Scottish Parliament
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{{dablink|For the national legislative body up to 1707, see [[Parliament of Scotland]].}}
{{Infobox Scottish Parliament
|logo = [[Image:Scottish Parliament logo1.png|45px]]
|name = Scottish Parliament</br>Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
|image_1 = Edinburgh Scottish Parliament01 2006-04-29.jpg
|image_title_1 = [[Scottish Parliament Building]]
|image_2 = Parliament debating chamber 2.jpg
|image_title_2 = [[Scottish Parliament Building#Debating chamber|Debating chamber]]
|established
|presiding officer =
|deputy presiding officers =
|parties = {{Collapsible list |title=[[Scottish Parliament#Committees|6]] |[[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (47) |[[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]] (46) |[[Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party|Conservatives]] (16) |[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|LibDem]] (16) |[[Scottish Green Party|Green]] (2) |[[Margo MacDonald|Ind]] (1)}}
|members = [[Members of the 3rd Scottish Parliament|129]]
|committees = {{Collapsible list |title=[[Scottish Parliament#Committees|6]] |[[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (47) |[[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]] (46) |[[Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party|Conservatives]] (16) |[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|LibDem]] (16) |[[Scottish Green Party|Green]] (2) |[[Margo MacDonald|Ind]] (1)}}
|election = [[European Parliament election, 2004|June 2004]] ([[Member of the European Parliament|785 MEPs]])
|location = [[Holyrood, Edinburgh]], [[Edinburgh]] [[Scotland]]
|website = [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/ www.scottish.parliament.uk]
}}
The '''Scottish Parliament''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: ''Pàrlamaid na h-Alba''; [[Scots language|Scots]]: ''Scottish Pairlament''<ref name="NameInScots1">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/scots/index.htm |title=Scottish Parliament Web Site|publisher=Scottish Parliament|accessdate=2007-02-10}}</ref><ref name="NameInScots2">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/scots/makingYourVoiceHeard/index.htm |title="Makkin Yer Voice Heard in the Scottish Pairlament”|publisher=Scottish Parliament|accessdate=2007-02-10}}</ref><ref name="NameInScots3">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/languagePolicy/SPCB%20Language%20Policy_Scots.pdf |title=SPCB Leid Policy|publisher=Scottish Parliament|accessdate=2007-02-10}}</ref><ref>The [[Scots language|Scots]] for ''Scottish'' is in fact '''[http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/getent4.php?plen=46309&startset=34713072&query=SCOTS&fhit=Scots&dregion=form&dtext=snd#fhit Scots]'''.</ref>) is the national, [[unicameralism|unicameral]] [[legislature]] of [[Scotland]], located in the [[Holyrood, Edinburgh|Holyrood]] area of the capital [[Edinburgh]]. The Parliament, informally referred to as "'''Holyrood'''"<ref name="HolyroodName">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/education/resources/teachingResources/wordBank.htm |title=Scottish Parliament Word Bank|publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> (cf. "[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]]"), is a [[democracy|democratically]] elected body comprising 129 members who are known as [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|Members of the Scottish Parliament]], or MSPs. Members are elected for four-year terms under the [[mixed member proportional representation]] system. As a result, 73 MSPs represent individual geographical [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|constituencies]] elected by the [[plurality voting system|plurality]] ("first past the post") system, with a further 56 returned from eight [[Additional Member System|additional member]] regions, each electing seven MSPs.<ref name="ConstituencyMSPs">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/index.htm |title=Scottish Parliament MSPs |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> A [[Scottish Parliament general election, 2007|general election]] to the Parliament was held on [[3 May]] [[2007]].
The original [[Parliament of Scotland]] (or "[[The States|Estates]] of Scotland") was the national legislature of the independent [[Kingdom of Scotland]], and existed from the early 13th century until the Kingdom of Scotland merged with the [[Kingdom of England]] under the [[Acts of Union 1707]] to form the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]].<ref name="HistoricalConnection">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/history/firstscottishparliament/index.htm |title=The First Scottish Parliament: the Middle Ages – 1707 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref> As a consequence, the Parliament of Scotland merged with the [[Parliament of England]] to form the [[Parliament of Great Britain]], which sat at [[Westminster]] in [[London]].<ref name="HistoricalConnection"/>
Following a [[Scottish devolution referendum, 1997|referendum in 1997]] in which the Scottish people gave their consent, the current Parliament was established by the [[Scotland Act 1998]], which sets out its powers as a [[devolution|devolved]] legislature. The Act delineates the legislative competence of the Parliament — the areas in which it can make [[Scots law|laws]] — by explicitly specifying powers that are "[[reserved matters|reserved]]" to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]: all matters that are not explicitly reserved are automatically the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.<ref name="SpecifiedReservations">{{cite web |url=
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--t.htm#sch5 |title=Scotland Act 1998: Scottish Parliament Reserved Issues |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> The UK Parliament retains the ability to amend the terms of reference of the Scottish Parliament, and can extend or reduce the areas in which it can make laws.<ref>Murkens, Jones & Keating (2002) pp11</ref> The first meeting of the new Parliament took place on [[12 May]] [[1999]].<ref name="FirstMeeting">{{cite web |url=
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-99/or010104.htm#Col7 |title=Scottish Parliament Official Report - 12 May 1999 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-05}}</ref>
==History==
[[Image:Scottish Parliament logo.png|thumb|200px|left|The Scottish Parliament's logo in English and Gaelic]]
{{Scottish Politics}}
{{see|Devolution}}
Before the [[Act of Union 1707]] that merged the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] with [[Kingdom of England]] (to form the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]), Scotland had an [[independence|independent]] parliament with a [[Parliament of Scotland|legislature]] known as the [[Estates of the realm|Three Estates]]. Initial Scottish proposals in the negotiation over the Union suggested a devolved Parliament be retained in Scotland, but this was not accepted by the [[Kingdom of England|English]] negotiators.<ref name="Treaty">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/1707.shtml#last |date=September 1997 |title=The Last Parliament of Scotland 1703–1707 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-10-15}}</ref>
For the next three hundred years, Scotland was directly governed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, at [[Westminster]], and the lack of a Scottish Parliament remained an important element in [[Scottish national identity]].<ref name="Devolution">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/c20scot.shtml |title=The Devolution Debate (1997) — This Century |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-10-13}}</ref> Suggestions for a 'devolved' Parliament were made before 1914, but were shelved due to the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref name="Devolution"/> A sharp rise in [[nationalism]] in Scotland during the late 1960s fueled demands for some form of [[devolution|home rule]] or complete [[Scottish independence|independence]], and prompted the incumbent [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] Government of [[Harold Wilson]] to set up the [[Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)|Kilbrandon Commission]] on the [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|UK Constitution]] in 1969.<ref name="Devolution"/> One of the principal objectives of the commission was to examine ways of enabling more self-government for Scotland, within the unitary state of the United Kingdom.<ref name="Devolution"/> Kilbrandon published his report in 1973 recommending the establishment of a directly elected [[Scottish Assembly]] to legislate for the majority of domestic Scottish affairs.<ref name="Crowther">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4137765.stm |date=2005-01-01 |title= Papers reveal devolution warnings |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-11-24}}</ref>
During this time, the discovery of [[North Sea oil|oil]] in the [[North Sea]] and the following "[[It's Scotland's oil]]" campaign of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) resulted in rising support for Scottish independence, as well as the SNP. The party argued that the revenues from the oil were not benefiting Scotland as much as they should be.<ref name="Devolution"/> The combined effect of these events led to [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] Wilson committing his government to some form of devolved legislature in 1974.<ref name="Devolution"/> However, it was not until 1978 that final legislative proposals for a Scottish Assembly were passed by the United Kingdom Parliament. Under the terms of the [[Scotland Act 1978]], an elected assembly would be set up in Edinburgh provided that the majority of the Scottish electorate voted for it in a referendum to be held on [[1 March]] [[1979]]. The 1979 [[Scottish devolution referendum, 1979|Scotland referendum]] to establish a devolved Scottish Assembly failed. Although the vote was 52% in favour of a Scottish Assembly, this figure did not equal the 40% of the total electorate threshold deemed necessary to pass the measure, as 32.9% of the eligible voting population did not, or had been unable to, vote.<ref name="79ref">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/79referendums.shtml |date=September 1997 |title=The 1979 Referendums |publisher=The Holyrood Inquiry |accessdate=2006-08-21}}</ref>
