Starter Activity

• Can you name 3 ways in which the Scottish Parliament is more accessible to the people.

• Answer like;

• One way in which the Scottish Parliament is accessible to the people is _________(remember to explain what it is)

Democracy in the UK and Scotland

Between 1707 and 1999 Scotland was governed by the UK Parliament in Westminster

• In 1997, the Labour Party held a referendum on a Devolved Government for Scotland.

• Over 75% voted for a Scottish Parliament.• The first elections were held on 6 May 1999.• The first meeting of the Scottish Parliament

took place on 12 May 1999.• On 1 July 1999 the Parliament was officially

opened by the Queen.• It received its full legislative powers.

Devolved and Reserved Matters

• The Scottish Parliament was given powers to make laws in certain areas that would apply to Scotland. These were called DEVOLVED MATTERS.

• Areas that were deemed to be of National (UK wide) importance remained RESERVED MATTERS

DEVOLVED MATTERS• Health• Education• Sport and the Arts• The Environment• Local Government• Social Work• Housing• Planning• Tourism• Economic Development• Transport (some aspects)• Justice – Courts and Legal system• Police and Fire Services• Agriculture, forestry and fishing

RESERVED MATTERS

• Defence• Social Security• Foreign Affairs• Time• Currency• Immigration• Gambling• Energy

• Weights and Measures

• Broadcasting• Economic Policy• Elections• Equal Opportunities• Data Protection

TASK

• In your jotters draw a table with two columns. One with the column head ‘Devolved Matters’ and the other with the head ‘Reserved Matters’

Devolved Reserved

Place each of the matters in this list under the correct

headings• NHS • Local Councils • Building new

schools • RAF • National Lottery • Wind Farms • Links with foreign

countries

• Football • Planning Permission

to build a Nuclear Power Station

• Building new prisons • Free prescriptions for

everyone in Scotland • ID cards • Increasing benefits

Place each of the matters in this list under the correct

headings• NHS D• Local Councils D • Building new

schools D• RAF R• National Lottery R• Wind Farms R• Links with foreign

countries R

• Football D• Planning Permission

to build a Nuclear Power Station D

• Building new prisons D

• Free prescriptions for everyone in Scotland D

• ID cards R• Increasing benefits R

Lets see what you have learned so far.

Who do you think makes the decision about each of these issues? Write either Scottish parliament or UK parliament in your jotters

1) Decision to go to war with Scottish troops

2) Implementing a new curriculum in Scottish schools

3) Building more council homes in Cumbernauld

4) Raising the state pension age for Scottish citizens

5) Building a new hospital in Glasgow6) Passing a law to combat terrorism in

Scotland

• Decision to go to war – UK Parliament

• Implementing a new school curriculum – Scottish Parliament

• Building more council homes – Scottish Parliament

• Raising the state pension age – UK Parliament

• Building a new hospital – Scottish Parliament

• Passing a law to combat terrorism – UK Parliament

Task• Can you think of areas 3 things that The

Scottish Government have used its Devolved Powers to implement.

• Think of areas of Health, Education and Police and Fire.

• Write your answer in your jotter like-• The Scottish Government used its

devolved powers to __________(write what they done)___________ this was ____(Explain it)_____________________ they did this under the __(name devolved power)___

Homework

• You have to find out three things that the Scottish Government has introduced using its Devolved Powers.

What was it and what devolved powers were they using?

Devolved Powers - Leaflet

• The different powers the parliaments have can become confusing for people. Your task is to create a leaflet that will describe what devolved powers are and how the Scottish parliament has used them.

• What should my leaflet include?

What should my leaflet include?

• A front cover• Your name• Lots of colour• Explanation of what devolved power is• Explanation of what a reserved power is• A description of the devolved powers the

Scottish parliament has and what they allow the parliament to do

• Examples of these powers being used to create laws