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Lesson Starter

Learn about the Scottish Parliament's founding principles, including power sharing, accountability, participation, and equal opportunities. Understand how the Parliament functions to uphold these principles effectively.

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Lesson Starter

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  1. Lesson Starter • In your own words, explain the difference between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. Give examples. • Outline the meaning of ‘devolution’. • You have 10 minutes to complete this task. • Help each other!

  2. What will I learn? • The founding principles of the Scottish Parliament

  3. Success Criteria • Identify the different founding principles of the Scottish Parliament. • Explain the procedures the parliament has put in place in order to live up to the principles.

  4. Founding Principles of the Scottish Parliament • The Scottish Parliament has four founding principles that aim to create an effective and accountable parliament, answering the needs of the people of Scotland.

  5. 1. Sharing Power • Power should be shared among the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland. The Scottish Parliament ensures power is shared by the following methods: • MSPs, committees and opposition parties are all allocated time in the debating chamber. • Scottish Parliament Committees and individual MSPs can propose laws as well as private companies and individuals. • Committees take evidence from people affected by the proposed laws.

  6. 2. Accountability • The Scottish Parliament is answerable to the people of Scotland. • MSPs are accountable – MSPs must follow a set of rules called a code of conduct and the Standards Committee can consider complaints against MSPs. • The Scottish Government is accountable – it must answer questions from MSPs and the Parliament uses committee meetings to scrutinise Scottish Government policies and question Ministers. E.g. August 2009 – SNP Kenny MacAskill being questioned in the SP about the release of Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al Megrahi

  7. 3. Participation and Access • The Scottish Parliament should be accessible and involve the people of Scotland as much as possible. The Scottish Parliament makes sure it is open by having… • Parliament meetings open to the public. • A public information service to answer questions about the Parliament, in the Visitor Centre, via email, telephone or letter.

  8. 3. Participation and Access (2) • Email addresses for all MSPs and all Scottish Parliament documents are available on the website. • Committees travel to different towns all over Scotland to allow everyone to see Parliament in action. It encourages participation by… • Consultations that give people the chance to put their views across. This can be by email, letter or at meetings. • The Public Petitions Committee will consider any petition submitted by anyone living in Scotland, providing the petition refers to a devolved matter.

  9. 4. Equal Opportunities • The Scottish Parliament should treat all people fairly. • An Equal Opportunities Committee ensures that the interests of all the people of Scotland are represented fairly, regardless of sex, age, ethnic background, religious beliefs or lifestyle. • The working hours of the Scottish Parliament are designed to let parents spend time with their families.

  10. Task • Each group will be given a founding principle. • Take notes on the main points: • The Principle • What it means • The procedures the parliament has put in place to ensure it lives up to these four founding principles. • You will then change groups and you must explain the principle to the rest of your group.

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