View source for Scottish Parliament

{{Short description|Devolved parliament of Scotland}}  
{{about|the devolved legislature|the national legislature before 1707|Parliament of Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color   = #500791
| name               = Scottish Parliament
| native_name        = {{plainlist|
* {{lang|gd|Pàrlamaid na h-Alba}}
* {{lang|sco|Scots Pairlament}}
}}
| legislature        = [[6th Scottish Parliament|6th Parliament]]
| logo_pic           = Scottish Parliament emblem.svg
| logo_res           = 250px
| logo_alt           = Emblem of the Scottish Parliament
| logo_caption       = 
| house_type         = [[Unicameral]]
| term_limits        =
| foundation         = 12 May 1999
| preceded_by        = {{plainlist|
* [[Parliament of Scotland]] (pre-union)
* [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] (pre-devolution; partly)
}}
| succeeded_by       =
| new_session        = 13 May 2021
| crown-in-parl      =       
| leader1_type       = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch]]
| leader1            = [[Charles III]]
| election1          = 8 September 2022
| leader2_type       = {{nowrap|[[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]]}}
| leader2            = [[Alison Johnstone]]
| party2             = 
| election2          = 13 May 2021
| leader3_type       = [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament #List of deputy presiding officers|Deputy Presiding Officer]]
| leader3            = {{ubl
 | [[Annabelle Ewing]], SNP
   | since 14 May 2021
 | [[Liam McArthur]], Liberal Democrats
   | since 14 May 2021
}}
| leader4_type       = {{nowrap|[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]]}}
| leader4            = [[John Swinney]]
| party4             = SNP
| election4          = 8 May 2024
| leader5_type       = {{nowrap|[[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]]}}
| leader5            = [[Kate Forbes]]
| party5             = SNP
| election5          = 8 May 2024
| leader6_type       = [[Minister for Parliamentary Business]]
| leader6            = [[Graeme Dey]]
| party6             = SNP
| election6          = 21 September 2025
| leader7_type       = [[Leader of the Opposition (Scotland)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| leader7            = [[Russell Findlay]]
| party7             = Conservative
| election7          = 27 September 2024
| seats              = 
| house1             =
| house2             =
| members            = 129
| structure1         = Scottish Parliament Diagram.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  = 
'''[[Swinney government|Government]] (60)'''
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=silver}} [[Scottish National Party]] (60)}}
'''Opposition (68)'''
:{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}|border=silver}} [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservatives]] (28)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Labour}}|border=silver}} [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] (21){{efn|Includes 10 [[Labour Co-op]] MSPs.}}
:{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Greens}}|border=silver}} [[Scottish Greens|Greens]] (7)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK, 2025)}}|border=silver}} [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]] (5)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=silver}} [[Reform UK]] ([[Graham Simpson (politician)|1]])
:{{Color box|{{party color|Independent}}|border=silver}} [[Independent_politician|Independent]] (6)
'''Other (1)'''
:{{Color box|{{party color|Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament}}|border=silver}} [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]] ([[Alison Johnstone|1]])
| committees1        = {{Collapsible list|title=[[Committees of the Scottish Parliament|17]]|Audit|Equal Opportunities|Europe and External Relations|Finance|Procedures|Public Petitions|Standards and Public Appointments|Subordinate Legislation|Economy, Energy and Tourism|Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture|Health and Sport|Justice|Local Government and Communities|Rural Affairs and Environment|Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme|Transport, Infrastructure,|Committee on The Scottish Government's Handling of Harassment Complaints against Former Ministers|Climate Change}}
| term_length        =
| authority          =
| salary             =
| voting_system1     = [[Additional-member system]] ([[Mixed-member proportional representation]])
| last_election1     = [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|6 May 2021]]
| next_election1     = [[Next Scottish Parliament election|On or before 7 May 2026]]
| redistricting      =
| motto              =
| session_room       = Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber 3.jpg
| session_res        = 250px
| session_alt        = Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament
| meeting_place      = [[Scottish Parliament Building]]<br />[[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| website            = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Politics of Scotland}}
The '''Scottish Parliament''' ({{langx|gd|Pàrlamaid na h-Alba}} {{IPA|gd|ˈpʰaːrˠl̪ˠəmɪtʲ nə ˈhal̪ˠapə|}}; {{langx|sco|Scots Pairlament}})<ref>{{cite web |title=Makkin Yer Voice Heard in the Scottish Pairlament |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/scots/makingYourVoiceHeard/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103122215/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/scots/makingYourVoiceHeard/index.htm |archive-date=3 November 2007 |access-date=10 February 2007 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SPCB Leid Policy |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/languagePolicy/SPCB%20Language%20Policy_Scots.pdf |access-date=10 February 2007 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720232141/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/languagePolicy/SPCB%20Language%20Policy_Scots.pdf |url-status=dead}}</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] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526191557/http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/getent4.php?plen=46309&startset=34713072&query=SCOTS&fhit=Scots&dregion=form&dtext=snd#fhit |date=26 May 2011 }}'''.</ref> is the [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolved]], [[unicameral]] legislature of [[Scotland]]. It is located in the [[Holyrood, Edinburgh|Holyrood]] area of [[Edinburgh]], and is frequently referred to by the [[metonym]] '''''''Holyrood'''''''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Parliament Word Bank |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/education/resources/teachingResources/wordBank.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051203012812/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/education/resources/teachingResources/wordBank.htm |archive-date=3 December 2005 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref> It is a democratically elected body and its role is to scrutinise the [[Scottish Government]] and legislate on devolved matters that are not [[Devolved, reserved and excepted matters|reserved]] to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Difference between Parliament and Government |url=https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/difference-between-parliament-and-government |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=www.parliament.scot |language=en}}</ref>

