Democracy Flashcards by Mark Li

Elections
(the features of a democratic political society)

Scottish elections every 5 years

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Rule of Law
(the features of a democratic political society)

Scotland has a 3 tier court system

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Multiple political parties
(the features of a democratic political society)

SNP, Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem,
Green

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Defence
(using examples, what reserved matters are)

oversees nuclear deterrent at Faslane

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Foreign Policy
(using examples, what reserved matters are)

support for Ukraine

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Immigration
(using examples, what reserved matters are)

Conservative govt’s “Stop the Boats” campaign

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Health
(using examples, what devolved matters are and why they
were allocated to Scotland)

Scotland’s separate Covid response

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Transport
(using examples, what devolved matters are and why they
were allocated to Scotland)

free bus passes for under 22’s

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Education
(using examples, what devolved matters are and why they
were allocated to Scotland)

separate exams, N5, Higher etc

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Appoint cabinet

(the role and powers of the Scottish First Minister)

John Swinney appointed Jenny Gilruth as
education secretary

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Set political agenda

(the role and powers of the Scottish First Minister)

Swinney has prioritised eradicating child
poverty and growing Scotland’s economy

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Represent Scotland home and abroad

(the role and powers of the Scottish First Minister)

John Swinney met members
of the Bavarian Government during Euro 2024

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To vote (vote for a party who shares your views)

(the rights and responsibilities of individuals)

0ver 63% of the electorate voted in 2021

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To protest (peacefully and legally)

(the rights and responsibilities of individuals)

anti racism protests throughout Scotland in Aug 2024

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Free speech (don’t lie)

(the rights and responsibilities of individuals)

multiple Scottish newspapers with differing views

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Every vote counts
(why people should exercise their right to vote)

NE Fife 2017 election won by 2 votes

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People died
(why people should exercise their right to vote)

Emily Davison was killed by a horse in the 1913 Derby while campaigning for women to get the vote

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Vote for parties who affect you
(why people should exercise their right to vote)

around 45% of young people voted SNP who introduced free bus passes for u 22’s

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Apathy
(why some people choose not to vote)

over ⅓ of electorate couldn’t be bothered voting in 2021 election

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Not represented
(why some people choose not to vote)

no Scottish African MSPs

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Wasted votes
(why some people choose not to vote)

Shona Robison won her Dundee seat with 59% of the vote share

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Stand as a candidate
(other ways that citizens can participate in politics in Scotland)

808 candidates at 2021 election

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Join a party
(other ways that citizens can participate in politics in Scotland)

SNP has c. 125k members

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Protest
(other ways that citizens can participate in politics in Scotland)

anti racism protests throughout Scotland in Aug 2024

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Canvassing (elections and campaigning methods(role of individuals, political parties and the media))

Nicola Sturgeon canvassed extensively in Glasgow Southside before the 2021 election

Social media (elections and campaigning methods(role of individuals, political parties and the media))

SNP has an extensive following on X

PEB’s (elections and campaigning methods(role of individuals, political parties and the media))

Labour PEB in 2021 focused on Anas Sarwar’s vision for Scotland

Money (why campaigning methods are successful)

SNP spent the most (£1m +) in 2021 so can have a sophisticated campaign

Social Media Presence (why campaigning methods are successful)

SNP have over 300,000 followers on X so can reach many

Strong leader (why campaigning methods are successful)

Nicola Sturgeon v popular cf Richard Leonard of the Labour Party unpopular in 2021 - the face of the party

Print media reports stories (the role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which influences voters)

Scotsman runs articles on NHS waiting times

Broadcast Media hosts debates (the role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which influences voters)

BBC had a leadership debate before 2021 election

Social Media allows parties to air views (the role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which influences voters)

SNP has 300,000 followers on X

Set the agenda (the role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which influences governments)

reporting on NHS waiting times

Run campaigns (the role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which influences governments)