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, demands for a Scottish Parliament grew, in part because the government of the United Kingdom was controlled by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], while Scotland itself elected very few [[Tory]] MPs.<ref name="Devolution"/> In the aftermath of the 1979 referendum defeat, the [[Campaign for a Scottish Assembly]] was initiated as a [[pressure group]], leading to the 1989 [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]] with various organisations, [[List of political parties in Scotland|political parties]] and representatives of industry taking part. Publishing its blueprint for devolution in 1995, the convention provided much of the basis for the structure of the Parliament.<ref name="ConstitutionalConvention">{{cite web |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/inquiry/sp205-02.htm |author=Peter Fraser |date=2004-10-15 |title=Events Prior to 1 May 1997 |publisher=The Holyrood Inquiry |accessdate=2006-11-17}}</ref>
Devolution became part of the platform of the Labour Party which, in May 1997, took power under [[Tony Blair]].<ref name="Devolution"/> In September 1997, a referendum of the Scottish electorate secured a majority in favour of the establishment of a new devolved Scottish Parliament with tax-varying powers in Edinburgh.<ref name="ScotlandReferendum">{{cite web |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/referendums/Scotland1997.cfm |title=Past Referendums - Scotland 1997 |publisher=The Electoral Commission |accessdate=2006-11-17}}</ref> An election was held on [[6 May]] [[1999]], and on [[1 July]] of that year power was transferred from Westminster to the new Parliament.<ref name="ScotlandElections">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp99/rp99-050.pdf |author=Bryn Morgan |title=House of Commons Research Paper - Scottish Parliament Elections: 6 May 1999 |date=1999-10-08 |publisher=House of Commons Library |accessdate=2006-11-17}}</ref>
==Building==
{{main|Scottish Parliament Building}}
[[Image:ScottishParliamentFront.JPG|thumb|left|250px|The public entrance of the distinctive Scottish Parliament building, opened in October 2004]]
Since [[September 2004]] the official home of the Scottish Parliament has been a new [[Scottish Parliament Building]], in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh. Designed by [[Catalan people|Catalan]] architect [[Enric Miralles]], some of the principal features of the complex include leaf-shaped buildings, a grass-roofed branch merging into adjacent parkland and [[gabion]] walls formed from the stones of previous buildings. Throughout the building there are many repeated motifs, such as shapes based on [[Henry Raeburn|Raeburn]]'s [[The Skating Minister|Skating Minister]].<ref name="Raeburn">{{cite web |url=http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/Articles/view.php?id=23084
|title=Identity parade: Miralles and the Scottish parliament: On the architectural territories of the EMBT/RMJM parliament building |publisher=Architecture Today no.154 p.32–44 |date= January 2005 |author=Charles Jencks |accessdate=2007-01-07}}</ref> [[Crow-stepped gable]]s and the upturned boat skylights of the Garden Lobby, complete the unique<ref name="Architecture">{{cite web |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,,1299023,00.html |title=Gallery - The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood |publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=2006-10-25}}</ref> architecture. [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] opened the new building on [[9 October]] [[2004]].
In March 2006, one of the Holyrood building's roof beams slipped out of its support and was left dangling above the [[Scottish Conservative Party|Conservative]] back benches during a debate.<ref name="Suspension">{{cite news |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=323322006 |title=Parliament suspended by hanging beam |author=Hamish MacDonell |date=2006-03-03 |publisher= The Scotsman |accessdate=2006-11-01}}</ref> The debating chamber was subsequently closed, and MSPs moved to [[The Hub (Edinburgh)|The Hub]] for one week, while inspections were carried out.<ref name="Beam">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4791594.stm |title=MSPs face further beam disruption |date=2006-03-09 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref> During repairs, all chamber business was conducted in the Parliament's committee room two.
===Temporary accommodation 1999-2004===
Whilst the permanent building at Holyrood was being constructed, the Parliament's temporary home was the [[General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland|General Assembly Hall]] of the [[Church of Scotland]] on the [[Royal Mile]] in Edinburgh.<ref name="GeneralAssemblyHall">{{cite web |url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/378263.stm |title=Kirk's home hosts moment of history |publisher=BBC |date=1999-07-01 |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> Official photographs and TV interviews were held in the courtyard adjoining the Parliament, which is part of the [[New College, Edinburgh|School of Divinity]] of the [[University of Edinburgh]]. This building was vacated twice to allow for the meeting of the [[General Assembly of the Church of Scotland|Church's General Assembly]]. In May 2000, the Parliament was temporarily relocated to the former [[Strathclyde Regional Council]] debating chamber in Glasgow, and to the [[University of Aberdeen]] in May 2002.<ref name="ParliamentMeetings">{{cite web |url=
http://www.aberdeen.ac.uk/mediareleases/archive/2001/pr886.hti |title=Aberdeen successful in bid to host Scottish Parliament in May 2002 |date=2001-09-11 |publisher=University of Aberdeen| |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
In addition to the General Assembly Hall, the Parliament also used buildings rented from the [[City of Edinburgh Council]]. The former administrative building of [[Lothian Regional Council]] on [[George IV Bridge]] was used for the MSPs' offices. Following the move to Holyrood in 2004 this building was demolished. The former Midlothian County Buildings facing Parliament Square, High Street and George IV Bridge in Edinburgh (originally built as the headquarters of the pre-1975 Midlothian County Council) housed the Parliament's visitors' centre and shop, whilst the main hall was used as the Parliament's principal committee room.
==Officials==
After each election to the Scottish Parliament, at the beginning of each parliamentary session, Parliament elects one MSP to serve as [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]], the equivalent of the [[Speaker (politics)|speaker]] (currently [[Alex Fergusson (Scottish politician)|Alex Fergusson MSP]]), and two MSPs to serve as deputies (currently [[Trish Godman|Trish Godman MSP]] and [[Alasdair Morgan|Alasdair Morgan MSP]]). The Presiding Officer and deputies are elected by a [[secret ballot]] of the 129 MSPs, which is the only secret ballot conducted in the Scottish Parliament.<ref name="Ballot">{{cite web |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-03/pa03-027.htm |date=2003-05-07 |title=George Reid elected as Presiding Officer - Trish Godman and Murray Tosh to be Deputy Presiding Officers |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-13}}</ref> Principally, the role of the Presiding Officer is to chair chamber proceedings and the [[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]].<ref name="PO">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/po/index.htm |title=Presiding Officer |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> When chairing meetings of the Parliament, the Presiding Officer and his deputies must be politically impartial.<ref name="PO"/> During debates, the Presiding Officer (or his deputy) is assisted by the parliamentary clerks, who give advice on how to interpret the [[standing order]]s that govern the proceedings of meetings. A vote clerk sits in front of the Presiding Officer and operates the electronic voting equipment and chamber clocks.<ref name="Chamber">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/documents/Chamber.pdf |title=The Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-13}}</ref>
As a member of the [[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]], the Presiding Officer is responsible for ensuring that the Parliament functions effectively and has the staff, property and resources it requires to operate.<ref name="SP">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/spcb/index.htm |title=About the Parliament - The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-11}}</ref> Convening the Parliamentary Bureau, which allocates time and sets the work agenda in the chamber, is another of the roles of the Presiding Officer. Under the Standing Orders of the Parliament the Bureau consists of the Presiding Officer and one representative from each political parties with five or more seats in the Parliament. Amongst the duties of the Bureau are to agree the timetable of business in the chamber, establish the number, remit and membership of parliamentary committees and regulate the passage of legislation (bills) through the Parliament. The Presiding Officer also represents the Scottish Parliament at home and abroad in an official capacity.<ref name="PO"/>
The Presiding Officer controls debates by calling on members to speak. If a member believes that a rule (or standing order) has been breached, he or she may raise a "[[point of order]]", on which the Presiding Officer makes a ruling that is not subject to any debate or appeal. The Presiding Officer may also discipline members who fail to observe the rules of the Parliament.<ref name="PO"/>
The member of the [[Scottish Government]] whose duty it is to steer Executive business through Parliament is the [[Minister for Parliamentary Business]] (currently [[Bruce Crawford|Bruce Crawford MSP]]). The minister is appointed by the [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] and is a Junior Minister in the Scottish Government, who does not attend [[List of Scottish Executives|cabinet]].
