to put pressure on businesses or representatives to achieve a common goal. One way they do this is by protesting.
E - For example, the Black Lives Matter movement campaigned against racial injustice in crime following the death of George Floyd.
P - Another way Americans can participate is by joining a political party.
E - The two main political parties in the US are the Republicans and the Democrats.
E - Traditionally, the Republicans are more conservative and support low taxation whereas the Democrats are more progressive and support things like gay marriage and abortion.
Overrepresentation
P - One group more likely to participate in politics is men.
E - Males are overrepresented in the US government and men have many positive role models encouraging them to run for election. The president has always been male.
E - For example, 76% of senators are male compared to only around half of US population.
P - Another group more likely to participate in politics is white people.
E - Those who have high levels of education and income are more likely to participate in politics. Due to inequalities white people tend to be successful in these areas.
E - For example, 70% of the House of Representatives are white.
Rights and responsibilities
P - One right US citizens have is the right to freedom of speech but they have the responsibility to only speak respectfully.
E - Americans may voice their opinions and criticise the government but must always tell the truth and must not be disrespectful to others.
E - For example, Americans may have their own opinions but must not be racist or homophobic.
P - Another right US citizens have is the right to bear arms but they have the responsibility to only use a gun in self defence.
E - According to the 2nd Amendment, Americans may own a gun but must only use it to protect themselves from harm.
E - For example there are around 120 guns for every 100 Americans.
Political powers
P - One way the US influences other countries politically is because they are part of multinational bodies.
E - The US is part of the UN and NATO along with other powerful countries. This means that they are able to take part in important global discussions and influence other countries by the decisions they make there.
E - For example the USA is one of 5 permanent members of the UN security council.
P - Another way the US influences other countries politically is by tackling global issues.
E - The US is seen to have values of freedom and equality. By getting involved in tackling issues like global warming, they are able to influence other countries to share these values.
E - For example Joe Biden attended Cop 27 to help tackle the issue of climate change. If the US had not been involved, other countries would have been less interested as the US is a powerful country.
Economic powers
P - One way the US influences other countries economically is through its international companies.
E - American companies like Starbucks and Walmart operate stores all over the world. This brings profit back to the US.
E - Starbucks recently was accused of not paying enough tax in the UK.
P - Another way the US influences other countries economically is through its GDP.
E - The US has the highest GDP in the world which makes up around a quarter of global GDP.
E - The USD$ is the most used currency in global transactions and oil is sold in dollars per barrel.
Military powers
P - One way the US military influences other countries is because it is ranked #1 in the Global Firepower Index.
E - The US is ranked as having the world’s most powerful military and is therefore a threat. The US military budget is also the world’s highest at around $800 billion.
E - This means they can afford expensive weapons such as nuclear bombs which can be used to threaten their enemies.
P - Another way the US military influences other countries is by taking part in global conflicts.
E - The US military can defend its allies, threaten its enemies and potentially defuse further attacks.
E - For example in 2024 the US defended Israel from Iranian missile attacks.
Causes of economic inequality
P - African Americans tend to have lower income and this is caused by differences in criminal convictions.
E- African Americans are five times more likely to go to prison than white Americans.
E - According to the NAACP a criminal record reduces the chance of a job offer or callback by 50%. The negative impact of a criminal record is felt twice as hard by African Americans than it is White Americans.
P - African Americans tend to have lower income and this is caused by lack of education.
E - African Americans are more likely to leave high school before graduating and are more likely to be excluded.
E - Not graduating high school makes you less attractive to employers in the US. 26% of those who don’t graduate end up in poverty.
Causes of social inequality
P -African Americans tend to have lower levels of education and this is down to poor funding of schools.
E - Schools in the US are partially funded by property taxes in the area they are located in. Schools in poorer areas, where many African Americans tend to live, therefore receive less funding than schools in wealthier areas where many white Americans live. The schools where many African Americans attend often cannot afford the same resources as the schools where many white Americans live.
E - For example, schools in Greenwich CT - a richer area- spend an average of $6000 more on each pupil per year than schools in Bridgeport CT - a poorer area.
P - Another social inequality is differences in criminal convictions due to racial discrimination.
E - Black Americans are more likely to be treated harshly by the police and are subject to more stops and searches.
E - For example, unarmed Black Americans are shot by the police at three times the rate of white Americans.
