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Elections Explained…. An election is when a country decides who will be in charge. Scotland is a democracy – this means that everyone has the right to have a say in who rules – by voting. Elections Explained….
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Elections Explained… • An election is when a country decides who will be in charge. • Scotland is a democracy – this means that everyone has the right to have a say in who rules – by voting.
Elections Explained… • The electorate is a word used to describe the people who are eligible to vote (i.e. most people over 18). • Politics in Scotland is a “Party System”. • There are various political parties in Scotland.
Elections Explained… • Parties have certain views and beliefs which are largely shared by their members. • E.g. the main objective of the SNP is to achieve Scottish independence.
Elections Explained… • On election day, voters choose who they would like to rule by voting for candidates, most of whom will be members of one of the political parties.
Elections Explained… • People vote for a candidate in their area or constituency. • Whoever gets the most votes in this area wins a seat in Scottish Parliament, becoming an MSP (Member of Scottish Parliament). • The biggest party in Parliament has most seats (currently SNP).
Types of Government • If one party wins most of seats in Parliament (over half) – majority government.
Types of Government • If one party wins most of seats in Parliament (over half) – majority government. If no party wins majority there are 2 possible types of government. Can you think what these are????
Types of Government • Majority Government - If one party wins most of seats in Parliament (over half) . • Coalition – two or more parties form a coalition (partnership). The total seats of the parties would be more than half of seats in Parliament. • Minority Government – the party with most seats rules but does not have enough seats on its own to have an overall majority.
Election Results of Scottish Parliament • Elections are held every 4 years for the Scottish Parliament. • So far there have been elections in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011
Task • Using pages 13-14 in your booklet, take your own notes on the results of the elections between 1999 and 2007. • Put a heading for each election – e.g. 1999 Election Result • Include in your notes the following: • Date of election • Turnout • Type of government (e.g. coalition, minority) • First Minister • Seats for each party • Big changes between elections, e.g. Labour lose seats, SNP gain etc…
2011 Election Result • Date – 5th May 2011 • SNP majority government elected • SNP – 69 seats, Labour – 37 seats, Conservatives – 15 seats, Liberal Democrats – 5 seats, others – 3 seats. • First Minister – Alex Salmond • Turnout – 50.75% • Big changes – SNP gains, other major parties all lost seats
Scottish Government 2011 • SNP has a majority government • First time this has ever happened since SP opened in 1999
Women in Parliament 2011 • The number of female MSPs rose slightly following the election from 43 to 45. • (This is still short of the numbers from Sessions 1 and 2 when 48 and 51 women respectively were returned). • 34.9% of MSPs are women (22% of MPs) Ruth Davidson – Conservative MSP
Ethnic Minorities and others in Parliament 2011 • The 2007 election saw the election of the Scottish Parliament’s first ethnic minority Member. • In the 2011 election this number doubled to 2 with the election of Hamzala Malik and Humza Yousaf on the Glasgow region list. • The 2011 election also saw the election of the Scottish Parliament’s first visually impaired MSP. • Dennis Robertson won the Aberdeenshire West constituency. SNP MSP Humza Yousaf
Questions • Are ethnic minorities better represented in the SP in 2011 compared to 2007? Explain your answer. • Which region in Scotland had the lowest turnout? • What type of government do we have in Scotland and which party is in charge? • What has happened to support for Labour between 1999 and 2011? • What has happened to support for the SNP between 1999 and 2011?
Coalition Government Good because: • No one party is too powerful • Parties have to work together – more representative of Scottish people • More scrutiny of government policies Bad because: • Harder to get things done • Government is weaker – more disagreements
Majority Government Good because: • one party in control • Easier to pass bills • Government is stronger Bad because: • Other parties less influential • One party too dominant
Minority Government Good because: • All parties are very much involved in making policy • “Consensus Politics” – all parties have to agree Bad because: • Government is weak, not strong • No strong leadership as government is fragile
2007 Q 1(b) Explain, in detail, why some people believe a coalition is a good way of governing Scotland. (4 marks) The Scottish Executive has been made up of a coalition of two parties since 1999. (b)
