Point Explanation Example 1. One way that the police try to reduce crime levels is to be present at large public events where there could be disturbances with large crowds, they act as a deterrent to crime. This means that their presence at football matches to separate rival fans from fighting and colliding with each other in stadiums can stop these crimes from being committed. For example, the police were present at the Scotland vs England football match at Hampden stadium in November 2016 to prevent any potential clashes between the fans, as many supporters would not start a fight when they knew so many police were about and they would be likely to be caught. In addition, the police are consulted on the times of football matches and generally argue to have matches earlier in the day in the hope that fewer fans will have consumed alcohol and lessen the chances of violence and disorder at football games. This shows how effective the police involvement in football can prevent disorder at games. 2. One way that the police try to reduce crime levels is to offer advice through their crime prevention branch. This means that police can give information on the protection of property and crime prevention to members of the public looking for help. For example, advice on crime prevention advice could involve helping to set up neighbourhood watch scheme to ensure that residents take all necessary precautions to prevent their house being broken into. In addition, police could attend schools and talk to pupils about being aware of internet dangers and help them spot child offenders and prevent children putting themselves in danger of a crime being committed against them. This shows the role of police in preventing crimes through information sharing. 3. One way that the police try to reduce crime levels is through Community policing This means that police officers get to know the public and develop local relationships with residents and workers to the area. For example, police could regularly talk to residents in a housing scheme and a relationship of trust could be built. This would make it more likely that residents would confide in crimes within the area such as drug dealing and provide information to detect or prevent such crimes. In addition, police can attend schools and help pupils identify them as trustworthy and reliable. This would make it more likely that pupils would share information such as the whereabouts of missing teenagers and prevent any crime being committed against them if they are vulnerable. This shows that police working in the community can be an important method for the police to prevent crime. 4. Describe, in detail, the adult courts in Scotland.
1. One reason that courts may use alternative forms of punishment to prison is because it can be more appropriate to keep an offender in the community. This means that for less serious crimes, it may be more appropriate for some people/crimes, for an offender to keep their job as offenders can be more likely to commit crime if they are in poverty, unemployed For example, a person committing a theft may be issued with a fine instead of being sent to prison. In addition, this could be used to offset the cost of a court trial and payback some of the costs of crime to the public. 2. Another reason that courts may use alternative forms of punishment to prison is because it can keep families together. This means that it would allow a measure of freedom to remain in society allowing offenders to remain with their families which is an important factor in preventing re-offending. For example, Tagging orders can be used to curtail some freedom and keeping track of offenders whilst not breaking and damaging family relationships as prison may do. In addition, this can set a better routine and pattern for offenders and may reduce the risk of reoffending. 3. Another reason that courts may use alternative forms of punishment to prison is because it is much cheaper for the tax payer. This means that as keeping offenders in jail can cost £40,000 a year per criminal- this money could be spent on areas to help victims or other members of the public. For example, Community Pay back orders can be used which allow a community to benefit from unpaid work e.g. Community pay back cleaning which can give something back to the community and even help the offender gain a sense of pride in their community and reduce reoffending rates. In addition, using alternative methods would reduce the prison population and prevent overcrowding which means that new, larger prisons would not have to be built, further increasing the costs to tax payers. 8a). Explain, in detail, the consequences of crime. (On individuals / families, communities, and wider society) 8b) Explain, in detail, the ways people are affected by crime.