Government responses to inequality
P - One government response is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
E - This is financial assistance given to those with lower income to help pay for a balanced diet. It is given in the form of a debit card on which the average recipient is paid $125 per month. During the Covid pandemic SNAP was able to adapt quickly to fit a wider range of eligible recipients.
E - One drawback of SNAP is that recipients often use it to buy unhealthier foods high in sugar, fat and preservatives as these are often cheaper.
P - Another government response is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
E - This is financial assistance for welfare given to low-income families and pregnant people. It is used to help pay for transport, childcare and mental health support. Funding varies across states. During the Covid pandemic there was a billion dollar raise in TANF funding to accommodate people who had fallen into poverty.
E - One drawback of TANF is that it is only given to families for 5 years and is often not enough to pay for additional costs as well as rent and mortgage, therefore families on TANF often end up in poor housing or even homeless.
Democracy PEEs
Devolved powers
P - One devolved power is healthcare.
E - The Scottish parliament make decisions about healthcare rules and laws for example during the Covid pandemic.
E - For example the NHS Scotland give free prescriptions whereas in England they do not.
P - Another devolved power is education.
E - The Scottish parliament created the Curriculum for Excellence which every school in Scotland must follow.
E - For example Scotland was the first country to make LGBTQ+ inclusive education a compulsory part of the curriculum.
Reserved powers
P - One reserved power is defence.
E - The UK parliament is in charge of making decisions on what money is spent on defence and what measures are taken to ensure the country is safe.
E - For example the UK parliament voted to maintain the UK’s nuclear weapon system, Trident.
P - Another reserved power is Foreign Policy.
E - Westminster is in charge of building relationships with other countries and deciding who we are allies or at war with.
E - For example, in 2022 the Uk parliament had to decide what sanctions to take against Russia.
Roles of the first minister
P - One role of the first minister is to promote Scotland to other countries.
E - This includes travelling abroad to meet other world leaders. Scotland has consul offices all over the world.
E - For example former First Minister Humza Yousaf travelled to the US to take part in New York Climate Week.
P - Another role of the first minister is to choose cabinet ministers.
E - Cabinet ministers are responsible for a specific policy area each and chair the committee for their area eg. health.
E - For example, John Swinney appointed Mairi Gougeon as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.
Roles of MSPs inside Parliament
P - One role of MSPs inside Parliament is to ask questions at First Minister’s question time.
E - This is where MSPs can ask the first minister questions that their constituents have asked. It takes place every thursday at noon.
E - For example, Anas Sarwar asked John Swinney ‘Why is the NHS no longer free and available under the NHS?’.
P - Another role of MSPs in Parliament is committee work.
E - Committees are each for a specific policy area and MSPs can scrutinise the work of the government in this area, as well as looking at proposed bills.
E - For example, the Education committee are currently working on the Schools Residential Outdoor Education Bill which aims to make school trips accessible for all students.
Roles of MSPs outside parliament
P - One role of MSPs outside parliament is to gather their constituents’ views.
E - One way they can do this is by holding surgeries in local town halls.
E - This is an opportunity for constituents to raise issues and ask questions to be raised in parliament.
P - Another role of MSPs outside parliament is to keep their constituents informed on what they are doing.
E - MSPs will keep their constituents informed on what they are doing in parliament in order to keep a good image of their party and keep constituents engaged in politics.
E - For example in 2025 Jim Fairlie tweeted about canvassing in Perth, raising awareness for SNP.
Features of a democracy
P - One feature of Scottish democracy is voting.
E - Everyone over 16 in Scotland can vote in elections to elect the First Minister and MSPs. Scottish Parliament elections take place every 5 years.
E - For example the turnout in the last Scottish election was just over 60%.
P - Another feature of the Scottish democracy is freedom of the media.
E - The media is able to criticise the Scottish parliament in the news and hold them to account.
E - For example, the media may make Freedom of Information requests to ensure that Parliament is being transparent.
Rights and responsibilities
P - One right Scottish people have is the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility is to only speak respectfully.
E - Scottish people may respectfully say their opinions and can also make suggestions to the government, but must not speak disrespectfully about others.
E - For example Scottish people may sign petitions such as the one from 2025 to improve access to ADHD diagnoses, but must not be racist or homophobic.
P - Another right Scottish people have is the right to vote and they have the responsibility to use their vote.