The Scottish Parliament comprises 129 members known as [[Members of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSPs), elected for five-year terms<ref>A five year term was set by the Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020, having been changed on two occasions previously (by the [[Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011]] and the Scottish Elections (Dates) Act 2016) from the four year term specified by the Scotland Act 1998.</ref> under the regionalised form of [[Additional-member system]] (MMP): 73 MSPs represent individual geographical [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|constituencies]] elected by the [[Plurality voting system|plurality]] (first-past-the-post) system, while a further 56 are returned as list members from eight [[Additional-member system|additional member]] regions. Each region elects seven party-list MSPs. Each region elects 15 to 17 MSPs in total.<ref name="ScotParlWorks">{{cite web |date=October 2014 |title=How the Scottish Parliament works |url=http://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/SP_HTSPW_English_Oct_14_web.pdf |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820113850/http://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/SP_HTSPW_English_Oct_14_web.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> The most recent [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|general election]] to the Parliament was held on 6 May 2021, with the [[Scottish National Party]] winning a plurality.

The original [[Parliament 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 |title=The Scottish Parliament – Past and Present |url=http://www.parliament.scot/EducationandCommunityPartnershipsresources/TimelineEnglishSept_2013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820113753/http://www.parliament.scot/EducationandCommunityPartnershipsresources/TimelineEnglishSept_2013.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref> As a consequence, the Parliament of Scotland and the [[Parliament of England]] were subsumed into the [[Parliament of Great Britain]].<ref name="HistoricalConnection" /> In practice, all of the traditions, procedures, and standing orders of the English parliament were retained, with the addition of Scottish members in both the [[House of Commons of Great Britain|Commons]] and [[House of Lords|Lords]].

Following a [[1997 Scottish devolution referendum|referendum in 1997]], in which the Scottish electorate voted for devolution, the powers of the [[devolved]] legislature were specified by the [[Scotland Act 1998]]. 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 "[[Devolved, reserved and excepted matters|reserved]]" to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. The Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate in all areas that are not explicitly reserved to Westminster.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Scotland Act 1998: Scottish Parliament Reserved Issues |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--t.htm#sch5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519074917/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--t.htm#sch5 |archive-date=19 May 2007 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)}}</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), p. 11.</ref> The first meeting of the reconvened Parliament took place on 12 May 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Parliament Official Report – 12 May 1999 |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-99/or010104.htm#Col7 |access-date=5 November 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=26 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226162954/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-99/or010104.htm#Col7 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament has been amended numerous times since then. The [[Scotland Act 2012]] and [[Scotland Act 2016]] expanded the Parliament's powers, especially over taxation and welfare. The purpose of the [[United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020]], the most recent amendment, is to constrain the powers of the devolved institutions<ref name=DouHu22>{{cite journal |last1=Dougan |first1=Michael |last2=Hunt |first2=Jo |last3=McEwen |first3=Nicola |last4=McHarg |first4=Aileen |author-link1=Michael Dougan |author-link3=Nicola McEwen |title=Sleeping with an Elephant: Devolution and the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 |journal=[[Law Quarterly Review]] |date=2022 |volume=138 |issue=Oct |pages=650–676 |url=https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3143668/ |location=London |publisher=[[Sweet & Maxwell]] |ssrn=4018581 |via=[[University of Liverpool|University of Liverpool Repository]] |access-date=4 March 2022 |quote=The Act has restrictive – and potentially damaging – consequences for the regulatory capacity of the devolved legislatures...This was not the first time since the Brexit referendum that the Convention had been set aside, but it was especially notable given that the primary purpose of the legislation was to constrain the capacity of the devolved institutions to use their regulatory autonomy...in practice, it constrains the ability of the devolved institutions to make effective regulatory choices for their territories in ways that do not apply to the choices made by the UK government and parliament for the English market. |issn=0023-933X |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906005703/https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3143668/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and restrict the exercise of devolved competences.{{refn|name=Reality|<ref name=MaMu22/><ref name=WolffeDevol/><ref name=DougEvi20/><ref name=DouganMcEwen20/><ref>{{Cite web |last=UKCLA |date=9 September 2020 |title=Kenneth Armstrong: Can the UK Breach the Withdrawal Agreement and Get Away With It? – the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill |url=https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/09/09/kenneth-armstrong-can-the-uk-breach-the-withdrawal-agreement-and-get-away-with-it-the-united-kingdom-internal-market-bill/ |access-date=20 May 2021 |website=UK Constitutional Law Association |language=en |quote=Albeit that its principal objective is to manage the free movement of goods, services and the recognition of professional qualifications in a post-Brexit UK where regulatory divergences may increase without the constraints of EU internal market law" |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520125925/https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/09/09/kenneth-armstrong-can-the-uk-breach-the-withdrawal-agreement-and-get-away-with-it-the-united-kingdom-internal-market-bill/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=LydgateEvi20/><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2020 |title=What Does a UK Internal Market Mean for Regulatory Divergence in the UK? |url=https://www.europeanfutures.ed.ac.uk/what-does-a-uk-internal-market-mean-for-regulatory-divergence-in-the-uk/ |access-date=20 May 2021 |website=European Futures |language=en-US |quote=At the heart of the architecture of the UKIM Bill are the so-called 'market access' principles – mutual recognition and non-discrimination. |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524123627/https://www.europeanfutures.ed.ac.uk/what-does-a-uk-internal-market-mean-for-regulatory-divergence-in-the-uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} Its effect is to undermine the freedom of action, regulatory competence and authority of the Parliament, limiting its ability to make different economic or social choices to those made by [[Government of the United Kingdom|Westminster]].{{refn|name=UKIM}}