Point Explanation Example 1. One consequence of Crime is that it can have a financial impact This that money from taxation has to be used to pay for the consequences of crime. The overall cost of crime in the UK runs into billions of pounds. This can affect essential services like healthcare. Money is needed for the police to catch criminals and also courts to prosecute criminals. Money from taxation is used to pay for prison or alternatives to prison For example, in the 2011 London riots hundreds lost their homes and businesses. The total cost was around ½ a billion pounds with 5000 compensation claims after the riots. In addition, If crime rises more is spent on this rather than schools leading to poorer and education showing a effect of crime. 2. Another consequence that Crime can have is the financial impact on individuals. This that victims may need to pay for things which they would otherwise not needed to have spent the money on and it may cause financial hardship as people do not budget for being the victim of crime. For example, If an individual is burgled and they on their insurance this can cause their insurance premiums to be raised. Individuals without insurance may have to replace stolen property after a burglary or theft. In addition, they also may expensive security system or pay for at night rather than due to fear of being a victim of again showing a negative effect. 3. Another consequence of Crime is the emotional impact on individuals. This means that the emotional side effects have been shown to last longer than the physical impact such as bruises. For example, If you are the victim of crime, knowing that someone has deliberately tried to cause you harm can make people feel powerless and vulnerable. This can lead to depression or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Victims of repeated crime such as domestic abuse or racism are particularly affected. Individuals may be too scared to go outside. In addition, this can have longer problems which can affect work studies. It could lead to victims longer being able to work or normal lives showing another effect. 9. Explain, in detail, the reasons why some people are affected by crime more than others Point Explanation Example
1. One way that Councils raise money is through the block grant. This means that Taxes are collected by the UK Government who then give a share of this to the Scottish Government. This is known as the block grant. The Scottish Government then in turn pass a share of the block grant on to its 32 councils. For example, around a third of the Scottish Government’s block grant is given to councils. The total block grant Scotland receives is approximately £30 billion per year. In addition, in 2016 the Scottish government gave approximately £10 billion of this to the 32 Scottish councils. This shows the way that councils can obtain money to provide their services to the public. 2. Another way that Councils raise money through the council tax. This means that Council tax is tax you pay to the council if you are a homeowner. It is based on the value of a person’s house. For example, in South Lanarkshire council, homes are given a band rating between A and H, A being the least valuable homes which pay the least council tax, and H being the most valuable homes which pay the most council tax. In addition, a band D house pays around £1100 per year in council tax. This shows a way that the council can raise money to fund its services. 3. Another way that Councils also raise money is by charging people for some of its services at the point of use. This means that you have to pay to get into a council run leisure centre, play on a council run golf course, or pay for parking in a council run car park. For example, Hamilton Water palace, a South Lanarkshire council run leisure facility charges adults £5 for use of the swimming pool. In addition, this money is then used by the council to fund its services. This shows the way that money can be obtained by the council. Describe, in detail, the work of a local councillor in Scotland. Point Explanation Example
One way that parties can get candidates elected in through televised debates. This that members of parties involved in the elections can debate with each other on a public platform and show the public their viewpoints and policies as well as their personalities. For example, prior to the 2016 Scottish Election Nicola Sturgeon represented her party in a televised debate and had a platform to justify her party’s policies and show the strength of her character. It is argued that opportunities give the public a good chance to understand the differences between parties and make an informed choice. 2. Another way that parties can get their candidates elected is through leaflets. This means that leaflets outlining the candidate’s policies and commitments can be posted through letterboxes giving constituents information to decide on who to vote for. For example, prior to the 2016 Scottish Election the conservative party produced leaflets detailing the role of the Conservative party in being an effective check on the SNP government. This managed to persuade a significant number of Scots to vote for them as they gained 16 seats in 2016 from the 2011 election. In addition, local issues can be highlighted on these leaflets to persuade people to vote for the party that will look after important local concerns. 3. Another way that parties can get their candidates elected is by Canvassing. This that candidates or party representatives go door to door to speak to people to persuade them about their candidates’ qualities to represent the electorate. For example, to the 2016 Scottish election, Linda Fabiani went door to door in East Kilbride to persuade the people that she had their interests at heart and was the right person to represent them at the Scottish Parliament. In addition, this tactic was successful as 55.7% of the East Kilbride constituency voted Fabiani and she remained the MSP for the area. Describe, in detail, the work of MSPs. Point Explanation Example
Point Explanation Example 1. Citizens have the right to vote and the responsibility to use it. Scottish citizens over 16 can vote in Scottish Parliament elections and in referenda to get the government and decisions they want. But they have the responsibility to firstly register to vote then to use vote. If they don’t use their vote, some may say they have lost their right to complain about government decisions. For example, Scottish people elected an SNP minority government in 2016, but turnout was just 56%, meaning 44% of the electorate never used their right to vote but have ended up with an SNP Government they may disagree with. It can be argued that the complicated AMS system may be a barrier to some people in Scotland voting. 2. Right to vote, responsibility to make sure you know what you are voting for There are a number of ways people can inform themselves about what candidates or parties stand for so they are voting for a party / candidate that shares their beliefs. People should read newspapers, watch TV news and debates, read campaign leaflets, and read party manifestos to find out what each party is promising so they can make an informed choice. For example, in the 2016 election, the SNP were promising to keep university tuition free so people who agreed with that may have SNP, and the Conservatives were promising to oppose a second independence referendum, so people who agreed with that may have voted Conservative. Some people claim that the only information that they receive before a campaign is biased and that lies are always told. This makes them disengage with the voting process as they do not know who to believe. 3. Right to vote, responsibility to understand how the voting system works Scottish Parliament elections use a complicated proportional system of voting called AMS voters get 2 votes so people need to understand the difference between the votes before voting so they do not make mistakes. The first vote is a constituency vote that elects a constituency MSP and the second vote is to elect 7 additional regional MSPs to represent a larger region, so people need to be aware of this to avoid making mistakes like in 2007 where over 140,000 ballot papers were ‘spoiled’. Many were filled in incorrectly because many people did not understand how AMS worked. Some people may feel that having too many representatives make it difficult to decide who to vote for and to understand the purpose of these representatives. Describe, in detail, the ways in which the media tries to influence the Scottish Government.