E - Scottish people over 16 can vote in elections and elect their preferred candidate or party. However they must make an informed choice and use their vote.
E - For example the turnout in the last Scottish election was just over 60%.
Roles of committees
P - One role committees is to examine bills.
E - Committees look at bills proposed in their specific policy area to see if they would work.
E - For example the Health and Sport Committee examined the proposed bill for Minimum Unit Pricing.
P - Another role of committees is to hold inquiries into subjects relating to their work.
E - For example the Education and Skills committee gather evidence and think of different ways to tackle issues that arise in education.
E - For example the Education and Skills committee examined the delivery of Modern Studies accross the country.
Structure of committees
P - Committees usually have 7-11 members.
E - They must have a balance between parties which represents the balance of power in parliament. It would be unfair if smaller parties dominated committees.
E - For example the Justice committee has 11 members, 5 of which are SNP which is the biggest party in the UK.
P - Committees also have a convenor who are in charge of discussions and call people to speak.
E - The committee lso will have at least 2 clerks who provide support and advice on procedure to the convenor.
E - For exmple Audrey Nicoll is the convenor of the Criminal Justice committee.
DEMOCRACY PEES
Devolved powers
P - One devolved power is education.
E - The Scottish parliament created the Curriculum for Excellence which highlights what every child should learn in school.
E - For example, in 2018 Scotland became the first country to make LGBTQ+ inclusive education a compulsory part of the curriculum.
P - Another devolved power is healthcare.
E - The Scottish parliament makes rules around public health such as during the Covid pandemic.
E - As well as this, NHS Scotland gives free prescriptions whereas in England they do not.
Reserved powers
P - One reserved power is defence.
E - Westminster is in charge of making decisions on how much we spend on the military and what measures to take to ensure the UK is safe.
E - For example, Westminster voted in favour of maintaining Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapon system.
P - Another reserved power is foreign policy.
E - The UK parliament is in charge of relationships with other countries and who we are allies or at war with.
E - For example in 2022 the UK parliament had to decide what sanctions to take against Russia.
Powers of the first minister
P - One role of the first minister is to appoint Cabinet ministers.
E - Cabinet ministers are responsible for a different policy area each eg. education and usually chair the committee for that area.
E - For example, John Swinney appointed Mairi Gougeon as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.
P - The first minister is responsible for representing and promoting Scotland.
E - This may mean travelling abroad to meet other world leaders.
E - For example former first minister Humza Yousaf travelled to the USA to attend New York Climate Week.
Roles of Msps inside parliament
P - One role of MSPs inside parliament is asking questions at First Minister’s question time.
E - This is an opportunity to ask questions on behalf of their constituents and hold the government to account. It takes place every thursday at noon.
E - For example Anas Sarwar asked John Swinney ‘Why is the NHS no longer free and available under the SNP?’
P - Another role of MSPs inside parliament is committee work.
E - Committees are each responsible for a different policy area like Education or Health and Sport. They scrutinise the work of the government and examine proposed bills.
E - For example, the Education, Children and Young People Committee are currently working on the Schools Residential Outdoor Education Bill which aims to make school trips accessible to all.
Roles of Msps outside parliament
P - One role of MSps outside parliament is gathering the views of their constituents.
E - They do this by holding a surgery in local town halls or community buildings.
E - This is an opportunity for constituents to ask questions to be raised in parliament and hold the government to account.
P - Another role of MSPs outside parliament is keeping constituents informed on what they are doing in parliament.
E - MSPs tell their constituents what parliament is doing at the moment to maintain a good image and keep their constituents engaged in parliament.
E - For example in 2025 Jim Fairlie tweeted about canvassing in Perth to raise awareness for SNP.
Features of a democracy
P - One feature of Scottish democracy is voting.
E - Everyone over 16 gets to participate in Scottish elections and vote for their preferred party.
E - For example, turnout for the last Scottish election was just over 60%.
P - Another feature of Scottish democracy is freedom of the media.
E - The media is allowed to openly criticise parliament and hold the government to account in the news.
E - One way they can do this is making Freedom of Information requests which make sure the government is being transparent.
Rights and responsibilities
P - One right Scottish people have is the right to vote and the responsibility is to use their vote and make an informed choice.
E - Scottish people over 16 are allowed to vote for their preferred party or candidate, but they must research beforehand and make an informed choice before they do so.