== <span class="anchor" id="History of the Scottish Parliament">History</span> ==
{{main|History of Scottish devolution|Politics of Scotland}}
[[File:Old Royal High School (16281825549).jpg|thumb|right|Debating Chamber at the [[Old Royal High School]] in Edinburgh, the proposed location for the 1978 [[Scottish Assembly]]]]
Before the [[Treaty of Union 1707]] united the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] and the [[Kingdom of England]] into a new state called "[[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]", Scotland had an [[independence|independent]] parliament known as the [[Parliament of Scotland]]. Initial Scottish proposals during negotiations suggested that Scotland's parliament could continue to exist in the new union, but this was not accepted by the [[Kingdom of England|English]] negotiators.<ref>{{Cite news |year=1997 |title=The Last Parliament of Scotland 1703–1707 |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/1707.shtml#last |access-date=15 October 2006 |archive-date=8 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060108170613/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/1707.shtml#last |url-status=live }}</ref> For the next 290 years, Scotland was governed by the [[Parliament of Great Britain]] and the subsequent [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], both seated at Westminster.<ref name="Devolution">{{Cite news |title=The Devolution Debate (1997) – This Century |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/c20scot.shtml |access-date=13 October 2006 |archive-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117024940/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/c20scot.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Suggestions for a 'devolved' Parliament were made before 1914, but were shelved due to the outbreak of the [[First World War]].<ref name="Devolution" />A sharp rise in nationalism in Scotland during the late 1960s fuelled demands for some form of [[devolution|home rule]] or complete [[Scottish independence|independence]], and in 1969 prompted the incumbent [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government of [[Harold Wilson]] to set up the [[Kilbrandon Commission]] to consider the [[British constitution]].<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>{{cite news |date=1 January 2005 |title=Papers reveal devolution warnings |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4137765.stm |access-date=24 November 2006 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128203232/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4137765.stm |url-status=live }}</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 benefitting Scotland as much as they should.<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" /> Under the terms of the [[Scotland Act 1978]], an elected assembly would be set up in Edinburgh if the public approved it in a [[1979 Scottish devolution referendum|referendum be held on 1 March 1979]].<ref name = "1979 referendum"/> A narrow majority of 51.6% to 48.4% voted in favour of a Scottish Assembly, but the Act also required that at least 40% of the total electorate vote in favour of the proposal. As the turnout was only 63.6%, the vote in favour represented only 32.9% of the eligible voting population, and the Assembly was not established.<ref name = "1979 referendum">{{Cite news |year=1997 |title=The 1979 Referendums |publisher=The Holyrood Inquiry |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/79referendums.shtml |access-date=21 August 2006 |archive-date=11 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511072817/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/79referendums.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, demand 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 relatively few Conservative 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 such as [[Religion in Scotland|Scottish churches]], [[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>{{cite web |last=Peter Fraser |date=15 October 2004 |title=Events Prior to 1 May 1997 |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/inquiry/sp205-02.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024190756/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/inquiry/sp205-02.htm |archive-date=24 October 2004 |access-date=17 November 2006 |publisher=The Holyrood Inquiry}}</ref> Devolution continued to form part of the platform of the Labour Party which won power under [[Tony Blair]] in May 1997.<ref name="Devolution" /> In September 1997, the [[1997 Scottish devolution referendum|Scottish devolution referendum]] was put to the Scottish electorate and secured a majority in favour of the reestablishment of the Scottish Parliament, with tax-varying powers, in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Referendums – Scotland 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/referendums/Scotland1997.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207062754/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/referendums/Scotland1997.cfm |archive-date=7 December 2006 |access-date=17 November 2006 |publisher=The Electoral Commission}}</ref>

===Opening of the new Scottish Parliament===
{{main|Scottish Parliament Building}}
[[File:Scottish Parliament - 49188771378.jpg|thumb|The [[Scottish Parliament building]], opened in October 2004]]

An election was held on 6 May 1999, and on 1 July of that year power was transferred from Westminster to the new reconvened Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Bryn |date=8 October 1999 |title=House of Commons Research Paper – Scottish Parliament Elections: 6 May 1999 |url=http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP99-50 |access-date=2 July 2016 |publisher=House of Commons Library |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724154342/http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP99-50 |url-status=live }}</ref> While the permanent building at Holyrood was being constructed, a temporary home for the Parliament was found in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Kim |date=21 March 1998 |title=Parliament kept out in double blow for Glasgow |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/parliament-kept-out-in-double-blow-for-glasgow-1151377.html |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304195833/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/parliament-kept-out-in-double-blow-for-glasgow-1151377.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland|General Assembly Hall]] of the [[Church of Scotland]] on the [[Royal Mile]] was chosen to host the Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 July 1999 |title=Kirk's home hosts moment of history |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/378263.stm |access-date=14 November 2006 |archive-date=22 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722033202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/378263.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Official photographs and television interviews were held in the courtyard adjoining the Assembly Hall, 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 at [[Nye Bevan House|Strathclyde House]] in Glasgow,<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2000 |title=Glasgow's miles better for parliament |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/601940.stm |access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref> and to the [[University of Aberdeen]] in May 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Urquhart |first=Frank |date=12 September 2001 |title=Aberdeen first city outside central belt to host parliament |work=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/aberdeen-first-city-outside-central-belt-to-host-parliament-1-575634 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051547/http://www.scotsman.com/news/aberdeen-first-city-outside-central-belt-to-host-parliament-1-575634 |archive-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>

