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On September 18, Scottish voters will answer a simple question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the referendum. (Guardian)

Use our resources to get an idea about how long England and Scotland have been debating this issue.

Discussion Ideas

• Scots will go to the polls next week to answer Yes or No to a simple, six-word question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” The ballot initiative originally read “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?” Why do you think the language was changed?
  • The language is leading. It implies that people already think Scotland should be independent, and the voter is simply agreeing with them.

• Read through this BBC FAQ—or settle in to follow their exhaustive coverage here. Who is going to vote in the Scottish referendum? How is this different the voting qualifications required in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections?
  • In the U.S., voters have to be at least 18 years old. For the Scottish referendum, the voting age has been lowered to 16.
  • In the U.S., only American citizens can vote. Nearly all legal residents of Scotland (at least 16 years old) will be allowed to vote. This includes citizens of other members of the Commonwealth of Nations who live in Scotland, citizens of European Union countries living in Scotland, and government employees (including members of the military) who are serving abroad but are registered to vote in Scotland.

• If Scotland votes yes, will everyone living in Scotland be considered Scottish, even if they have citizenship elsewhere?
  • Pretty much. The Scottish government is prepared to allow anyone who has lived in Scotland for 10 years at some point in their lives, or has a Scottish parent or grandparent, to apply for Scottish citizenship. Dual citizenship would be welcomed. “People in Scotland are accustomed to multiple identities,” says the government, “be they national, regional, ethnic, linguistic or religious and a commitment to a multicultural Scotland will be a cornerstone of the nation on independence.”

• Would Scotland develop its own currency (the Scottish pound)?
  • Eh, probably not? Depends on the people you ask. This pro/con article gives a good outline. Pro-independence leaders have said they would seek a “currency union” with the rest of the United Kingdom, keeping the pound as the Scotland’s unit of currency. British leaders are not so enthusiastic about this plan, saying it is “‘highly unlikely’ that Scotland will be allowed to keep using the currency after independence” and that Scotland “‘could not force the UK into a currency union against its will’.”
  • Pro-independence leaders have also suggested retaining the Bank of England as Scotland’s central bank. Such a relationship would mean the Bank of England would continue to “set Scotland’s interest rates, have influence over its borrowing and overall spending and be dominated by the UK’s interests.” It would also mean the Bank of England would be at least partially responsible for the financial policy of a foreign country.

• Would Scottish independence put this lady—”Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith“—out of a job in Scotland?

  

  • No. Pro-independence leaders have said they would seek to remain a part of the Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as their official head of state. (Read more about the Commonwealth of Nations here.) They wouldn’t even need to change her official title, in quotes above. Great Britain—the first territory mentioned in the title—is the big island in the British Isles, and includes not only England and Scotland, but Wales and Cornwall as well.

• Would Scotland be a member of the European Union? of NATO?
  • Probably both. Pro-independence leaders have supported maintaining membership in both international organizations, and the organizations have not raised any real objections.
    • European Union: Scotland may have to apply for EU membership, just like any other nation. Right now, the UK has an unusual relationship with the EU—it’s a member, but does not use the euro as a unit of currency. An independent Scotland would not have the bargaining power of the UK, and some analysts think the EU may force Scotland to accept the euro if it wants to be a member.
    • NATO: An independent Scotland will likely remain a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the powerful Western military alliance. Many pro-independence leaders have traditionally opposed membership, questioning the presence of UK nuclear weapons in Scottish territory.

• What does oil have to do with Scottish independence?

  

  • There are massive, lucrative oil fields in the North Sea. According to the Guardian, “Scotland would get a 90% geographical share of North Sea oil and gas fields.” These oil fields would be a major part of an independent Scottish economy and political power.

• Will there be economic consequences for Scotland and the rest of the UK if the Scots vote for independence?
  • Of course! Both sides would have to accept both positive and negative economic consequences. Here are just a few:
    • Positive
      • Scotland would have much greater control of its own economic policy. This includes deciding how tax revenues are spent—on education, health-care, or infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
      • The UK would have a significantly lower national debt, as British leaders have supported transferring a percentage of the UK national debt to Scotland upon independence.
    • Negative
      • Scotland may experience “brain drain” as its smaller economy is unable to support expensive research projects.
      • The UK may pay more for oil and whiskey, two key Scottish exports.

• Why are voters in Northern Ireland and Wales keeping a close eye on this referendum? They can’t vote in it.
  • Those are other countries in the United Kingdom. If Scotland can vote for independence, some analysts wonder if Northern Ireland or Wales might try to get a similar referendum on the ballot in the future.

• How do James Bond and Harry Potter feel about the referendum? (Click the links for images of handsome men in kilts.)
  • Well, Sean Connery is one of the Scottish celebrities who support independence. Gerard Butler, Alan Cumming, and Annie Lennox are others.
  • J.K. Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter series, opposes independence. (Rowling is not Scottish, but was living there while writing the first Harry Potter novel.) Tennis ace Andy Murray, actor Ewan McGregor, and singer Susan Boyle also oppose the referendum.
  • The most prominent non-Scottish critic of the referendum is U.S. President Barack Obama. “From the outside at least,” he said, “it looks like things have worked pretty well, and [we in the United States] obviously have a deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies that we will ever have remains a strong, robust, united and effective partner.”

• The Union Jack (sometimes called the Union Flag) is the current flag of the United Kingdom. It combines the flags of England (cross of St. George), Scotland (cross of St. Andrew), and Northern Ireland (cross of St. Patrick). Take a look at this lovely diagram for an illustration.

  

  Will the flag change if Scotland gains independence?

  • Probably. Here’s a likely candidate—the Union Jack without the Scottish blue.

    

  • The Guardian did an informal reader poll of how the new, Scot-free flag should appear. Take a look at the other suggestions here. Here are the top three winners—which do you like best?