E - For example, the turnout rate in the last Scottish election was just over 60% so not everyone used this right.
P - Another right Scottish people have is the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility is to only speak respectfully.
E - Scottish people may say their opinions and criticise the government but they must not speak with disrespect about others.
E - For example Scottish people can sign a petition like the one in 2025 to improve access to ADHD diagnoses, but they must not be racist or homophobic.
Roles of committees
P - One role of committees is to hold inquiries into the work of the government in their policy area.
E - Committees must gather evidence to make sure what the government is doing is working in their area, eg. education.
E - For example the Education and Skills committee examined the delivery of Modern Studies in schools across the country.
P - Another role of committees is to examine proposed bills.
E - When a bill is proposed it has to go through many stages. In the committee stage they look at it in detail to make sure it would work.
E - For example the Health and Sport committee examined the bill for Minimum Unit Pricing.
Structure of committees
P - Committees usually have 7-11 members.
E - These members must reflect the balance of power between parties. It would be unfair if smaller parties dominated committees.
E - For example, the Justice committee has 11 members, 5 of which are SNP which is the biggest party.
P - Committees are chaired by a convenor who is in charge of discussions and calls witnesses to speak.
E - There are usually also 2 clerks who support the convenor and advise them on procedure.
E - For example Audrey Nicoll is the convenor of the Criminal Justice Committee.
Crime and law part 2 pees
Adult courts
P - One adult court is the Sheriff court.
E - This court deals with slightly less serious crimes like theft, assault and possession of drugs.
E - Punishments this court can give out are unlimited fines and a maximum prison sentence of 5 years.
P - Another adult court is the High court.
E - This court deals with the most serious crimes like murder, rape and drug dealing.
E - Punishments this court can give out are unlimited fines and unlimited prison sentences.
Childrens hearing system
P - One way the childrens hearing system helps young people is by providing a relaxed atmosphere.
E - The meeting takes place around a round table which is less intimidating than an adult court.
E - The child can take someone along with them and is given reports by teachers and social workers to red beforehand so they know what is going to be said about them.
P - Another way the childrens hearing system helps young people is by discussing both justice and welfare issues.
E - Someone may be referred to the childrens reporter if they are being mistreated at home or if they have committed a crime.
E - The children’s hearing can take steps to help the child. This might include putting a supervision requirement in place or requiring the child to attend counselling.
Sentences a court can give
P - One sentence a court can give is a prison sentence.
E - This is usually given for serious crimes like murder or rape and can range from a few months to a year.
E - This is effective as it keeps dangerous criminals away from the public which makes the public feel safer.
P - Another sentence a court can give is a fine.
E - This is given for minor crimes like driving offences.
E - Fines can be effective; the offender must be fined enough to have an impact on their finances to deter future crime, but so much that they fall into poverty.
Advantages of prison
P - One advantage of prison is that offenders can access rehabilitation.
E - Prisoners can access rehabilitation like drug counselling, anger management courses and skills training which reduces reoffending and makes them more employable upon release.
E - For example HMP Greenock offers prisoners painting and decorating courses.
P- Another advantage of prison is incapacitation.
E - if someone is in prison they cannot commit a crime against the public making the public feel safer.
E - Violence in prisons is increasing including attacks on officers which shows the importance of keeping violent criminals away from the public.
Disadvantages of prison
P - One disadvantage of prison is that they are expensive.
E - Prisons cost the taxpayer and many people don’t want their taxes going towards rehabilitating criminals.
E - It costs around £47,000 to keep someone in prison for a year in Scotland.
P - Another disadvantage of prison is that they are overcrowded.
E - Prisons in Scotland are severely overcrowded. This means there is not enough space or resources to give each prisoner proper rehabilitation, leading to increased tensions and violence as well as more reoffending on release.
E - For example Barlinnie is operating at 140% of its capacity.
Advantages of alternatives
P - One advantage of alternatives is that they are cheaper than prison.
E - While prisons cost a huge amount of tax money to run, fines actually bring in money for the country. This money can go towards things like the NHS which many people would prefer to going towards prisons.
E - For example in Scotland it costs about £47,000 to keep someone in prison for a year.
P - Another advantage of alternatives is that they reduce overcrowding.
E - Prisons are severely overcrowded which means there is more violence and less resources to rehabilitate prisoners. This would be reduced if alternatives were used.
