---
title: "Scottish National Party — AP Comp Gov Definition & Exam"
description: "The Scottish National Party (SNP) is a regional UK party whose concentrated Scottish support wins it Commons seats under FPTP, a key Topic 4.1 example of electoral rules shaping representation."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/scottish-national-party"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Comparative Government"
unit: "Unit 4"
---

# Scottish National Party — AP Comp Gov Definition & Exam

## Definition

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is a regional political party in the United Kingdom that advocates Scottish independence and wins seats in the House of Commons because its support is geographically concentrated, showing how first-past-the-post rewards regional parties even in a system that punishes most third parties.

## What It Is

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is a regional party in one [AP Comp Gov](/ap-comp-gov "fv-autolink") course country, the [United Kingdom](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/united-kingdom "fv-autolink"). It runs candidates only in Scotland, pushes for greater Scottish autonomy and ultimately independence, and dominates Scottish politics in both the devolved Scottish Parliament and Scotland's seats in the UK House of Commons.

For the AP exam, the SNP matters less as a party platform and more as a case study in electoral rules. The UK elects the House of Commons through [first-past-the-post](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/first-past-the-post "fv-autolink") (FPTP) in single-member districts. FPTP normally crushes third parties because spreading 10% of the vote across the whole country wins you almost nothing. But the SNP's support isn't spread out. It's packed into Scottish districts, so the party can finish first in dozens of constituencies and convert a small national vote share into a real bloc of seats. The SNP is the go-to example of the exception that proves the FPTP rule: concentration wins, dispersion loses.

## Why It Matters

The SNP lives in [Unit 4](/ap-comp-gov/unit-4 "fv-autolink") (Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations), Topic 4.1, and directly supports learning objective 4.1.A, which asks you to describe electoral systems and election rules among course countries. The UK's FPTP system is one of the clearest contrasts in the course. Compare it to Iran, where [Majles](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/majles "fv-autolink") candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council and run in single-member and multimember districts with possible second rounds, or to China, where the National People's Congress is chosen indirectly. The SNP gives you a concrete, named example for explaining a consequence of the UK's rules: regional parties with concentrated support can thrive under FPTP while nationally dispersed small parties get shut out. It also connects electoral systems to a bigger course theme, the tension between national governments and regional identity.

## Connections

### [First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) (Unit 4)](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/first-past-the-post-fptp)

This is the SNP's home concept. FPTP usually pushes countries toward two big parties, but the SNP shows the loophole. If all your voters live in the same region, you can win district after district there. The SNP is basically the standard exam example for 'FPTP advantages geographically concentrated parties.'

### Devolution in the UK (Unit 1)

The UK is a unitary state that devolved power to a Scottish [Parliament](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/parliament "fv-autolink"), and the SNP is the party that benefited most. SNP success at Westminster and pressure for independence (including the 2014 referendum) is what devolution looks like in party form. It's a great cross-unit link between institutional design and party systems.

### [Majles (Unit 4)](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/majles)

Iran's Majles makes a sharp comparative contrast. UK [elections](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/elections "fv-autolink") are competitive and party-driven, so a regional party like the SNP can rise on voter support alone. In Iran, the Guardian Council vets candidates and the Majles lacks formal party structures, so no equivalent regional party can organize and break through the same way.

### Multiparty systems and party representation (Unit 4)

The SNP complicates the textbook claim that FPTP equals a pure two-party system. The UK has two dominant parties nationally, Labour and the Conservatives, but the SNP's seat bloc means the Commons is really a multiparty chamber. That nuance is exactly the kind of qualified claim that earns points on free-response questions.

## On the AP Exam

The SNP shows up as a real-world example attached to electoral systems questions about the UK. The College Board used it on the 2017 SAQ Q2, so it has appeared on the actual exam, not just in textbooks. Multiple-choice stems typically test whether you can explain why a regional party wins seats under FPTP while a dispersed third party with a similar vote share does not. On free-response questions, the move is to use the SNP as evidence. Don't just name it. Explain the mechanism: FPTP awards seats district by district, the SNP's support is concentrated in Scottish districts, so it converts a modest national vote share into a meaningful bloc of Commons seats. Pairing that with a contrast country (like Iran's vetted, party-less Majles elections) is how you turn a definition into comparative analysis.

## Scottish National Party vs Scottish Parliament

The SNP is a political party; the Scottish Parliament is a devolved legislative institution created by the UK government. The SNP competes for seats in both the Scottish Parliament and the UK House of Commons. On the exam, mixing these up is costly because one is a Unit 4 concept (parties and elections) and the other is a Unit 1 concept (devolution within a unitary state). Keep them straight: the party seeks power, the parliament is the body it seeks power in.

## Key Takeaways

- The Scottish National Party is a regional UK party that runs only in Scotland and advocates Scottish independence.
- The SNP wins House of Commons seats under first-past-the-post because its voter support is geographically concentrated in Scottish districts.
- The SNP is the classic exam example of how FPTP rewards regional parties while punishing third parties whose support is spread thinly nationwide.
- SNP success connects Unit 4 electoral systems to Unit 1 devolution, since the party gained strength as the UK transferred powers to a Scottish Parliament.
- For comparative analysis under LO 4.1.A, contrast the UK's competitive party elections with Iran, where the Guardian Council vets Majles candidates and formal parties don't structure the legislature.

## FAQs

### What is the Scottish National Party in AP Comp Gov?

The SNP is a regional political party in the United Kingdom that runs only in Scotland and supports [Scottish independence](/ap-comp-gov/key-terms/scottish-independence "fv-autolink"). In AP Comp Gov it's the main example of how first-past-the-post lets a regionally concentrated party win seats in the House of Commons.

### Does the SNP's success mean FPTP doesn't hurt third parties?

No. FPTP still punishes third parties whose support is spread out across the country. The SNP is the exception that proves the rule, because its votes are packed into Scottish districts where it can finish first, turning a small national vote share into a real bloc of seats.

### How is the Scottish National Party different from the Scottish Parliament?

The SNP is a political party that competes in elections. The Scottish Parliament is a devolved legislature the UK created to give Scotland regional self-government. The SNP holds seats in the Scottish Parliament and in the UK House of Commons, but it is not an institution itself.

### Is the Scottish National Party on the AP Comparative Government exam?

Yes. It appeared on the 2017 SAQ Q2, and it fits Topic 4.1 (Electoral Systems and Rules) under learning objective 4.1.A. Expect it as an example in questions about FPTP and the UK's party system.

### Why does the SNP win seats in the UK Parliament with a small national vote share?

Because the UK uses first-past-the-post in single-member districts, only finishing first in a district matters. The SNP's voters are concentrated in Scotland, so it tops the poll in many Scottish constituencies even though its UK-wide vote percentage is small.

## Related Study Guides

- [4.1 Electoral Systems and Rules ](/ap-comp-gov/unit-4/electoral-systems-rules/study-guide/uX7BAeHwubYnGYe4MrWc)

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