The Scottish Parliament

Scottish Identity Aims: Identify ways in which Scotland has its own identity. Identify ways in which Scotland has its own identity. Examine the arguments for and against the Scottish Parliament Examine the arguments for and against the Scottish Parliament

Elections For the Scottish Parliament Aims: Identify how the Scottish Parliament is elected. Identify how the Scottish Parliament is elected.

Electing the Scottish Parliament The voting system is called the Additional Members System (AMS). It is a form of Proportional Representation. There are 129 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

Voters have TWO VOTES: The first vote is for a CANDIDATE. Voters elected an MSP for their constituency. There are 73 constituency MSPs. The winner is decided using First Past the Post

1 st Vote – Ballot Paper 1 Brown Ronald Scottish Socialist Party 2 Chisholm Malcolm Labour Party 3 Dana Anne Scottish National Party 4 Semphill Jamie Conservative Party 5 Tombs Sebastian Liberal Democrat Party

2007 Election – First Vote Political Party Constituency MSPs Conservative4 Green0 Labour37 Liberal Democrats 11 Scottish National Party 21 Others0

The Second Vote Scotland is divided into EIGHT regions. Each region elects 7 LIST OR REGIONAL MSPs. Voters in that region vote for a PARTY. Each party draws up a list of candidates. A complicated formula is then used to decide how many regional MSPs each party gets.

2007 Election – Second Vote Political Party Regional MSPs Conservative13 Green2 Labour9 Liberal Democrats 5 Scottish National Party 26 Others1

Jim Mather SNP Constituency MSP Rob Gibson SNP Regional MSP Rhoda Grant, Labour Regional MSP Jamie McGrigor, Conservative Regional MSP Peter Peacock, Labour Regional MSP Mary Scanlon, Conservative Regional MSP David Stewart, Labour Regional MSP Dave Thompson, SNP Regional MSP

2007 Election There are 129 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. A party would have to win 65 seats to have a majority.

2007 Election – Overall Result Political Party Total MSPs % of Votes % of Seats Conservative Green Labour Liberal Democrats SNP Others

The Additional Member System Advantages % of seats a party gets is roughly the same as its % of the vote. Easier for smaller parties to win seats. People have two votes – more choice. Parties have worked well in coalition governments. Disadvantages Hard for voters to understand how the system works. More likely to have a coalition government – coalitions might break down if parties disagree. Voters are unsure which MSP to contact if they have a problem.

Electing the Scottish Parliament Aims: Examine the outcome of the 2011 election and the AV referendum. Examine the outcome of the 2011 election and the AV referendum. Identify the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in this election. Identify the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in this election.

2011 Election Results Party Constituency MSPs Regional List MSPs Total +/ - SNP Labour Cons Lib Dem Others033+1

Note: The SNP now have an overall majority. The SNP now have an overall majority. All the other main political parties lost seats in the election. All the other main political parties lost seats in the election. The turnout was 50.7% The turnout was 50.7% Other parties – 2 Green Party MSPs and 1 Independent MSP. Other parties – 2 Green Party MSPs and 1 Independent MSP. Margo MacDonald Independent MSP Patrick Harvie Green MSP Eleanor Scott Green MSP

The AV Referendum Across the UK voters were asked if they wanted to change from FPTP to the Alternative Vote (AV) system. Across the UK voters were asked if they wanted to change from FPTP to the Alternative Vote (AV) system % of voters were against AV in the referendum % of voters were against AV in the referendum.

What Is The Scottish Government? The Scottish Government is responsible for running those areas which Scotland is allowed to organise for itself e.g. education, health. The Scottish Government is responsible for running those areas which Scotland is allowed to organise for itself e.g. education, health. The First Minister is elected by MSPs and is usually the leader of the largest party. The First Minister is elected by MSPs and is usually the leader of the largest party. The Scottish Government is then chosen by the First Minister – he will select MSPs from his party. The Scottish Government is then chosen by the First Minister – he will select MSPs from his party. Each MSP will be responsible for a department and be known as a ‘Scottish Minister’. Each MSP will be responsible for a department and be known as a ‘Scottish Minister’. Each minister has to answer to Parliament for all the work of their department. Each minister has to answer to Parliament for all the work of their department.

The Powers of the Scottish Parliament Aims: Examine the main powers of the Scottish Parliament. Examine the main powers of the Scottish Parliament. Identify the modern features of the Scottish Parliament. Identify the modern features of the Scottish Parliament.