Since September 2004, the official home of the Scottish Parliament has been a new [[Scottish Parliament Building]], in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh. The Scottish Parliament building was designed by Spanish architect [[Enric Miralles]] in partnership with local Edinburgh Architecture firm [[RMJM]] which was led by Design Principal [[Tony Kettle]]. 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]] [[Skating Minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charles Jencks |date=January 2005 |title=Identity parade: Miralles and the Scottish parliament: On the architectural territories of the EMBT/RMJM parliament building |url=http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/Articles/view.php?id=23084 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009045338/http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/Articles/view.php?id=23084 |archive-date=9 October 2007 |access-date=7 January 2007 |publisher=Architecture Today no.154 p.32–44}}</ref> [[Crow-stepped gable]]s and the upturned boat skylights of the Garden Lobby, complete the unique<ref>{{cite news |title=Gallery – The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gall/0,,1299023,00.html |access-date=25 October 2006 |archive-date=21 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061221194356/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,,1299023,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> architecture. [[Queen Elizabeth II]] opened the new building on 9 October 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/events/holyroodOpening/index.htm |title=Opening of Holyrood |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=29 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504024309/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/events/holyroodOpening/index.htm |archive-date=4 May 2006}}</ref>

In September 2024, the Scottish Parliament celebrated its 25th anniversary, with the King and Queen in attendance.<ref name="BBCNews">{{cite web | last=Geddes | first=Jonathan | title=King speaks at Holyrood for Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary | website=BBC News | date=2024-09-28 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce81zlj4y2go | access-date=2024-10-01}}</ref><ref name="Herald2024">{{cite web | last=Carmichael | first=Josh | title=King and Queen to mark Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary | website=The Herald | date=2024-09-28 | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24616202.king-charles-mark-scottish-parliaments-25th-anniversary/ | access-date=2024-10-01}}</ref>

== Officials ==
{{main|Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament}}

[[File:Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of the Scottish Parliament.jpg|thumb|left|[[Queen Elizabeth II]] at the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999 alongside then [[First Minister of Scotland]] [[Donald Dewar]] and then Presiding Officer [[Lord Steel of Aikwood]]]]
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 in other legislatures, and two MSPs to serve as deputies. The Presiding Officer (currently [[Alison Johnstone]]) and deputies (currently [[Annabelle Ewing]] and [[Liam McArthur]]) are elected by a [[secret ballot]] of the 129 MSPs, which is the only secret ballot conducted in the Scottish Parliament. Principally, the role of the Presiding Officer is to chair chamber proceedings and the [[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Parliament: The Presiding Officer |url=http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/presiding-officer.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=2 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202025350/http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/presiding-officer.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> When chairing meetings of the Parliament, the Presiding Officer and his/her deputies must be politically impartial.<ref name="PresidingOfficer">{{cite web |title=About the Parliament: The Presiding Officer: The Presiding Officer |url=http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/99449.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=9 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609092837/http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/99449.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> During debates, the Presiding Officer (or the deputy) is assisted by the parliamentary clerks, who give advice on how to interpret the [[Parliamentary procedure|standing orders]] 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 |title=The Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/documents/Chamber.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029074244/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/documents/Chamber.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2006 |access-date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</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>{{cite web |title=About the Parliament: Corporate Governance: Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB): SPCB Remit |url=http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/18324.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617081755/http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/18324.aspx |url-status=dead}}</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 party 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="PresidingOfficer" />

The Presiding Officer controls debates by calling on members to speak. The Presiding Officer rules on [[points of order]] raised by members, which are not subject to debate or appeal. The Presiding Officer may also discipline members who fail to observe the rules of the Parliament.<ref name="PresidingOfficer" />

== Parliamentary chamber ==
[[File:Debating chamber, Scottish Parliament (31-05-2006).jpg|thumb|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.]]

The [[debating chamber]] of the Scottish Parliament has seating arranged in a [[hemicycle]], a design which is common across European legislatures, intended to encourage consensus and compromise.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 November 1997 |title=Horseshoe chamber shapes up Dewar says Scottish parliament design will not follow the confrontational template of Westminster |work=The Herald |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12350379.Horseshoe_chamber_shapes_up_Dewar_says_Scottish_parliament_design_will_not_follow_the_confrontational_template_of_Westminster/ |access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lockhart |first=David |date=19 February 2014 |title=Westminster and Holyrood: A tale of two parliaments |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25776433 |access-date=25 February 2017 |archive-date=20 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320053534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25776433 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are 131 seats in the debating chamber. Of the total 131 seats, 129 are occupied by the Parliament's elected MSPs and two 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, cannot vote.<ref>{{cite legislation UK |year=1998 |chapter=46 |act=Scotland Act 1998 |section=27 |access-date=17 January 2021 |date=19 November 1998}}</ref>