==Parliamentary chamber==
[[Image:Scotparialmentinside.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|Seating in the Debating Chamber is arranged in a semicircle, with Ministers sitting in the front section of the semicircle, directly opposite the Presiding Officer and parliamentary clerks.]]
Unlike Westminster, the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament has seating arranged in a [[Hemicycle (chamber)|hemicycle]], which reflects the desire to encourage consensus amongst elected members.<ref name="Chamber"/> There are 131 seats in the debating chamber. Of the total 131 seats, 129 are occupied by the Parliament's elected MSPs and 2 are seats for the Scottish Law Officers - the [[Lord Advocate]] and the [[Solicitor General for Scotland]], who are not elected members of the Parliament but are members of the Scottish Government. As such the Law Officers may attend and speak in the plenary meetings of the Parliament, but as they are not elected MSPs they cannot vote. Members are able to sit anywhere in the debating chamber, but typically sit in their party groupings.<ref name="Chamber"/> The First Minister, Scottish [[List of Scottish Executive ministerial teams|cabinet ministers]] and Law officers sit in the front row, in the middle section of the chamber. The largest party in the Parliament sits in the middle of the semicircle, with opposing parties on either side.<ref name="Chamber"/> The Presiding Officer, parliamentary clerks and officials sit opposite members at the front of the debating chamber.
In front of the Presiding Officers' desk is the parliamentary [[ceremonial mace|mace]], which is made from [[silver]] and [[inlay|inlaid]] with [[gold]] panned from Scottish rivers and inscribed with the words: ''Wisdom'', ''Compassion'', ''Justice'' and ''Integrity''. The words - ''There shall be a Scottish Parliament'', which are the first words of the Scotland Act, are inscribed around the head of the mace.<ref name="Chamber"/> The mace has a formal ceremonial role in the meetings of Parliament, reinforcing the authority of the Parliament in its ability to make laws.<ref name="mace">{{cite web |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-99/pa0029.htm |title=Parliament Mace to go on display at the Museum of Scotland |date=1999-07-15 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-12}}</ref> Presented to the Scottish Parliament by the Queen upon its official opening in July 1999, the mace is displayed in a glass case suspended from the lid. At the beginning of each sitting in the chamber, the lid of the case is rotated so that the mace is above the glass, to symbolise that a full meeting of the Parliament is taking place.<ref name="Chamber"/>
==Proceedings==
[[Image:Scottish Parliament seating.JPG|left|thumbnail|250px|The MSPs' desks contain all the electronic voting equipment which records the outcome of parliamentary votes. 'Decision Time' takes place on sitting days at 5pm.]]
Parliament sits from Monday through to Thursday from early January through to late June and from early September through to mid December, with 2-week recesses in April and October.<ref name="Brief">{{cite web |url=http://www.politics.co.uk/issuebrief/domestic-policy/scotland/scottish-parliament-guide-$447876.htm |title=Issue Briefs - Scottish Parliament guide |publisher=Politics.co.uk |accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref> Full plenary meetings in the debating chamber usually take place on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 6pm and on Thursday from 9.15am to 6pm.<ref name="Brief"/> Chamber debates and committee meetings are open to the public. Entry is free, but booking in advance is recommended due to limited space. Meetings are broadcast on the Parliament's own channel Holyrood.tv<ref>{{cite web
|title = Holyrood.tv
|work = [[BBC News]]
|publisher = Scottish Parliament
|date =
|url = http://holyrood.tv
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> and on the [[BBC]]'s parliamentary channel [[BBC Parliament]]. Proceedings are also recorded, in text form, in print and online in the ''Official Report'', which is the substantially verbatim<ref>{{cite web
|title = Official Report terms of Reference
|work = Parliamentary Business - Official Report
|publisher = Scottish Parliament
|date = [[19 May]] [[1999]]
|url = http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/terms.htm
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> transcript of parliamentary debates.
"Time for Reflection" is normally the first item of business on Wednesdays.<ref name="Reflection">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/factsheets/documents/ContributorstoTimeforReflectionSession2.pdf |title=Contributors to Time for Reflection - Session 2 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref> A speaker addresses the meeting for up to four minutes to share their perspectives on issues of [[faith]]. This contrasts with the formal style of "Prayers", which is the first item of business in meetings of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Speakers are drawn from [[Religion in Scotland|different faith groups]] across Scotland. Invitations to address Parliament in this manner are determined by the Presiding Officer on the advice of the parliamentary bureau. Different faith groups can make direct representations to the Presiding Officer in nominating speakers. The pattern of speakers represents the balance of religious beliefs in Scotland according to the [[Census in the United Kingdom|Scottish census]].<ref name="Reflection"/>
The Presiding Officer (or Deputy Presiding Officer) decides who speaks in chamber debates and the amount of time for which they are allowed to speak.<ref name="PO"/> Normally the Presiding Officer tries to achieve a balance between different viewpoints and political parties when selecting members to speak.<ref name="Chamber"/> Typically Ministers or party leaders open debates, with opening speakers given between 5 and 20 minutes, and succeeding speakers allocated less time.<ref name="Chamber"/> The Presiding Officer can reduce speaking times if a high volume of members wish to participate in the debate. Debate is much more informal than in some parliamentary systems.<ref name="Burrows">Burrows, N (1999) pp241–260</ref> Members may call each other directly by name, rather than by constituency or cabinet position, unlike the House of Commons remarks are not directed to the Presiding Officer, and hand clapping is allowed in the chamber.<ref name="ConductofMeetings">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/so/sto-3.htm#7 |title=Standing Orders: Conduct of Meetings |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref> Speeches to the chamber are normally delivered in [[English language|English]], but members may use [[Scots language|Scots]], [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]], or any other language with the agreement of the Presiding Officer.<ref name="Interpreter">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/lang-pol.htm |title=Scottish Parliament Corporate Body |work=Scottish Parliament Language Policy |date=November 2004 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-11}}</ref> The Scottish Parliament has conducted debates in the Gaelic language.<ref name="Interpreter2">{{cite web |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-00/pa00-013.htm |title=Scottish Parliament Corporate Body work=Scottish Parliament-Parliamentary Business |date=2000-02-29 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-11}}</ref>
Each sitting day, normally at 5pm, MSPs decide on all the [[motion (democracy)|motions]] and amendments that have been moved that day; this is known as "Decision Time", and is heralded by the sounding of the division bell, which is heard throughout the Parliamentary campus and alerts MSPs who are not in the chamber to return and vote.<ref name="Chamber"/> At Decision Time, the Presiding Officer puts questions on the motions and amendments by reading out the name of the motion or amendment as well as the proposer and asking "''Are we all agreed?''", to which the chamber first votes orally. If there is audible dissent, the Presiding Officer announces "''There will be a division''" and members proceed to an electronic vote by means of electronic consoles on their desks. Each MSP has a unique access card with [[integrated circuit|microchip]] which, when inserted into the console, identifies them and allows them to vote.<ref name="Chamber"/> As a result, the outcome of each division is known in seconds.
