1. Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom
Complete the following sentences:
The United Kingdom is a __________ monarchy.
The United Kingdom is governed through a system of ___________ democracy.
Scotland has a _________ Parliament.
Scottish citizens are represented by ___, ____, ___, and ____ ________.
REPRESENTATIVE MPs
DEVOLVED MEPs
CONSTIUTIONAL MSPs
LOCAL COUNCILLORS

2. The UK Constitutional Arrangement
Starter Task
Who is the head of state of the United Kingdom?
According to British law, one group of people are never allowed to reign as King or Queen. Which group?

3. The UK Constitutional Arrangement
Answers
The Queen – Elizabeth II
Roman Catholics
(This is the law because of the 1701 Act of Settlement which still applies today)

4. Today we will… Outline the UK constitutional arrangement
Identify the basic structure and workings of the Scottish Parlaiment.

5. Success Criteria
I can summarise the UK constitutional arrangements.

6. Structure of Government in the UK
The system of government in the UK is called a “constitutional monarchy”
This is a form of democratic government where the monarch (King or Queen) acts as a non-political head of state
In basic terms, the monarch of the UK (Queen Elizabeth II) “reigns but does not rule”

7. Structure of Government in the UK
The monarch has some responsibilities such as granting “royal assent” for bills, but such “powers” are just for show…to keep up tradition…a formality
Power to make and change laws lies with the UK Parliament (Westminster) and the devolved governments and assemblies of the separate nations of the UK

8. Politics in Scotland
Until the late 1990s, laws for the whole of the UK were made solely by the UK central government in Westminster.
In 1997, the people of Scotland voted in a referendum on whether or not to have a separate Scottish Parliament which would make laws on devolved Scottish issues % of Scots voted “YES” and the Scottish Parliament came into existence in 1999.
Around the same time, assemblies were created for Wales and N. Ireland giving these nations some powers to govern themselves

9. Scottish Politics Today
The process of DEVOLUTION means Scotland has the power to make laws on devolved matters such as health and education. This means Scotland has a degree of “self-governance”.
The UK Parliament has retained control over some issues and areas of law such as immigration and employment laws. These are referred to as RESERVED POWERS or reserved matters.
Since the original devolution settlement in 1999, there have been several updates and changes to what each Parliament has control over. This will most likely change again following BREXIT.
Remember: Laws made in both Parliaments must receive royal assent – the Queen is the Head of State for the whole of the UK.

10. Although we think of devolution as a “90s” movement, the process of devolution is constantly evolving.
Many other areas of the UK have proposed devolution movements – not just Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

11. Overview
Queen is head of state
Central Government –
whole of UK
Scottish Parliament – just for Scotland
Passes laws on reserved issues – e.g. defence and immigration
Passes laws on devolved issues – e.g. health and education
Note – the UK (and therefore Scotland) is currently still part of the European Union (EU) and so the European Parliament can pass laws on Europe-wide issues. For example, the European Parliament recently passed legislation on mobile phone roaming charges.

12. The Role of the Scottish Parliament
The Scotland Act 1998 created the Scottish Parliament. It officially opened in July 1999.
The Scottish Parliament is often referred to as Holyrood, after the area in Edinburgh which it is found.
Elections to the Scottish Parliament are held every 4-5 years.
The last Scottish Parliament elections were in May 2016.
Nicola Sturgeon Acclimation 2016
Scottish Parliament Elections 1999

13. Structure of the Scottish Parliament
There are 129 MSPs in total.
73 MSPs represent CONSTITUENCIES – small defined areas based on population size.
The other 56 MSPs represent larger Scottish REGIONS. There are 8 regions overall – each region is represented by 7 MSPs.
St Joseph’s Academy lies within the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley constituency and the South Scotland region.
Scottish Labour: 24 MSPs
Scottish Greens: 6 MSPs
SNP: 63 MSPs
Scottish Liberal Democrats: 5 MSPs
Scottish Conservatives: 31 MSPs

14. Funding the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is mainly funded through an annual budget from the UK Parliament of around £30 billion known as the Block Grant.
Other funding comes directly from Scottish taxes and rates.

15. Working of the Scottish Parliament
All 129 MSPs have the same basic role:
To represent their constituents at the national level.
To participate in the LEGISALTIVE process through the working of the Parliament.
The Legislative process is the process in which new laws are created and pre-existing laws are updated, changed or scrapped.

16. Working of the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament uses its LEGISLATIVE POWERS to create and change laws on DEVOLVED MATTERS only.
TASK:
Using the Scottish Parliament website, find and write a basic description of a law created and passed by the Scottish Parliament on the devolved issues mentioned here.
Include: Name of law, Year and what the law was about.

17. Who is the current First Minister of Scotland?
The 129 members of the Scottish Parliament will take part in activities such as debating new laws and voting.
For a law to be made in Parliament, more than half (65 plus MSPs) MSPs must vote ‘For’.
The leader of the party with the most seats in Parliament will normally become the First Minister after each election.
Who is the current First Minister of Scotland?

18. The Scottish Government
Led by the First Minister – the FM is elected by MSPs following each election.
FM is the head of the Scottish Government
First Minster chooses a cabinet of people called Cabinet Secretaries - each Secretary is responsible for a particular devolved matter and will have a team of Junior Ministers below them who take responsibility for a specific area within the department.

19. Supported by
Supported by

20. The Working of the Scottish Parliament
Think, Pair, Share
Write a list of all the different things that go on within the Parliament.
Think back to your work in National 5 Modern Studies.
Work of the Parliament

21. Different Types of Bill
When the Scottish Parliament was set up one of the key principles found in the report Shaping Scotland's Parliament was the sharing of power.
This was to avoid a situation where the government could dominate the legislative process completely and to allow smaller parties or individuals a realistic chance of influencing new laws.
It was decided that individual MSPs should have the right to introduce legislation as well as the executive and committees.

22. Different Types of Bills
Government
Bills
Committee
Bills
Different Types of Bills
Members Bills
Private Bills

23. Government Bills Committee Bills
These are Bills introduced by the Scottish Government and account for the majority of legislation after the 2007 election. Examples include:
Community Care and Health Act 2002
Alcohol Etc (Scotland) Act 2010
Committee Bills
This is legislation initiated by a committee. Examples of committee bills include:
Protection from Abuse (Scotland) Act 2001
Children's Commissioner for Scotland Act 2003

24. Members’ Bills
Each MSP has the right to introduce two Bills during one Parliamentary session. Individual MSPs must get cross party support before they can introduce their bill.  
Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 introduced by Christine Grahame MSP
Can you find another example of a Member’s Bill which is CURRENTLY in the legislative process?

25. The majority of bills introduced and passed are Government Bills.
Most parties use a ‘whip system’ to ensure party unity in voting, apart from on matters of conscience or moral issues such as assisted suicide.
MSPs will usually be given what is known as a “free vote” on such matters.