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 Governments|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/WHITDC_071013.pdf |title=The Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=17 January 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814124905/http://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/WHITDC_071013.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In front of the Presiding Officers' desk is the parliamentary [[ceremonial mace|mace]],<ref name="bbc mace">{{cite news |date=1 July 1999 |title=A symbol of authority |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/377090.stm |access-date=1 July 2016 |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516232823/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/377090.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> which is made from silver and [[inlaid]] with gold panned from Scottish rivers and inscribed with the words: ''Wisdom'', ''Compassion'', ''Justice'' and ''Integrity''.<ref name="mace">{{Cite web |date=15 July 1999 |title=Parliament Mace to go on display at the Museum of Scotland |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-99/pa0029.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907080409/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-99/pa0029.htm |archive-date=7 September 2006 |access-date=12 October 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref> 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="bbc mace" /><ref name="mace" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Donald Dewar's speech at the opening of the Scottish Parliament 1 July 1999 |url=http://www.parliament.scot/EducationandCommunityPartnershipsresources/The_New_Parliament_Levels_A-F.pdf |access-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816161907/http://www.parliament.scot/EducationandCommunityPartnershipsresources/The_New_Parliament_Levels_A-F.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> which has a ceremonial role in the meetings of Parliament,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.parliament.scot/business/businessBulletin/bb-99/bb-02-07an.htm |title=Business Bulletin 30/1999 Announcements |publisher=Scottish Parliament |website=archive.parliament.scot |date=2 July 1999 |access-date=12 April 2023 |archive-date=12 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412162519/https://archive.parliament.scot/business/businessBulletin/bb-99/bb-02-07an.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> representing the authority of the Parliament to make laws.<ref name="mace" /> Presented to the Scottish Parliament by the Queen upon Parliament's 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 ==
[[File:The Queen at the Scottish Parliament.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Crown of Scotland]] is carried by the [[Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton|Duke of Hamilton]] as Queen Elizabeth II leaves the [[Scottish Parliament Building#Debating chamber|Chamber]], following the Opening of the [[4th Scottish Parliament|fourth Session]] in July 2011.]]
Parliament typically sits Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from early January to late June and from early September to mid December, with two-week recesses in April and October.<ref name="Brief">{{cite web |title=Issue Briefs – Scottish Parliament guide |url=http://www.politics.co.uk/issuebrief/domestic-policy/scotland/scottish-parliament-guide-$447876.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230053/http://www.politics.co.uk/issuebrief/domestic-policy/scotland/scottish-parliament-guide-%24447876.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=16 October 2006 |publisher=Politics.co.uk}}</ref> Plenary meetings in the debating chamber usually take place on Wednesday afternoons from 2&nbsp;pm to 6&nbsp;pm and on Thursdays from 9:15&nbsp;am to 6&nbsp;pm.<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. Parliament TV is a webcast and archive of Parliamentary business back to 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament TV: Home |url=http://www.scottishparliament.tv/ |access-date=30 September 2016 |website=scottishparliament.tv |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519135525/https://www.scottishparliament.tv/ |url-status=live }}</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 transcript of parliamentary debates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Report terms of Reference |url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/98008.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |website=Parliamentary Business: Official Report: About the Official Report |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820115800/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/98008.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since September 2012, the first item of business on Tuesday afternoons is usually Time for Reflection<ref name="Reflection">{{cite web |title=Contributors to Time for Reflection – Session 4 |url=http://www.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets/Factsheets/Contributors_to_Time_for_Reflection_Session_4(1).pdf |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820125252/http://www.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets/Factsheets/Contributors_to_Time_for_Reflection_Session_4(1).pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> at which a speaker addresses members for up to four minutes, sharing a perspective 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 across Scotland and are chosen to represent the balance of religious beliefs according to the [[Census in the United Kingdom|Scottish census]].<ref name="Reflection" /> Invitations to address Parliament in this manner are determined by the Presiding Officer on the advice of the parliamentary bureau. Faith groups can make direct representations to the Presiding Officer to nominate speakers. Before September 2012, Time for reflection was held on Wednesday afternoons.<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="PresidingOfficer" /> 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 time if a large number of members wish to participate in the debate. Debate is more informal than in some parliamentary systems.<ref>Burrows, N. (1999), pp. 241–260.</ref> Members may call each other directly by name, rather than by constituency or cabinet position, and hand clapping is allowed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament: Chapter 7: Conduct of Meetings |url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/26516.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=2 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702000614/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/26516.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> Speeches to the chamber are normally delivered in English, but members may use [[Scots language|Scots]], [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]], or any other language with the agreement of the Presiding Officer.<ref>{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Scottish Parliament Corporate Body |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/lang-pol.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903001940/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/lang-pol.htm |archive-date=3 September 2006 |access-date=11 October 2006 |website=Scottish Parliament Language Policy |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref> The Scottish Parliament has conducted debates in the Gaelic language.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 February 2000 |title=Scottish Parliament Corporate Body |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-00/pa00-013.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114132632/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-00/pa00-013.htm |archive-date=14 November 2005 |access-date=11 October 2006 |website=Scottish Parliament-Parliamentary Business |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref>

[[File:King Charles III addresses Scottish Parliament Sep 2022.jpg|thumb|left|King [[Charles III]] addresses the chamber of the Scottish Parliament in September 2022. The parliament's [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]], [[Alison Johnstone]], is seated in the centre and [[Queen Camilla]] to the far right.]] 