The outcome of most votes is largely known beforehand, since political parties normally instruct members on how to vote. A party entrusts some MSPs, known as [[whip (politics)|whips]], with the task of ensuring that all party members vote as desired.<ref name="ChiefWhip">{{cite web |url=http://www.comisiwnrichard.gov.uk/content/evidence/oral/scottishferguson/index-w.htm |date=2003-02-12 |title=Evidence from the Minister for Parliamentary Business - Scottish Parliament |publisher=Richard Commission |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> MSPs do not tend to vote against such instructions, since those who do so are unlikely to reach higher political ranks in their parties.<ref name="Kingdom1">Kingdom, J (1999) p373</ref> Errant members can be deselected as official party candidates during future elections, and, in serious cases, may be expelled from their parties outright.<ref name="Kingdom1">Kingdom, J (1999) p374</ref> Thus, as with many Parliaments, the independence of Members of the Scottish Parliament tends to be extremely low, and "backbench rebellions" by members discontent with their party's policies are rare.<ref name="Kingdom2">Kingdom, J (1999) p374</ref> In some circumstances, however, parties announce "free votes", allowing Members to vote as they please. This is done on [[morality|moral]] issues.<ref name="Kingdom3">Kingdom, J (1999) p375</ref>
Immediately after Decision Time a "Members Debate" is held, which lasts for 45 minutes.<ref name="Chamber"/> Members Business is a debate on a motion proposed by an MSP who is not a [[Scottish Executive|Scottish minister]]. Such motions are on issues which may be of interest to a particular area (such as the members' own constituency), an upcoming or past event or any other item which would otherwise not be accorded official parliamentary time. As well as the proposer, other members normally contribute to the debate. The relevant minister, whose department the debate and motion relate to, "winds-up" the debate by speaking after all other participants.
==Committees==
[[Image:DSC00036.JPG|right|thumbnail|250px|Private Bill Committees are set up to deal with the legislation required for major [[public sector]] infrastructure projects - such as the underground extensions to the [[National Gallery of Scotland]] in 2003.]]
Much of the work of the Scottish Parliament is done in [[committee]]. The role of committees is stronger in the Scottish Parliament than in other parliamentary systems, partly as a means of strengthening the role of backbenchers in their scrutiny of the government<ref>Dardanelli (2005) p185</ref> and partly to compensate for the fact that there is no revising chamber. The principal role of committees in the Scottish Parliament is to conduct inquiries, scrutinise legislation and hold the government to account.<ref name="Committee">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/index.htm |title=The Scottish Parliament Committees |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-13}}</ref> Committee meetings take place in the Parliament's committee rooms all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning when Parliament is sitting. Committees can also meet at other locations throughout Scotland.<ref name="CommitteeMeetings">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-comm-01/cfin01-002.htm |title=Finance Committee to meet in Perth |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) |accessdate=2006-11-22}}</ref>
Committees comprise a small number of MSPs, with membership reflecting the balance of parties across Parliament.<ref name="Committee"/> There are different committees with their functions set out in different ways. Mandatory Committees are committees which are set down under the Scottish Parliament's standing orders, which govern their remits and proceedings. The current Mandatory Committees of the Scottish Parliament are: [[Audit]]; Equal Opportunities; [[Politics of Europe|European]] and External Relations; [[Finance]]; Procedures; Public Petitions; Standards and Public Appointments; and Subordinate Legislation.<ref name="Committee"/>
Subject Committees are established at the beginning of each parliamentary session, and again the balance of members on each committee reflects the balance of parties across Parliament. Typically each committee corresponds with one (or more) of the departments (or ministries) of the Scottish Government. The current Subject Committees are: Economy, Energy and Tourism; [[Education in Scotland|Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture]]; [[NHS Scotland|Health and Sport]]; [[Scots Law|Justice]]; [[Local government in Scotland|Local Government and Communities]]; Rural Affairs and Environment; Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme; and [[Transport in Scotland|Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change]].<ref name="Committee"/>
A further type of committee is normally set up to scrutinise [[private bill]]s submitted to the Scottish Parliament by an outside party or promoter who is not a member of the Scottish Parliament or Scottish Government. Private bills normally relate to large-scale development projects such as infrastructure projects that require the use of land or property.<ref>{{cite web |url=
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/privateBills.htm |title=Private Bills |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) |accessdate=2006-11-22}}</ref> Private Bill Committees have been set up to consider legislation on issues such as the development of the [[Edinburgh Tram Network]], the [[Glasgow Airport Rail Link]], the [[Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link]] and extensions to the [[National Gallery of Scotland]].<ref name="PrivateBillCommitteeMeetings">{{cite web |url=
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/privateBills.htm |title=Private Bill Committees |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) |accessdate=2006-11-22}}</ref>
==Legislative functions==
===Constitution and powers===
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Crownparliament.jpg|thumb|The [[Crown of Scotland]], borne by the [[Angus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton|Duke of Hamilton & Brandon]], precedes [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Her Majesty The Queen]] into the Debating Chamber at the opening of the Second Session of the Scottish Parliament in 2004]] -->The Scotland Act 1998, which was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and given [[Royal Assent]] by Queen Elizabeth II on [[19 November]] [[1998]],<ref name="ScotlandAct1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#1 |title=Scotland Act preamble |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> governs the functions and role of the Scottish Parliament and delimits its legislative competence. For the purposes of [[parliamentary sovereignty]], the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster continues to constitute the supreme legislature of Scotland,<ref name="UKParliament">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/devolution/uk-parliament.html |title=Devolution: UK Parliament |publisher=Scotland Office |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> but under the terms of the Scotland Act, Westminster agreed to devolve some of its responsibilities over the domestic policy of Scotland to a new directly elected Scottish Parliament.<ref name="UKParliament"/> Such matters are known as "devolved matters" and include education, health, [[Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department|agriculture]] and justice.<ref name="devolvedmatters">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/what-we-do/reserved-and-devolved-matters.html |title=Reserved and devolved matters |publisher=Scotland Office |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> The Scotland Act enabled the Scottish Parliament to pass [[Acts of parliament|primary legislation]] on these issues. A degree of domestic authority, and all [[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom|foreign policy]], remains at present with the UK Parliament in Westminster.<ref name="devolvedmatters"/> The Scottish Parliament has the power to pass laws and has limited tax-varying capability.<ref name="powers">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2321531.stm |title=Devolution to Scotland |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> Another of the roles of the Parliament is to hold the Scottish Government to account.
The specific devolved matters are all subjects which are not explicitly stated in Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act as [[reserved matters]]. All matters that are not specifically reserved are automatically devolved to the Scottish Parliament.<ref name="devolvedmatters"/> Most importantly, this includes agriculture, fisheries and forestry, [[Economy of Scotland|economic development]], education, environment, food standards, health, home affairs, Scots law — [[Courts in Scotland|courts]], police and fire services, local government, [[Sport in Scotland|sport]] and the arts, transport, training, [[Tourism in Scotland|tourism]], research and statistics and social work.<ref name="devolvedmatters"/> The Scottish Parliament has the ability to alter [[income tax]] in Scotland by up to 3 [[penny|pence]] in the [[pound sterling|pound]].<ref name="powers"/>
Reserved matters are subjects that are outside the legislative competence of the Scotland Parliament.<ref name="powers"/> The Scottish Parliament is unable to legislate on such issues that are reserved to, and dealt with at, Westminster (and where Ministerial functions usually lie with UK Government ministers). These include [[Abortion in the United Kingdom|abortion]], [[Media of the United Kingdom|broadcasting]] policy, [[British Civil Service|civil service]], common markets for UK goods and services, [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|constitution]], [[Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom|electricity]], coal, oil, gas, [[Nuclear power in the United Kingdom|nuclear energy]], [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|defence]] and national security, [[Misuse of Drugs Act 1971|drug policy]], employment, foreign policy and relations with Europe, most aspects of [[Transport in the United Kingdom|transport]] safety and regulation, [[National Lottery]], protection of borders, [[National Insurance|social security]] and stability of UK's fiscal, [[Economy of the United Kingdom|economic]] and [[Banknotes of the pound sterling|monetary]] system.<ref name="devolvedmatters"/>
Members of the public take part in Parliament in two ways that are not the case at Westminster: a public [[petition]]ing system, and cross-party groups on policy topics which the interested public join and attend meetings of, alongside MSPs.<ref name="Lawsoc">{{cite web |url=http://www.journalonline.co.uk/article/1001141.aspx |title=How the Scottish Parliament will work |publisher=Law Society of Scotland |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> The Parliament is able to debate any issue (including those reserved to Westminster) but is unable to make laws on issues that are outside its legislative competence.
