Scotland

vs. U.S.
Type of
Government/Constitution
Scotland: Elected Parliament

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

No limit of term length. Elected by Parliament

First Minister must be a member of Parliament.

Scotland is still a member of the U.K. and are limited to what they can govern.

United States: Democracy

President Donald Trump

Four year terms can only serve two terms

Elected by the people and the Electoral College

Natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
Type of
Government/Constitution
Scotland: Parliament
Unicameral

129 elected members

United States: Congress

Bicameral

100 elected Senators

435 elected Representatives

Type of
Government/Constitution
Freedom of speech
Yes but there are a lot of exceptions detailed by the U.K.

Freedom of Press
No constitutional guarantee of free press.

The Right to Bear Arms

The U.K. does not constitutionally protect this right.
Political Parties
Scotland: Multiparty System
Competitive and cooperative

Parties work together in coalitions or informal partnerships

Scottish National Party, Scottish Conservative Party, Scottish Green Party

United States: Two Party System

Two major parties dominate the government

Republican Party, Democratic Party

Political Parties
Scottish National Party
Pro Scottish Independence

Scottish Labour Party

Strongly Socialist to moderately social democratic

Scottish Green Party

Environmentalist and economic policies
Elections and Voting
Scotland: Additional Member System

Combines Proportional Representation and First Past the Post

Proportional Representation

Makes Parliament more proportional

First Past the Post

The candidate with the most votes wins ( not necessarily the majority)

United States: Electoral College and General Election

Electoral College

A certain amount of voters that is determined by state population usually choose the popular vote.

General Election

The citizens vote for the candidate they think is the best.
Elections and Voting
Scotland: Voting Requirements
14 or older

A British citizen, Irish citizen, member of a Commonwealth, or a citizen of European

country

Have no legal incapacity to vote

United States: Voting Requirements

U.S. Citizen

Meet state requirements

18 or older
Elections and Voting
Scotland: Election Frequency
Every four years on the first Thursday in May

United States: Voting Frequency

Every Four years for Presidents

Every Six years for Senators

Every Two years for Representatives

On the first Tuesday in November

Finance
Scotland: Finance
Have Income Tax

Property Tax

Half of Goods and Services Tax go to the government

Air Passenger Duty and Aggregate Levy

UK has control of the rest of the taxes

United States: Finance

U.S has far more power over taxes

Ex: Income Tax, Excise Tax, Customs Duties, etc.

Taxes and Government
Finance
Scotland: Spending

Healthcare: 13.2 Million Pounds

Education: 3.4 Million Pounds

Military: 45.6 Billion Pounds

UK has control over spending

United States: Spending

Healthcare: $1,172.5 Billion

Education: $120.5 Billion

Military: $598.5 Billion

Law
Scotland
Crime Rates: 246,243 per year

Prison Population: 8,178 people

Death Penalty: No

Court System: The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

United States
Crime rates: 1.2 million violent crimes

Prison Population: 2.2 million people

Death Penalty: Yes

Relations
Scotland and the United States are friendly with each other