The Scottish Political Process

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Voting

Election results

The Scottish Political System

Contents:

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We use this system of voting to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the UK Parliament. For the 2010 General Election, the UK was split up into 650 constituencies (areas of around 70,000 voters). Each constituency elected one MP How does FPTP work?

Constituents vote for their favourite candidate and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat.The party with the most seatswins the election and becomesthe Government.The leader of the winning party becomes the Prime Minister.

First-past-the-post

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Example of first-past-the-post

Imagine a country with only five constituencies and each constituency has 100 constituents. Let’s look at a possible set of results:

Constituencies

Parties Letham Muirton Oakbank Craigie KinnoullSeats Votes

Red Party 49 5 48 6 48

Yellow Party

46 47 47 45 45

Blue Party 5 48 5 49 7

3

0

2

156

230

114

Which parties would be pleased with the results and who would be unhappy? Why?

Can you think of a better way to elect MSPs?

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In Scottish Parliament elections, people have two votes; one for their constituency MSP and one for their regional MSPs.

Everyone in Scotland is represented by eight Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and there are 129 MSPs in total.

In which constituency and region do you live?Do you know the names of your eight MSPs?

How are MSPs elected?

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Constituency MSPs There are 73 constituencies in Scotland.Each constituency elects one Constituency MSPVoters put an ‘X’ next to the name of a candidateThe candidate with the most votes is elected.

Can you identify your constituency on the map?

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Regional MSPs

There are eight Scottish regions.Each region elects seven Regional MSPs.Voters put an ‘X’ next to their preferred party.

Highlands and Islands North East Scotland

West of Scotland Mid Scotland and Fife

Glasgow Central Scotland

Lothians South of Scotland

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Scottish voting system

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Election results

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2011 Election results

The Scottish Parliament 2011 Elections were held on May 5th.The results were as follows:

What changes occurred in the Scottish political landscape?

What changes occurred in the Scottish political landscape?

PARTY CONST REGN TOTAL +/- 2007

SNP 53 16 69 +22

LAB 15 22 37 -9

CON 3 12 15 -2

LIB DEM 2 3 5 -11

OTHER 0 3 3 -

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What can you remember?

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The work of an MSP

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How a law is made

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Case study: Schools and Nutrition (2007)

The Government proposed the Nutrition Bill that requiresschools and councils to be ‘health promoting’ (banning certain foods, limiting vending machines in schools etc.)

Stage 2 The Communities Committee examined the bill in detail and made some amendments.

Stage 1 The Communities Committee investigated and reported its findings. Parliament debated and voted in favour of the bill.

Stage 3 Parliament debated and voted on each amendment and the Bill as a whole.

The majority of MPs voted in favour of the billand it therefore became a law with Royal Assent.

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Devolved and reserved powers

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What issues matter the most?

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Should Scotland have more powers?

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What can you remember?