===Bills===
[[Image:Scottish Parliament Act.JPG|thumb|235px|left|After a [[bill (proposed law)|bill]] has passed through all legislative stages, it becomes an [[Act of the Scottish Parliament]].]]
As the Scottish Parliament is able to make laws on the areas constitutionally devolved to it, the legislative process begins with [[bill (proposed law)|bills]] (draft laws) which are presented to Parliament.<ref name="Bills">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billguidance/gpb-1.htm |title=Guidance on Public Bills |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
Bills can be introduced to Parliament in a number of ways; the Scottish Government can introduce new laws or amendments to existing laws as a bill; a committee of the Parliament can present a bill in one of the areas under its remit; a member of the Scottish Parliament can introduce a bill as a private member; or a [[private bill]] can be submitted to Parliament by an outside proposer.<ref name="Bills"/> Most draft laws are government bills introduced by ministers in the governing party. Bills pass through Parliament in a number of stages:<ref name="Billstages">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billguidance/gpb-1.htm#P127_11023 |title=Stages of Bills |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
''Stage 1'' is the first, or introductory stage of the bill, where the minister or member in charge of the bill will formally introduce it to Parliament together with its accompanying documents - Explanatory Notes, a Policy Memorandum setting out the policy underlying the bill, and a Financial Memorandum setting out the costs and savings associated with it.<ref name="Billstages"/> Statements from the Presiding Officer and the member in charge of the bill are also lodged indicating whether the bill is within the legislative competence of the Parliament. Stage 1 usually takes place, initially, in the relevant committee or committees and is then submitted to the whole Parliament for a full debate in the chamber on the general principles of the bill.<ref name="Billstages"/> If the whole Parliament agrees in a vote to the general principles of the bill, it then proceeds to Stage 2.
''Stage 2'' is normally conducted entirely in the relevant committee, where amendments to the bill are proposed by committee members. At this stage, the bill is considered in substantial detail. Some bills and all emergency bills are considered in detail by a committee of the whole Parliament, in the debating chamber. The Presiding Officer acts as convener of the committee in such circumstances.<ref name="StandingOrders">{{cite web |url=
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/so/sto-4.htm#9 |title=Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament - Public Bills |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
''Stage 3'' is the final stage of the bill and is considered at a meeting of the whole Parliament. This stage comprises two parts - consideration of amendments to the bill as a general debate, and a final vote on the bill. Opposition members can table "wrecking amendments" to the bill, designed to thwart further progress and take up parliamentary time, in order to cause the bill to fall without a final vote being taken.<ref name="WreckingAmendments">{{cite news |url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/5077960.stm |date=2006-06-14 |title=Borders Railway Link Bill passed |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-11-22}}</ref> After a general debate on the final form of the bill, members proceed to vote at Decision Time on whether they agree to the general principles of the final bill.<ref name="StandingOrders"/>
''Royal Assent:'' After the bill has been passed, the Presiding Officer submits it to Her Majesty for Royal Assent and it becomes an [[Act of the Scottish Parliament]]. However he cannot do so until a 4-week period has elapsed, during which the Law Officers of the Scottish Government or [[Her Majesty's Government|UK Government]] can refer the bill to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]] for a ruling on whether it is within the powers of the Parliament.<ref name="Devol">{{cite web |url=
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/government/devolution/scpa-07.asp |date=July 1997 |title=Devolution, Chapter 4 - The new constitutional arrangements |publisher=Scotland Office |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> Acts of the Scottish Parliament do not begin with a conventional [[enacting formula]]. Instead they begin with a phrase that reads: "The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on [Date] and received Royal Assent on [Date]".
==Scrutiny of government==
[[Image:Declaration Glasgow Kelvin.JPG|right|thumb|250px|The result for the [[Glasgow Kelvin (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Kelvin constituency]] being declared at the [[Scottish Parliament election, 2007]]. Ordinary general elections for the Scottish Parliament are held on the first Thursday in May every four years.]]
The party or parties that hold the majority of seats in the Parliament forms the Scottish Government. In contrast to many other parliamentary systems, Parliament elects a [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] from a number of candidates at the beginning of each parliamentary term (after a [[Elections in Scotland|general election]]).<ref name="FM">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/myvhitsp/LeafletIndex.htm |title=Making Your Voice Heard |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2007-11-16}}</ref> Any member can put their name forward to be First Minister, and a vote is taken by all members of Parliament. Normally the leader of the largest party is returned as First Minister, and head of the Scottish Government.<ref name="FM"/> Theoretically Parliament also elects the Scottish Ministers who form the government of Scotland and sit in the Scottish cabinet, but such ministers are, in practice, appointed to their roles by the First Minister.<ref name="Nominations">{{cite web |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-99/pa0004.htm |title=A Guide to Other Early Business of the Scottish Parliament, including Selection of a Nominee for Appointment as First Minister |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> Junior ministers, who do not attend cabinet, are also appointed to assist Scottish ministers in their departments. Most ministers and their juniors are drawn from amongst the elected MSPs, with the exception of Scotland's Chief Law Officers: the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General.<ref name="Brief"/> Whilst the First Minister chooses the ministers, and may decide to remove them at any time; the formal appointment or dismissal, however, is made by the Sovereign.<ref name="Nominations"/>
Under the Scotland Act 1998, ordinary general elections for the Scottish Parliament are held on the first Thursday in May every four years ([[Scottish Parliament election, 1999|1999]], [[Scottish Parliament election, 2003|2003]], [[Scottish Parliament election, 2007|2007]] and so on).<ref name="ScotlandAct2">{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#2 |title=Scotland Act 1998 - Section 2 Ordinary General Elections |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> The date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by the Queen on the proposal of the Presiding Officer.<ref name="ScotlandAct2"/> If the Parliament itself resolves that it should be dissolved (with at least two-thirds of the Members voting in favour), or if the Parliament fails to nominate one of its members to be First Minister within 28 days of a General Election or of the position becoming vacant,<ref name="ScotlandAct46">{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--d.htm#46 | title="Scotland Act 1998 - Section 46 Choice of the First Minister|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) |accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the Queen by [[royal proclamation]]. Extraordinary general elections are in addition to ordinary general elections, unless held less than six months before the due date of an ordinary general election, in which case they supplant it. The following ordinary election reverts to the first Thursday in May, a multiple of four years after 1999 (i.e., 5 May 2011, 7 May 2015, etc).<ref name="ScotlandAct3">{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#3 |title=Scotland Act 1998 - Section 3 Extraordinary General Elections |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
Several procedures enable the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the government. The First Minister or members of his cabinet can deliver statements to Parliament upon which MSPs are invited to question them. For example, at the beginning of each parliamentary year, the First Minister delivers a statement to the chamber setting out the government's legislative programme for the forthcoming year.<ref name="Statement1">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/News-Extras/legprog2005 |title=Statement by First Minister on the government's Legislative Programme |author=Jack McConnell |publisher=Scottish Government |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> After the statement has been delivered, the leaders of the opposition parties and other MSPs question the First Minister on issues related to the substance of the statement.<ref name="Statement2">{{cite web |url=
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-05/sor0906-02.htm#Col18773 |title=Debate on Scottish Government's Programme |publisher=Scottish Parliament Official Report, September 6 2005 |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
Parliamentary time is also set aside for question periods in the debating chamber. A "General Question Time" takes place on a Thursday between 11.30am and 12pm where members can direct questions to any member of the Scottish Government.<ref name="Brief"/> At 2.30pm, a 40-minute long themed "Question Time" takes place, where members can ask questions of ministers in departments that are selected for questioning that sitting day, such as health and justice or education and transport.<ref name="Brief"/> Between 12pm and 12.30pm on Thursdays, when Parliament is sitting, [[First Minister's Question Time (Scotland)|First Minister's Question Time]] takes place.<ref name="Brief"/> This gives members an opportunity to question the First Minister directly on issues under his jurisdiction. Opposition leaders ask a general question of the First Minister and then supplementary questions. Such a practice enables a "lead-in" to the questioner, who then uses their supplementary question to ask the First Minister any issue. The four general questions available to opposition leaders are:
*''To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day?''