Each sitting day, normally at 5&nbsp;pm, MSPs decide on all the [[motion (democracy)|motions]] and amendments that have been moved that day. This "Decision Time" 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 vote by means of electronic consoles on their desks. Each MSP has a unique access card with a [[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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37450323 |title=How does Holyrood's electronic voting system work? |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=BBC News |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122042316/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37450323 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The outcome of most votes can be predicted since political parties normally instruct members which way to vote. Parties entrust some MSPs, known as [[whip (politics)|whips]], with the task of ensuring that party members vote according to the party line.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 February 2003 |title=Evidence from the Minister for Parliamentary Business – Scottish Parliament |url=http://www.comisiwnrichard.gov.uk/content/evidence/oral/scottishferguson/index-w.htm |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Richard Commission |archive-date=23 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923075715/http://www.comisiwnrichard.gov.uk/content/evidence/oral/scottishferguson/index-w.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> MSPs do not tend to vote against such instructions, since those who do are unlikely to reach higher political ranks in their parties.<ref>Kingdom, J. (1999), p. 373.</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="Kingdom2">Kingdom, J. (1999), p. 374.</ref> Thus, as with many Parliaments, the independence of Members of the Scottish Parliament tends to be low, and backbench rebellions by members who are discontent with their party's policies are rare.<ref name="Kingdom2" /> In some circumstances, however, parties announce "free votes", which allows Members to vote as they please. This is typically done on [[morality|moral]] issues.<ref>Kingdom, J. (1999), p. 375.</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 a member's 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.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

== Committees ==
{{main|Committees of the Scottish Parliament}}

[[File:Shona Robison before the Civil Justice Committee 2022.jpg|thumb|right|[[Shona Robison]], [[Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government]] before the Civil Justice Committee]]

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), p. 185.</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 take evidence from witnesses, conduct inquiries and scrutinise legislation.<ref name="Committee">{{cite web |title=The Scottish Parliament Committees |url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/committees.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=21 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721035817/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/committees.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Committee meetings take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning when Parliament is sitting. Committees can also meet at other locations throughout Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finance Committee to meet in Perth |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-comm-01/cfin01-002.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050321205926/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-comm-01/cfin01-002.htm |archive-date=21 March 2005 |access-date=22 November 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe)}}</ref>

Committees comprise a small number of MSPs, who look at specific subjects such as health, the economy or justice. They play a central role in the work of the Scottish parliament because, unlike the UK Parliament, the Scottish parliament is a single-chamber parliament. The committees can thus, consider and amend proposals for new laws, they can also propose new laws themselves. The committees can investigate any area that is within their remit and publish recommendations, and can also report on petitions that have been submitted by members of the public or groups.<ref name="Committee" /><ref name="CommitteeInfo">{{cite web |date=December 2014 |title=Scottish Parliament committees – what are they and what do they do? |url=http://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/SP_WDCD_-_English_-_December_2014.pdf |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820113131/http://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/SP_WDCD_-_English_-_December_2014.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> The current Mandatory Committees in the fourth Session of the Scottish Parliament are: Public [[Audit]]; Equal Opportunities; [[Politics of Europe|European]] and External Relations; Finance; Public Petitions; Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments; and Delegated Powers and Law Reform.<ref name="Committee" />

[[File:Scottish Parliament - Committee Room (5732688523).jpg|thumb|left|A Committee Room in the [[Scottish Parliament Building]]]]

Subject Committees are established at the beginning of each parliamentary session, and again the members on each committee reflect 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 in the fourth Session are: Economy, Energy and Tourism; [[Education in Scotland|Education and Culture]]; [[NHS Scotland|Health and Sport]]; [[Scots law|Justice]]; [[Local government in Scotland|Local Government and Regeneration]]; Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment; Welfare Reform; and [[Transport in Scotland|Infrastructure and Capital Investment]].<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 name="PrivateBillCommitteeMeetings">{{cite web |title=Bills explained: Private Bills |url=https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/about-bills/how-a-bill-becomes-an-act/private-bill |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</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" />

== Legislative functions and powers ==
{{main|Act of the Scottish Parliament}}
[[File:Scottish Parliament Act (cropped).JPG|thumb|After a [[Bill (law)|bill]] has passed through all legislative stages, it becomes an [[Act of the Scottish Parliament]].]]
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[File: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>{{cite web |title=Scotland Act preamble |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519073825/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#1 |archive-date=19 May 2007 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)}}</ref> governs the functions and role of the Scottish Parliament and delimits its legislative competence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 1999 |title=Scotland's Parliament – powers and structures |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/scotland_99/the_scottish_parliament/310036.stm |access-date=10 February 2006 |archive-date=18 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218234816/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/scotland_99/the_scottish_parliament/310036.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the establishment of the Parliament, there have been a number of changes to its legislative competence.