E - For example Barlinnie is operating at 140% of its capacity.
Disadvantages of alternatives
P - One disadvantage of alternatives is that they are not always completed.
E - Some people fail to pay fines or show up to community sentences.
E - For example in 2022 30% of offenders failed to show up for community sentence.
P - Another disadvantage of alternatives is that they do not prevent future crime.
E - Fines don’t include rehabilitation and don’t tackle the reasons why people commit crimes such as drug or alcohol addiction.
E - As well as this, offenders’ family may pay fines for them so it does not have the intended impact on their finances.
Effectiveness of courts
P - One court that is effective is the Sheriff court.
E - This is responsible for slightly less serious crimes like drug possession or theft and punishments include unlimited fines and a mximum prison sentence of 5 years.
E - This is effective as its punishments deter offenders from future crime.
P - Another court that is effective is the High court.
E - This is responsible for the most serious crimes like murder or rape and punishments include unlimited fines and unlimites prison sentences.
E - This is effective because its prison sentence keep offenders away from the public which reduces violence and maks the public feel safer.
Effective government responses
P - One effective government response was No knives better lives.
e - this programme was run in schools in glasgow where knife crime was high and tackled the reasons why people carry a knife. this included showing hardhitting videos on why people carry a knife.
e - this was effective as from 2011 to 2016 there were no deaths under 20 involving a knife.
P - another effective government response was the violence reduction unit.
e - this programme focused on tackling gang violence in glasgow by treating it like a disease. this included gathering all gang members in glasgow and offering them the chance to leave behind their life of crime.
e - for example this was effective because murder rates in glasgow dropped by 60% in 10 years.
ineffective government repsonses
p - one government response that was ineffective is no knives better lives
e - same explanantion
e - this was ineffective because is 2020 there was a stabbing of a 16 year old boy in port glasgow.
P - another government response that ws ineffective is the violence reduction unit
e - same explanantion
e - this ws ineffective as in 2018 there was a drive by murder of a gnag member in glasgows maryhill area.
structure of the police
p - one branch of the police is the crime and operational support branch.
e - this branch operates nationally and is only called in when needed. it includes the dog branch and underwater unit.
e- for example the dog branch is used to sniff out bombs, locate missing people and find other evidence
p - another branch of the police is local policing.
e- this branch focuses on building relationships with the local community so they feel safe and trusting coming to them with crimes to report.
e - ccommunity police officers will visit schools or even be a campus cop who focuses on building positive relations with the next generation.
powers of the police
p - one power of the police is to stop and search someone
e - they can do this if they think someone is carrying an illegal item or other evidence.
e - they have to follow a code of conduct. for example the person being searched does not have to give their name or any other personal details.
p - another power of the police is to detain someone for questioning
e - the police may take someone in for questioning if they think you have committed a crime
but the detainee must only be held for up to 24 hours.
e - the police must tell you why you ave been detained as well as that you do not have to give any details apart from your name, address and other essential detakls
roles of the police
p - one role of the police is to maintain law and order
e - they attend large events like football matches and concerts to make sure there is no violencee
e - for example they recently attended an old firm game in november 2025.
p - another role of the police is to prevent crime
e - the police do this by running campaigns focused on one specific area of crime.
e - for example in 2025 they did the campaign disclosure scheme for domestic abuse scotland (dsdas)
effectiveness of the police
p - one way the police is effective is through the investigations they carry out.
e - the police have to make sure everyone who has committed a crime is found and punished effectively. the police will use their departmens to gather evidence so the court can find someone guilty.
e - for example between 2013 and 2022 there were 250 murders and only 2 went unsolved.
p - another way the police are effective is through keeping the public safe.
e - the police are present at large events like football matches and concerts to make sure there is no violence.
e - for example the police were heavily present art cop 26 in the uk and there was no significant violence
15,. ineffectiveness of the police
p - the police can be ineffective in tackling hate crime because of their own hateful attitudes.
E - people need to feel safe and trusting coming to the police to report crimes. They cannot do this is there is a culture of hate within the police system.
e - there have been investigations into the police and there hs been found a culture of discrimination against lgbtq+ and female officers.
p - the police can be ineffective as not all crimes get solved.
e - a key role of the police is to investigate crimes but as so many crimes go unsolved this suggests they re not effective.
e - for example the bbc reported that almost 50% of crimes dont make it to court.