First Minister and MSPs
Who is the current First Minister of Scotland.
John Swinney
What does AMS stand for?
Additional Member System
At what age can people vote in Scotland?
16 years old
How often do elections in Scotland take place?
Every 5 years
What is a pressure group?
A group that tries to influence the government.
What is the difference between a constituency and regional MSP?
Constituency represents a local area
Regional represents a wider region
How many MSPs are there?
129 MSPs
What does multi-party system mean?
That multiple political parties are represented in the Scottish Parliament
What are the three stages of an election?
1. Campaign
2. Vote
3. Count
Give three examples of pressure groups.
Relevant examples.
What are three roles of the First Minister?
Represent Scotland abroad
Speak to the media
Lead the government
What are the two ballot papers for?
Purple = constituency. Local MSP
Peach = regional MSP.
What is the difference between a right and a responsibility?
Responsibility = what we are expected to do with that
What % of people voted in 2021?
64%
Name three types of pressure groups?
Cause
Sectional
Insider
Outsider
What powers does the FM have? Give three.
Appoint the Lord Advocate
Chair Cabinet
Appoint Cabinet/ Fire
Decides government policy
What is the difference between AMS and FPTP?
AMS = proportional and fair. two votes
FPTP - one person, one vote. Not proprtional.
Name three political rights citizens in Scotland have.
Vote in elections
Protest/ assembly
Freedom of speech
Join a political party
Criticise the government
What are the three main types of media?
Social (Newspapers/ Magazines)
Broadcast (TV/ Radio)
What is the difference between an insider and outsider group?
Insider = close working relationship with the government. Respected and consulted.
Outsider = does not have close relationship with the government. Not consulted about policies.
Why is the first minister considered powerful in parliament? Explain.
They lead the largest party and therefore decide the majority of bills that are passed
Why is AMS considered an effective system?
Relevant answer
People in Scotland have the right to vote. What is the associated repsonsibility?
Make an informced choice.
Why is the media considered influential during elections?
Newspaper can be biased
Tv debates give parties a platform and voters can raise issues
Social media can be used to target voters
Explain, in detail, one reason why someone may choose to join a pressure group.
Passionate about a cause
Strength in numbers/ collective action
Influence the government between elections
They have experience of campaigning