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.<ref name=":0" /> 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 |title=Parliamentary Business: Bills: Bills Explained |date=May 2015 |url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/30590.aspx |access-date=15 December 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220133119/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/30590.aspx |url-status=live }}</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 (or parties). Bills pass through Parliament in a number of stages before receiving royal assent, whereupon they become [[Acts of the Scottish Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bills: Bills Explained: Public, Private & Hybrid Bills Guidance: Guidance on Public Bills: Part 2: Stages of Bills – the general rules |url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/25685.aspx |access-date=15 December 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708205358/http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/25685.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Scotland Act 2012]] and the [[Scotland Act 2016]] extended the devolved competencies, including areas such as taxation powers, welfare and elections to the Scottish parliament. The [[United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020]] is intended to restrict the operation of devolved powers.{{refn|name=Inte|<ref name=MaMu22>{{cite book |last1=Masterman |first1=Roger |last2=Murray |first2=Colin |title=Constitutional and Administrative Law |date=2022 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=9781009158503 |pages=471–473 |edition=Third |chapter=The{{nbsp}}United Kingdom's Devolution Arrangements |quote=UK Internal Market Act 2020 imposed new restrictions on the ability of the devolved institutions to enact measures...mutual recognition and non-discrimination requirements mean that standards set by the legislatures in Wales and Scotland cannot restrict the sale of goods which are acceptable in other parts of the UK. In other words, imposing such measures would simply create competitive disadvantages for businesses in Wales and Scotland; they would not change the product standards or environmental protections applicable to all goods which can be purchased in Wales and Scotland. |doi=10.1017/9781009158497 |s2cid=248929397 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/constitutional-and-administrative-law/E1EB9FEDC43459C991E42BD945231DB5 |access-date=26 October 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504011056/https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/constitutional-and-administrative-law/E1EB9FEDC43459C991E42BD945231DB5 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=DouHu22/><ref name=WolffeDevol/><ref name=DougEvi20/><ref name=DouganMcEwen20/><ref name=LydgateEvi20/>}} The latter legislation, passed under the regime of [[Boris Johnson]], gives UK ministers extended powers to enforce mutual recognition of regulations across the UK, and the exemptions permitted for the devolved administrations are significantly less extensive than previous exemptions under the [[EU Single Market]] rules.<ref name=Keating21/> It both legally and practically restrains the legislative competence of the Parliament<ref name=WolffeDevol/> and undermines devolution.{{refn|<ref name=Gu23>{{cite book |last1=Guderjan |first1=Marius |title=Intergovernmental Relations in the UK: Cooperation and Conflict in a Devolved Unitary State |date=2023 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=London/New York |doi=10.4324/9781003349952 |isbn=978-1-032-39485-5 |pages=166–176 |s2cid=257877108 |quote=Since the act became law on 17 December 2020, the devolved administrations can continue to set standards for goods and services produced within their territory, but their rules do not apply to goods and services coming from other jurisdictions. They also must accept products imported into one part of the UK. This undermines their legislative autonomy and renders certain policies ineffective |url=https://www.routledge.com/Intergovernmental-Relations-in-the-UK-Cooperation-and-Conflict-in-a-Devolved/Guderjan/p/book/9781032394855 |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701053606/https://www.routledge.com/Intergovernmental-Relations-in-the-UK-Cooperation-and-Conflict-in-a-Devolved/Guderjan/p/book/9781032394855 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Keating21b>{{cite journal |last=Keating |first=Michael |title=Taking back control? Brexit and the territorial constitution of the United Kingdom |author-link=Michael Keating (political scientist) |journal=[[Journal of European Public Policy]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |location=Abingdon |date=2 February 2021 |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=491–509 |doi=10.1080/13501763.2021.1876156 |hdl=1814/70296 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free |quote=The UK Internal Market Act gives ministers sweeping powers to enforce mutual recognition and non-discrimination across the four jurisdictions. Existing differences and some social and health matters are exempted but these are much less extensive than the exemptions permitted under the EU Internal Market provisions. Only after an amendment in the House of Lords, the Bill was amended to provide a weak and non-binding consent mechanism for amendments (equivalent to the Sewel Convention) to the list of exemptions. The result is that, while the devolved governments retain regulatory competences, these are undermined by the fact that goods and services originating in, or imported into, England can be marketed anywhere.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lydgate |first1=Emily |last2=Anthony |first2=Chloe |title=Brexit, food law and the UK's search for a post-EU identity |journal=[[Modern Law Review]] |date=September 2022 |volume=85 |issue=5 |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |location=London |doi-access=free |quote=While the mutual recognition principle preserves devolved powers, rather than requiring that devolved nations conform with a wide range of harmonised standards (as they did in the EU), the Act undermines devolution simply because devolved legislation will no longer apply to all relevant activity in the devolved territory...Devolution is also undermined by the asymmetry of legislative authority...the UK Internal Market Act is a protected enactment, which devolved administrations are unable to appeal or modify, but which the UK parliament will be able to modify when legislating for England. |pages=1168–1190 |doi=10.1111/1468-2230.12735}}</ref><ref name=DouganMcEwen20b>{{cite report |last1=Dougan |first1=Michael |last2=Hayward |first2=Katy |last3=Hunt |first3=Jo |last4=McEwen |first4=Nicola |last5=McHarg |first5=Aileen |last6=Wincott |first6=Daniel |date=2020 |title=UK and the Internal Market, Devolution and the Union |url=https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/publications/uk-and-internal-market-devolution-and-union |quote=The market access principles undermine devolved competences in two ways...