Daily Record campaign on drug deaths

Hold govt to account (the role, purpose, aims, methods and evaluation of the extent to which influences governments)

Neil Gray accused of taking free chauffeur rides to Hampden

Letter writing (pressure group methods)

Surfers Against Sewage wrote to MSP’s supporting bottle deposit scheme

Petitions (pressure group methods)

Fans Against Criminalisation got 6,500 signatures to have the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act repealed

Messages on Social Media (pressure group methods)

Just Stop Oil have 71k followers on Instagram

Mass action is better (why people join pressure groups (strengths))

Amnesty international has over 10 mill members

Experienced campaigners (why people join pressure groups (strengths))

Greenpeace founded in 1971

Media attention (why people join pressure groups (strengths))

Just Stop Oil disruption to sporting events gets attention

Wide electorate (the key features and outcomes of the system used to elect MSP)

voting age is 16

2 votes (the key features and outcomes of the system used to elect MSP)

One constituency and one regional

Proportional (the key features and outcomes of the system used to elect MSP)

regional seats get reallocated by the List Method

More proportional (Advantages of AMS)

2021 Conservatives has c22% of the vote and 24% of the seats

Small parties have a chance (Advantages of AMS)

2021 the Greens had 8 MSPs from the Regional List

People have more representatives (Advantages of AMS)

voters in Edinburgh South have Daniel Johnson as their constituency MSP and 7 other Lothian Regional MSP’s including Miles Briggs

Weakness of Additional member: Complicated (Weaknesses of AMS)

2 votes, 1 for a candidate and 1 for a party is confusing

Weakness of Additional member: Weak government (Weaknesses of AMS)

2020 minority SNP government struggled to get a budget passed

Small parties have too much power (Weaknesses of AMS)

Greens usually lend their 8 MSP votes to the govt in exchange for pro-Green policies being implemented (bus passes)

Debates (the role of MSPs inside parliament)

Daniel Johnson contributed to a planning debate in Nov 2024

Committees (the role of MSPs inside parliament)

Daniel Johnson sits on the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Motions (the role of MSPs inside parliament)

Daniel Johnson raised a motion supporting help for children with autism in Nov 2024

Surgeries (the role of MSPs outside parliament)

Daniel Johnson has surgeries in his constituency office every Mon and Fri Morning

Correspondence (the role of MSPs outside parliament)

Daniel Johnson can be contacted at Daniel.Johnson.msp@parliament.scot

Attending events (the role of MSPs outside parliament)

Aug 2023 Daniel Johnson visited Alzheimer Scotland to learn about their schools programme

% of women in MSP (the representation of women and minority groups in the Scottish Parliament)

45%

Women ?/11 (the representation of women and minority groups in the Scottish Parliament)

8/11 of the Scottish Cabinet

BAME % in MSP (the representation of women and minority groups in the Scottish Parliament)

4.6%

Lack of Role Models (reasons for under-representation of women)

only 1 current party leader is female (Lorna Slater)

Sexist Attitudes (reasons for under-representation of women)

"Legsit” headline when Theresa May met Micola Sturgeon

Working Conditions (reasons for under-representation of women)

limited childcare hours available in Parliament

All Female Shortlists (steps being taken to achieve equal representation for women)

SNP replacing retiring MSPs in 2021 with women

Zipping (steps being taken to achieve equal representation for women)

Labour alternating women and men on the Regional List

Campaigns (steps being taken to achieve equal representation for women)

women5050.org

Scrutinise Laws (the purpose, function and composition of Committees in the Scottish Parliament)

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee looked at Free Range Eggs regulations in Oct 2024

Hold Inquiries (the purpose, function and composition of Committees in the Scottish Parliament)

2023 Inquiry into provision of ASN in Scottish schools

Consider Petitions (the purpose, function and composition of Committees in the Scottish Parliament)

November 2024 Petition raising awareness of roadside litter

Democracy Flashcards

(69 cards)