*''To ask the First Minister when he next plans to meet the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and what issues they intend to discuss?'';
*''To ask the First Minister when he next plans to meet the [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] and what issues they intend to discuss?'' and
*''To ask the First Minister what issues he intends to discuss at the next meeting of the Scottish Government's cabinet?''.
Members who wish to ask general or themed questions, or questions of the First Minister, must lodge their questions with parliamentary clerks beforehand and questioners are then selected by the Presiding Officer. Written questions can also be submitted by members to ministers, for answer. Written questions and answers are published in the ''Official Report''.<ref name="Brief"/>
==Members, constituencies and voting systems==
[[Image:MSP Group Shot Dec2004-lg.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|The 2003 election's 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament; 73 represented individual constituencies and 56 represented eight additional member regions.]]
Elections for the Scottish Parliament were amongst the first in the United Kingdom to use a [[mixed member proportional representation]] (MMS) system.<ref name="PR">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/devolution/parliament-and-executive.html |title=Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive |publisher=Scotland Office |accessdate=2006-11-08}}</ref> The system is a form of the [[Additional Member System|additional member]] method of [[proportional representation]] (PR), and is better known as such in the United Kingdom. However, there are additional member systems, elsewhere in the world, which are not designed to produce proportional representation.
Of the 129 MSPs, 73 are elected to represent [[plurality voting system|first past the post]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|constituencies]] and are known as "Constituency MSPs".<ref name="ConstituencyMSPs"/> Voters choose one member to represent the constituency, and the member with most votes is returned as a constituency MSP. The 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies shared the same boundaries as the [[United Kingdom constituencies|UK Parliament constituencies]] in Scotland, prior to the 2005 reduction in the number of Scottish <!--Westminster--> MPs, with the exception of [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]] which each return their own constituency MSP. Currently, the average Scottish Parliament constituency comprises 55,000 electors.<ref name="Constituency">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/release.php?id=3231 |title=Close of Consultation on Scottish Parliament size |date=2002-04-02 |publisher=Scotland Office |accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref> Given the geographical distribution of [[Demographics of Scotland|population in Scotland]], this results in constituencies of a smaller area in the [[Central Lowlands]], where the bulk of Scotland's population live, and much larger constituency areas in the north and west of the country, which have a low population density. The island archipelagos of Orkney, Shetland and the [[Western Isles (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Western Isles]] comprise a much smaller number of electors, due to their disparate population and distance from the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.<ref name="Constituency"/> If a Constituency MSP resigns from Parliament, this triggers a [[by-election]] in his or her constituency, where a replacement MSP is returned from one of the parties by the plurality system.<ref name="PR"/>
The remaining 56 MSPs are elected by the additional member system. In each Scottish Parliament election, electors have a second vote, where they vote for a party instead of a constituency representative. These 56 are elected in eight different [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions#Regions|electoral regions]], of which constituencies are sub-divisions.<ref name="msps">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/index.htm |title=MSPs |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref> Each region returns seven additional member MSPs. The eight regions are: [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]]; [[North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|North East Scotland]]; [[Mid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Mid Scotland and Fife]]; [[West of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|West of Scotland]]; [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]]; [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]; [[South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South of Scotland]]; and [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothians]]. Each political party draws up a list of candidates standing in each electoral region.<ref name="AMSSystem">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2840087.stm |title=Electoral System - How it works |date=2003-04-02 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-10-22}}</ref> The total number of seats in the Parliament are allocated to parties proportionally to the number of votes the party received in the second vote of the ballot, calculated by dividing the number of "list" votes cast for a party by the a number calculated from the number of constituency seats won in that region, plus the number of already-allocated "list" seats won in that region, plus one (to prevent [[division by zero]]), and the party with the largest number of votes remaining is allocated the first "list" seat. This is repeated [[Iterated function|iteratively]] until all available "list" seats are allocated.<ref name="AMSSystem"/> The number of seats remaining allocated to that party are filled using members from the party's list.<ref name="AMSSystem"/> These members are called "List MSPs". If a List MSP resigns from the Scottish Parliament, he or she is replaced by the next member on the party list.<ref name="Brownlee">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/scotland/4514791.stm |title=Labour loses out in key Marginals |date=2005-05-06 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref>
As in the House of Commons, a number of qualifications apply to being an MSP. Such qualifications were introduced under the [[House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975]] and the [[British Nationality Act 1981]]. Specifically, members must be over the age of 18<ref name="EAA2006">{{cite web |url=
http://www.dca.gov.uk/legist/electroadmin_factsheet.pdf |title=Electoral Administration Act 2006 |date= |publisher=Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) |accessdate=2007-02-06}} ''The Electoral Administration Act 2006, reduced the age of candidacy in the United Kingdom from 21 to 18.''</ref> and must be a [[British nationality law|citizen of the United Kingdom]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], one of the countries in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] or a citizen of a [[British overseas territory]].<ref name="Disqualifications">{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--b.htm#15 |title=Scotland Act 1998, Section 15, Disqualification from membership of Parliament |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) |accessdate=2006-11-01}}</ref> Members of the police and the armed forces are disqualified from sitting in the Scottish Parliament as elected MSPs, and similarly, civil servants and members of foreign legislatures are disqualified.<ref name="Disqualifications"/> An individual may not sit in the Scottish Parliament if they are judged to be insane under the terms of the [[Mental Health Act 1983]]; if they are subject to a [[Bankruptcy in the United Kingdom|Bankruptcy Restriction Order]] (in [[England]] and [[Wales]] only) or if his or her estate is [[sequestration|sequestered]] (in Scotland).<ref name="Disqualifications"/>
==Elections==
[[Image:Flags outside Parliament.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Union Flag|UK]], [[Flag of Scotland|Scottish]], and [[Flag of the European Union|EU]] flags flying outside the Parliament.]]
There have been three elections to the Parliament, in [[Scottish Parliament election, 1999|1999]], [[Scottish Parliament election, 2003|2003]] and [[Scottish Parliament election, 2007|2007]].
The next election is due to be held on [[May 5]] [[2011]], unless more than two thirds of elected MSPs vote for a dissolution of Parliament, resulting in fresh elections, before that time.<ref name="ScotlandAct3"/> Citizens of other [[European Union member states|EU member states]] who are [[Domicile (law)|domicile]]d in Scotland are entitled to vote in Scottish Parliament elections. However, overseas electors on Scottish [[electoral register]]s are not allowed to vote in Scottish Parliament elections.