Supervises the Scottish Government Powers of the Scottish Parliament Makes Laws Investigate Issues Changes Taxes

A Modern Scottish Parliament Using page 31, explain how the Scottish Parliament is more up-to-date than the House of Commons in the following areas: Seating arrangements Seating arrangements Hours of sitting Hours of sitting How MSPs address each other in the chamber How MSPs address each other in the chamber Electronic Voting Electronic Voting

The Powers of the Scottish Parliament Devolved Powers: HealthTransport EducationLaw Local GovernmentFire Service Social WorkEnvironment HousingAgriculture Economic DevelopmentTax

The Powers of the British Parliament TaxDefence Foreign Affairs Economic Policy Social Security Immigration Drug Control

Contacting Your MSP The work of an MSP is very similar to that of an MP. You can contact your MSP by: Letters or Letters or Surgery Surgery Telephone Telephone

The Work of an MSP in Their Constituency In their constituency MSPs will: Holding surgeries Holding surgeries Attend local meetings Attend local meetings Go on fact-finding visits Go on fact-finding visits Attend local events Attend local events

The Work of an MSP DayMorningAfternoon MondayConstituencyConstituency TuesdayCommittee WednesdayCommitteeChamber ThursdayChamberChamber FridayConstituencyConstituency SaturdayConstituencyConstituency SundayConstituencyConstituency Note: MSPs can meet on a Monday afternoon or Friday morning in exceptional circumstances

Committees The Work of an MSP in the Scottish Parliament Debates Question TimeIntroduce a Member’s Bill

Introducing New Laws: Laws can be introduced by: A Government Minister A Government Minister A Committee A Committee An MSP An MSP

The Work of an MSP In the Scottish Parliament Committees An MSP will be a member of several committees. Each committee examines what the Scottish government is doing in a certain area e.g. education. Bills are sent to committees before the Parliament considers them. Committees can introduce bills to change the law

The Work of an MSP in the Scottish Parliament Debates MSPs can debate, discuss and vote on issues affecting their constituents. Question Time Each week the First Minister and other government ministers will face questions from MSPs. MSPs will ask questions about what the government is doing to help people in their consituency.

The Work of an MSP in the Scottish Parliament Making Laws MSPs will vote on whether a Bill becomes law or not. Every MSP also gets the chance to introduce two Member’s Bills in a four- year period. For example, Margo MacDonald tried to introduce a bill on assisted suicide.

Public Petition The Public Petitions Committee must consider petitions which have been handed in by members of the public. A petition might want to introduce a new law, change an existing law or express concern about an issue. If the committee thinks it is a good petition, they can send it to another committee to deal with or introduce a new Bill to change the law. This in an important opportunity for the public and pressure groups to influence the work of Parliament.

Pressures on an MSP ConstituentsParty Local area National Interest Family Ideological Beliefs Individual conscience Pressure Groups Media

How Representative is the Scottish Parliament? Aims: Examine the representation of women and ethnic minorities in the Scottish Parliament.

At the moment women make up 51% of the Scottish population.Year Number of Female MSPs % of Female MSPs % The number of female MSPs has varied in recent years. If they were to be fairly represented there would be 66 female MSPs in the Scottish Parliament

Why Are Women Under-Represented? Parties are reluctant to choose female candidates because they think they might lose voters. Many women are the main carers in their family – living and working in Edinburgh during the week is not practical. Although the Scottish Parliament has more family friendly hours of work it is still difficult for women with young families to balance their responsibilities. Many women take a career break when they have family – a political career takes many years to develop. Aileen Campbell, aged 26 was the youngest woman to be elected as an MSP in the 2011 election.

At the moment ethnic minorities make up 4% of the Scottish population.Year Number of Ethnic Minority MPs % of Ethnic Minority MPs % % % % The number of ethnic minority MSPs has increased slightly in recent years. If they were to be fairly represented there would be 36 ethnic minority MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

Why Are Ethnic Minorities Under- Represented? Parties are reluctant to choose ethnic minority candidates because they think they might lose voters. People from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to join political parties – they often feel the policies of the main parties do little to help them. Some ethnic minorities are less likely to stay on at school or go onto university. The more educated a person is the more likely they are to take part in politics. The Scottish Parliament is predominately white. Many ethnic minorities feel they have few political role models to follow. Humsa Yousaf was one of only two ethnic minority MSPs to be elected in the 2011 election.