1.Pressure groups have the right to campaign for a cause They can participate and pressurise governments to do what they believe in, but they have a responsibility to do so within the law; they must act peacefully, and legally, not intimidating members of the public who may disagree with them. e.g. Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) campaign against nuclear weapons and want Trident submarines carrying them in Scotland to be scrapped, but some members have been arrested for protesting illegally by blockading the nuclear base at Faslane and trying to prevent workers at the base from going in. This can attract publicity to gain more support and put pressure on the government to support campaign. 2. Pressure groups have the to organise public marches and demonstrations But they have the responsibility to inform the police and council in advance of planned large demonstrations to allow them to plan for rerouting vehicles in the area safely and to supervise the demonstration to ensure public safety. For example, in 2016 supporters of Scottish independence including members of ‘Yes Scotland’ group demonstrated in George Square, Glasgow, but they needed the permission of Glasgow council and police before the event could go ahead. The attention that these groups gained was one factor in the engagement of the Scottish people in the referendum which was shown in the 84.6% turnout which is the highest in any UK election since 1918. 3. Pressure groups have the exert pressure on the government to make legislation for their cause But they have the responsibility to engage respectfully with the government and to argue their cause truthfully instead of resorting to misleading with lies. For example, the pressure group, The Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems campaigned for the introduction of the minimum pricing of Alcohol legislation. This group provided relevant and accurate evidence to the government on the dangers of binge drinking to persuade the government to back this legislation. Legislation to introduce a Minimum Unit Price of 50p was passed without opposition by the Scottish Parliament in May 2012. The legislation was due to come into force in April 2013 but was delayed until October 2016 due to opposition from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) who have fought its implementation every step of the way as it against their interests. The SWA continue to fight its implementation. Describe, in detail, how the media influences elections and democracy in Scotland.
Describe, in detail, the political rights and responsibilities of the citizens of a world power you have studied Point Explanation Example Expand 1 One people have in the USA is the right to vote in State and Federal elections This means that citizens can decide who they wish to make decisions for them in areas of government. However, the responsibility is to register and use their vote. For example, the turnout in elections is quite low in the USA for some minority groups as they feel that voting makes no difference and they become disengaged. In addition, it can be difficult to register to vote due to the amount of documentation that some states require and this is often more difficult for citizens living in poverty to complete. 2 Another right In the USA you also have the right protest This means that citizens can act together to influence the government to change laws or policies. The responsibility when protesting is to do it peacefully and obey the law For example, the Interest Black Lives Matter have organised mass demonstrations against the discrimination of Black people in the USA criminal system. In addition, They often take part in illegal methods which can turn the public and government against their methods and stop their group being effective at influencing the government. 3 Another right is the freedom of speech. This means that you have the right to criticise the work of the Federal and State Governments. The responsibility is to do so fairly and not to tell lies and be offensive. For example, Obama introduced the Affordable Care Act which aimed to help those with no health insurance. Obama’s government have been criticised over this as many people feel it is too costly. In addition, criticism over this health care act has been blamed on influencing the public to vote against the Democrat party in the 2016 presidential election and so can make a key difference to the country. Describe, in detail, ways citizens from a world power you have studied can participate in politics
1 One of the structures of the US Government is the executive branch This means that the executive branch is made up of the president and vice president and executive departments and its function is to carry out and enforce laws. For example, the President (Currently Donald Trump). Has been using this power to ensure that government agencies such as the FBI are deporting illegal immigrants under the immigration laws of the country. In addition, a President is elected every 4 years. This means that the people can change the head of the executive branch after 4 years if they do not like the decisions made. 2 Another of the structures of the US Government is Congress. This that the legislative branch is made up of the two houses of Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives. The most important duty of the legislative branch is to make laws. Laws are written, discussed and voted on in Congress. For example, congress and discussed the Affordable Care act to change the way that health insurance companies could work and passed this act meaning that 30 million more Americans could access health care. In addition, Congress is split into the Senate (100 Senators) and the House of Representatives (435) American citizens have the right to vote for Senators and Representatives through free, confidential ballots. •Senate – There are two elected Senators per state, totalling 100 Senators. A Senate term is six years. •House of Representatives – There are 435 elected Representatives, which are divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. A Representative serves a two-year term. 3 Another institution of the US Government is the Supreme Court This branch of the US Government is sometimes called the judicial branch and the judges determine whether a law passed is Constitutional. For example, in 2013 The Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which established a formula for Congress to use when determining if a state or voting jurisdiction requires prior approval before changing its voting laws. The Supreme consists of 9 judges (justices) who are appointed by a President when a previous judge dies or retires. Explain, in detail, causes of social and economic inequalities in a world power you have studied. Explain, in detail, why some groups from a world power you have studied experience social and economic inequality.