{{main|Scottish Parliament election, 2007}}
===Results in 2007===
{{Scottish Parliament election|title=Scottish Parliament election, 2007}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish National Party
|votes = 664,227
|votes % = 32.9
|votes net = +9.1
|seats = 21
|seats net = +12
|AMS votes = 633,401
|AMS votes % = 31.0
|AMS votes net = +10.2
|AMS seats = 26
|AMS seats net = +8
|Seats total = '''47'''
|Seats net = +20
|Seats % = 37.0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Labour Party
|votes = 648,374
|votes % = 32.2
|votes net = -2.5
|seats = 37
|seats net = −9
|AMS votes = 595,415
|AMS votes % = 29.2
|AMS votes net = -0.1
|AMS seats = 9
|AMS seats net = +5
|Seats total = '''46'''
|Seats net = −4
|Seats % = 36.2
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Conservative Party
|votes = 334,743
|votes % = 16.6
|votes net = 0
|seats = 4
|seats net = +1
|AMS votes = 284,005
|AMS votes % = 13.9
|AMS votes net = -1.6
|AMS seats = 13
|AMS seats net = −2
|Seats total = '''17'''
|Seats net = −1
|Seats % = 13.4
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Liberal Democrats
|votes = 326,232
|votes % = 16.2
|votes net = +0.9
|seats = 11
|seats net = −2
|AMS votes = 230,671
|AMS votes % = 11.3
|AMS votes net = -0.5
|AMS seats = 5
|AMS seats net = +1
|Seats total = '''16'''
|Seats net = −1
|Seats % = 12.6
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Green Party
|votes = 2,971
|votes % = 0.2
|votes net = +0.2
|seats = 0
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 82,584
|AMS votes % = 4.0
|AMS votes net = -2.8
|AMS seats = 2
|AMS seats net = −5
|Seats total = '''2'''
|Seats net = −5
|Seats % = 1.6
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
|votes = 1,702
|votes % = 0.1
|votes net = +0
|seats = 0
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 38,743
|AMS votes % = 1.9
|AMS votes net = +0.4
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = −1
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = −1
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Solidarity (Scotland)
|votes = -
|votes % = -
|votes net = -
|seats = -
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 31,066
|AMS votes % = 1.5
|AMS votes net = +1.5
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = 0
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = 0
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Christian Party
|votes = 4,586
|votes % = 0.2
|votes net = +0.2
|seats = 0
|seats net = 0
|AMS votes = 26,575
|AMS votes % = 1.3
|AMS votes net = +1.3
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = 0
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = 0
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = British National Party
|votes = -
|votes % = -
|votes net = -
|seats = -
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 24,616
|AMS votes % = 1.2
|AMS votes net = +1.1
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = 0
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = 0
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Christian Peoples Alliance
|votes = -
|votes % = -
|votes net = -
|seats = -
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 14,745
|AMS votes % = 0.7
|AMS votes net = +0.7
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = 0
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = 0
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Socialist Labour Party (UK)
|votes = -
|votes % = -
|votes net = -
|seats = -
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 14,244
|AMS votes % = 0.7
|AMS votes net = -0.4
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = 0
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = 0
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = Scottish Socialist Party
|votes = 525
|votes % = 0.0
|votes net = -6.2
|seats = 0
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 12,731
|AMS votes % = 0.6
|AMS votes net = -6.1
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = −6
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = −6
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary Party
||party = United Kingdom Independence Party
|votes = -
|votes % = -
|votes net = -
|seats = -
|seats net = -
|AMS votes = 8,197
|AMS votes % = 0.4
|AMS votes net = −0.2
|AMS seats = 0
|AMS seats net = 0
|Seats total = 0
|Seats net = 0
|Seats % = 0
}}
{{AMS Election Summary
||party = Others
|votes = 33,618
|votes % = 1.7
|votes net = -1.2
|seats = 0
|seats net = −2
|AMS votes = 45,116
|AMS votes % = 2.2
|AMS votes net = -0.7
|AMS seats = 1
|AMS seats net = 1
|Seats total = '''1'''
|Seats net = −2
|Seats % = 0.8
}}
|-
| || '''Total''' || 2,016,978<ref name="ElectionResults">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/scottish_parliment/html/scoreboard_99999.stm|date=2007-04-05 |title=Scottish Parliament Elections |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-11-01}}</ref> || 100 || +2.5 || 73 || || 2,042,089 || 100 || || 56 || || 129 || || 100.0
|}
'''Overall turnout ''' - 51.8%<ref name="ElectionResults"/>
==Composition==
[[Image:Parties in the Scottish Parliament, 2007.png|thumb|right|280px|The composition of the [[Scottish Parliament]] following the 2007 election.<br /><font color="{{Scottish National Party/meta/color}}">█</font> [[Scottish National Party]] (47)<br /><font color="{{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}">█</font> [[Scottish Labour Party]] (46)<br /><font color="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}">█</font> [[Scottish Conservative Party]] (16)<sup>1</sup><br /><font color="{{Liberal Democrats/meta/color}}">█</font> [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] (16)<br /><font color="{{Scottish Green Party/meta/color}}">█</font> [[Scottish Green Party]] (2)<br /><font color="#DDDDDD">█</font> [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (1)<br /><sup>1</sup> <small>Was 17, but the Presiding Officer, currently [[Alex Fergusson (Scottish politician)|Alex Fergusson]], elected as a Conservative, voluntarily accepted suspension from his party.]]</small>
{{main|Members elected to the 3rd Scottish Parliament}}
The Election of May 2007, resulted in the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) winning 47 seats, an increase of 20 seats from the [[Scottish Parliament election, 2003|2003 Scottish Parliament election]].<ref name="2007Election">{{cite web |url=http://election.theherald.co.uk/results/ |title=Holyrood Results |publisher=The Herald |date=2007-05-04 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> The [[Scottish Labour Party]] gained 46 seats, a reduction of 4 seats from 2003.<ref name="2007Election"/> The [[Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party|Scottish Conservatives]] and [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] gained 17 and 16 seats respectively, a reduction of 1 each.<ref name="2007Election"/> In terms of the minor parties, the [[Scottish Green Party]] was returned with 2 seats, a reduction of 5 from the 2003 election and [[Margo MacDonald]], the independent List MSP for the [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothians]], also retained her seat.<ref name="2007Election"/>
Parties which were represented in the [[Members of the 2nd Scottish Parliament|2003–2007 Parliament]], such as the [[Scottish Socialist Party]], [[Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party]] and [[Solidarity (Scotland)|Solidarity]] lost their seats, as did the independents [[Campbell Martin]] and [[Jean Turner|Dr Jean Turner]].<ref name="Defeats">{{cite web |url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6622335.stm |title=Timeline: Scottish elections 2007 |publisher=BBC |date=2007-05-04 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> The Independent MSPs, [[Brian Monteith]] and [[Dennis Canavan]], both retired prior to the election.<ref name="Retirals">{{cite web |url=http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=504732007 |title=Say hello and wave goodbye to Holyrood |publisher=Scotland on Sunday |author=Murdo Macleod |date=2007-04-01 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>
The Conservatives were returned with 17 seats after the election, but the Conservative MSP [[Alex Fergusson (Scottish politician)|Alex Fergusson]], member for the constituency of [[Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Galloway and Upper Nithsdale]], was voted in as [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]] on [[May 14]], [[2007]].<ref name="PresidingOfficerElect">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0514-02.htm#Col11 |title=Election of First Minister |publisher=Scottish Parliament |date=2007-05-14 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> Given the strict political impartiality required for the role, the Presiding Officer accepts voluntary suspension from his or her party for the duration of their period in office.<ref name="PresidingOfficerElect1">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/factsheets/documents/MSPsMPsMEPsS3.pdf |title=MSPs, MPs and MEPs Session 3 |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe)|date=2007-05-23 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> This led to the Conservative representation in Parliament being reduced to 16 members.
