Democracy in Scotland and the UK

Democracy in Scotland and the UK
- Possible alternatives for the governance of Scotland
  Scotland is run by the Scottish Parliament, which controls devolved powers, and the UK Parliament, which controls reserved powers.
- The UK's decision to leave the EU
  In the referendum of 2016 the UK voted to leave the European Union. This has had an impact on how the UK is run and its global relationships.
- Effectiveness of parliaments in holding government to account
  The main role of MSPs and MPs is to represent their constituents in parliament. Find out how they hold government to account through work on committees, Question Time and debates.
- Strengths and weaknesses of different electoral systems in the UK
  A variety of electoral systems are used in the UK and each has its strengths and weaknesses. First Past the Post is used to elect Members of the UK Parliament. The Additional Member System is used to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament. The Single Transferable Vote system is used in Scotland to elect local councillors.
- Factors influencing voting behaviour
  There are many factors, such as age, social class and gender, that influence how people vote.
- Ways in which citizens can influence government decision making
  From protests and pressure groups, to joining a political party, there are many ways that citizens can influence government policy
Video playlist
- How does the political system work in the UK? Video
  An overview of institutions in the UK political system, such as the Houses of Parliament.
- The work of an MSP. Video
  Shona Robison, MSP, Dundee East, explains her work as an MSP.
- What are the differences between political systems in Scotland and the UK? Video
  A comparison between the responsibilities of Scottish parliament and the UK parliament.
- How MSPs are elected to Scottish parliament. Video
  An explanation of the Additional Member System used for elections to Scottish parliament.
- How are councillors elected in Scotland? Video
  The Single Transferable Vote system is used to elect local councillors in Scotland.

Video playlist

Links