As a result of the proportional representation system used to elect Members, no one party gained an overall majority of seats in the Parliament. The SNP emerged as the largest party in the Parliament, one seat ahead of Labour, but were unable to negotiate a [[coalition]] deal with any other of the parties and consequently govern as a [[minority government|minority administration]], with support from the 2 members of the Scottish Green Party.<ref name="GreenCooperation">{{cite web |url=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_05_07_agreement.pdf |title=Scottish National Party and Scottish Green Party Co-operation agreement |publisher=BBC |date=2007-05-11 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> The leader of the SNP, [[Alex Salmond]] was elected [[First Minister of Scotland]], in a vote in the Scottish Parliament on [[May 16]] [[2007]] by 49 votes to 46 (the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Margo MacDonald abstaining in that vote).<ref name="FirstMinisterElect">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0516-02.htm#Col34 |title=Election of First Minister |publisher=Scottish Parliament |date=2007-05-16 |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>
==Criticism==
[[Image:Wfm scottish parliament construction.jpg|thumb|right|Enric Miralles' Scottish Parliament complex in Holyrood Park during construction. The building was completed in 2004. Above and behind the new Parliament is the neoclassical [[Royal High School (Edinburgh)|Royal High School]], which was prepared for a previous devolved Scottish parliament, but never used.]]{{clearright}}
The death, in office, of [[Donald Dewar]], Scotland's first First Minister, and the resignation, brought on by an [[Officegate|office expenses scandal]], of his successor [[Henry McLeish]],<ref name="McLeish">{{cite web |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/scotland/story/0,,590307,00.html |title=Text of Henry McLeish's resignation speech to the Scottish Parliament |publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> generated controversy in the first years of the Parliament.<ref name="Governance">{{cite web |url=http://www.institute-of-governance.org/onlinepub/mccrone/assessingscotparl.html |title=Peeblin' Wi' Stanes: Assessing the Scottish Parliament, 1999–2003 |author=David McCrone |date=2003-04-08 |publisher=Institute of Governance |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref>
===Arguments that it will lead to Scottish independence===
Popular arguments against the Parliament before the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|UK general election of 1997]], levelled by the Conservative Party, were that the Parliament would create a "slippery slope" to [[Scottish independence]], and provide the pro-independence Scottish National Party with a route to power.<ref name="Devolution">{{cite web |url=http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaystory.cfm?story_id=326221 |title=Breaking the Old Place up |publisher=The Economist |date=1999-11-04 |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref> [[John Major]], the Tory prime minister before May 1997, famously claimed the Parliament would end "1000 years of [[History of the United Kingdom|British history]]",<ref name="Major">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/background/pastelec/ge97.shtml |title=Politics 97 |date=September 1997 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref> although the [[Acts of Union 1707| Acts of Union]] uniting the two countries were still less than 300 years old at the time. The equally [[Unionists (Scotland)|pro-Union]] Labour Party met these criticisms by claiming that devolution would fatally undermine the SNP,<ref name="SNP">{{cite news |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election2001/story/0,,504190,00.html |title=SNP Revival put on hold |publisher=The Guardian |date=2001-06-09 |author=Kirsty Scott, Gerald Seenan |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref> and remedy the long-felt desire of Scots for a measure of [[self-governance|self-government]].<ref name="Dewar">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/government/devolution/scpa-04.asp |date=July 1997 |title=Scottish Office — Scotland's Parliament White Paper 1997 |publisher=The Scottish Office |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref>
===English concerns===
A further procedural consequence created by the establishment of the Scottish Parliament is that Scottish MPs sitting in the [[British House of Commons]] are still able to vote on domestic legislation that applies only to England, Wales and Northern Ireland - whilst English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Westminster MPs are unable to vote on the domestic legislation of the Scottish Parliament. This anomaly is known as the [[West Lothian Question]] and has led to criticism.<ref name="WLQ">{{cite news |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02586.pdf |title=The West Lothian Question |author=Oonagh Gay |date=2007-06-26 |publisher=House of Commons Research Paper |accessdate=2007-02-09}}</ref>
===Costs===
The escalating costs of the construction of the new Parliament building led to widespread criticism.<ref name="Governance"/> Miralles' new Scottish Parliament building opened for business on the [[7 September]] [[2004]], three years late.<ref name="Dewar"/> The estimated final cost was [[pound sterling|£]]431 million. The White Paper in 1997 estimated that a new building would have a net construction cost of £40 million,<ref name="Dewar"/> although this was based on the presumption that the old [[Royal High School (Edinburgh)|Royal High School]] would be used, as had long been assumed. After the devolution referendum it was quickly announced that the high school, which is smaller than many council chambers, was entirely inadequate for the Parliament, and negotiations began for a new building on a new site. This led critical media and politicians to claim the final building was "ten times over budget".<ref name="Budget">{{cite news |url=
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/microsites/S/stirling_prize/shortlist.html |title=RIBA Stirling Prize, 2005 Scottish Parliament |publisher=Channel 4 |accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref> Miralles' building was in fact costed at £109 million, prior to major increases in space.<ref name="RMJM">{{cite web |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-02/ds02-001.htm |title=Holyrood |author=Sir David Steel |work=Holyrood Magazine |date=2002-01-18 |publisher= The Scottish Parliament|accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref>
The cost overruns of the Scottish Parliament Building further dented confidence in public opinion in the ability of the [[public sector]] to handle major infrastructure and building projects. As a result, the final £431m cost of the Holyrood building can be compared with other cost overruns in projects such as [[Portcullis House]] — a new parliamentary office block in Westminster - built for use by 200 MPs, which cost £250 million, including £100 million spent on bronze cladding,<ref name="Cost">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/pdf_res_notes/rn99-11.pdf |author=Scottish Parliament Information Centre |title=The Holyrood Building Project, June 1999 |date=1999-06-15 |publisher= The Scottish Parliament|accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref> £250m for the redevelopment of the German [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]],<ref name="Cost"/> £40m for the development of the [[Edinburgh International Conference Centre]],<ref name="Cost"/> and £800m for the construction of the [[Millennium Dome]].<ref name="Cost"/>
[[Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie|Lord Fraser]]'s Inquiry reported on [[15 September]] [[2004]] and identified the choice of the construction management procurement route as the main factor in the fourfold increase in estimated costs establishing that a £270 million value building ended up costing £431 million, an identifiable waste of £181 million.<ref name="Fraser">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/inquiry/sp205-18.htm |author=Peter Fraser |date=2004-09-15 |title=Holyrood Project Inquiry Final Report |publisher= The Scottish Parliament|accessdate=2006-10-17}}</ref> This was portrayed as clearing Donald Dewar of any blame.<ref name="Fraser"/> The cost of the building remains more controversial than any of the legislation so far passed by the Parliament.<ref name="Governance"/>
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==References==
{{sisterlinks|Scottish Parliament}}
*Balfour, A & McCrone, G (2005): "Creating a Scottish Parliament", [http://www.studiolr.com StudioLR], ISBN 0-9550016-0-9
*Burrows, N (1999): "Unfinished Business - The Scotland Act 1998", Modern Law Review, Vol. 62, No. 2 (March 1999), pp. 241–260
*Centre for Scottish Public Policy (1999): "A Guide to the Scottish Parliament: The Shape of Things to Come", The Stationery Office Books", ISBN 0-11-497231-1
*Dardanelli, P (2005): "Between Two Unions: Europeanisation and Scottish Devolution", Manchester University Press, ISBN 0-7190-7080-5
*Kingdom, J (1999): "Government and Politics in Britain, An Introduction", Polity, ISBN 0-7456-1720-4
*MacLean, B (2005): "Getting It Together: Scottish Parliament", Luath Press Ltd, ISBN 1-905222-02-5
*McFadden, J & Lazarowicz, M (2003): "The Scottish Parliament: An Introduction", LexisNexis UK, ISBN 0-406-96957-4
*Murkens, E; Jones, P & Keating, M (2002): "Scottish Independence: A Practical Guide", Edinburgh University Press, ISBN 0-7748-1699-3
*Taylor, Brian (1999): "The Scottish Parliament", Polygon, Edinburgh, ISBN 1-9029-3012-6
*Taylor, Brian (2002): "The Scottish Parliament: The Road to Devolution", Edinburgh University Press, ISBN 0-7486-1759-0
* Young, John R. (1996): "The Scottish Parliament, 1639–1661: A Political and Constitutional," Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers ISBN 0-8597-6412-5
==See also==
*[[Politics of Scotland]]
*[[List of Acts of the Scottish Parliament from 1999]]
*[[Members of the 1st Scottish Parliament]]
*[[Members of the 2nd Scottish Parliament]]
*[[Members of the 3rd Scottish Parliament]]
*[[Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office]]
*[[Legislative Consent Motion]]
*[[West Lothian question]]
*[[Scottish Parliament Business Exchange]]
*[[Futures Forum]]
==External links==
*[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/ Official website]
*{{gd icon}} [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/index.htm Official website]
*{{sco icon}} [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/scots/index.htm Official website]
*[http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980046.htm Scotland Act 1998]
*[http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~scotparl/ The Scottish Parliament Project], [[University of St Andrews]]
*[http://www.holyroodinquiry.org Holyrood Inquiry homepage]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/scotland_99/the_scottish_parliament/310036.stm BBC News explanation of the powers of the Scottish Parliament]
{{Scotland topics}}
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