[they] significantly undermine the purpose of devolution, which was to enable the devolved nations and regions to legislate according to their own local needs and political preferences. |department=Centre on Constitutional Change |author-link1=Michael Dougan |author-link2=Katy Hayward |author-link4=Nicola McEwen |author-link6=Daniel Wincott |publisher=[[University of Edinburgh]]; [[University of Aberdeen]] |pages=2–3 |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018185830/https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/publications/uk-and-internal-market-devolution-and-union |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Arm22>{{cite journal |last1=Armstrong |first1=Kenneth A. |title=The Governance of Economic Unionism after the United Kingdom Internal Market Act |journal=[[Modern Law Review]] |date=May 2022 |volume=85 |issue=3 |pages=635–660 |doi=10.1111/1468-2230.12706 |doi-access=free |location=Oxford |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |quote=So when used to disapply relevant requirements in a destination devolved jurisdiction the effect is different from that generated by the devolution statutes when they treat rules that are outside of competence as being "not law". In this way, the legislative competence of each jurisdiction is formally maintained, but its exercise constrained by the extraterritorial reach of regulatory norms applicable elsewhere in the UK and by the potential for regulatory competition where local producers are subject to local rules but competing goods can enter that market in compliance with the regulatory standards from where they originate...the UKIM Act 2020 allows extraterritorial application of rules that reflect different preferences or even undermines local preferences through regulatory competition, its effects are not insignificant for devolved legislatures.}}</ref>}} The business secretary tacitly acknowledged this fact in the [[impact assessment]] that the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy|BEIS department]] was obliged to publish alongside the bill, which states: "The final cost of this legislation is the potentially reduced ability for different parts of the UK to achieve local policy benefits. While this legislation does not constrain the ability of different parts of the UK to introduce distinct policies, to the extent that those policies may be enforceable on a reduced number of businesses might make it harder to realise fully the benefits of those policies."<ref>{{cite report |publisher=Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |date=9 September 2020 |title=UK Internal Market Bill: Impact Assessment |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0177/UK%20Internal%20Market%20Bill%20Impact%20Assessment%2008092020.pdf |page=8 |access-date=29 January 2022 |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110002132/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0177/UK%20Internal%20Market%20Bill%20Impact%20Assessment%2008092020.pdf |url-status=live }} Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.</ref> Although the UK Government stated on publication that the proposed bill sought to "protect the integrity of the UK's single market",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Alok |date=16 July 2020 |title=Policy paper: UK internal market |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-internal-market/uk-internal-market |access-date=16 May 2021 |website=GOV.UK |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413112822/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-internal-market/uk-internal-market |url-status=live }}</ref> the legislation has been heavily criticised for its dealings with the devolved nations. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the bill a "full frontal assault on devolution".<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 September 2020 |title=UK internal market bill a 'full frontal assault on devolution', Nicola Sturgeon says |url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,uk-internal-market-bill-a-full-frontal-assault-on-devolution-nicola-sturgeon-says |access-date=16 May 2021 |website=Holyrood Website |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505223144/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,uk-internal-market-bill-a-full-frontal-assault-on-devolution-nicola-sturgeon-says |url-status=live }}</ref> The legislation undermines the freedom of action,<ref name="lawscot.org.uk">{{cite journal |last=Livingstone |first=Charles |title=Brexit, the UK Internal Market Bill and devolution |url=https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-65-issue-10/brexit-the-uk-internal-market-bill-and-devolution/ |date=19 October 2020 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=[[Law Society of Scotland]] |journal=Journal of the Law Society of Scotland |language=en |volume=65 |issue=10 |quote=These proposed restrictions on the post-Brexit freedom of action of the devolved institutions, including the Scottish Parliament, have created controversy. |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801053727/https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-65-issue-10/brexit-the-uk-internal-market-bill-and-devolution/ |url-status=live }}</ref> regulatory competence and authority of the Parliament, limiting its ability to make different economic or social choices from those made in Westminster, and to focus and plan investment in infrastructure in Scotland.{{refn|name=UKIM|<ref name=Keating21>{{cite journal |last=Keating |first=Michael |title=Taking back control? Brexit and the territorial constitution of the United Kingdom |author-link=Michael Keating (political scientist) |journal=[[Journal of European Public Policy]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |location=Abingdon |date=2 February 2021 |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=491–509 |doi=10.1080/13501763.2021.1876156 |hdl=1814/70296 |hdl-access=free |doi-access=free |quote=The UK Internal Market Act gives ministers sweeping powers to enforce mutual recognition and non-discrimination across the four jurisdictions. Existing differences and some social and health matters are exempted but these are much less extensive than the exemptions permitted under the EU Internal Market provisions. Only after an amendment in the House of Lords, the Bill was amended to provide a weak and non-binding consent mechanism for amendments (equivalent to the Sewel Convention) to the list of exemptions. The result is that, while the devolved governments retain regulatory competences, these are undermined by the fact that goods and services originating in, or imported into, England can be marketed anywhere.}}</ref><ref name=KenMcEw21>{{cite journal |last1=Kenny |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Kenny (political scientist) |last2=McEwen |first2=Nicola |author-link2=Nicola McEwen |title=Intergovernmental Relations and the Crisis of the Union |doi-access=free |location=London |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]]; [[Political Studies Association]] |journal=Political Insight |date=1 March 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=12–15 |doi=10.1177/20419058211000996 |s2cid=232050477 |quote=That phase of joint working was significantly damaged by the UK Internal Market Act, pushed through by the Johnson government in December 2020...the Act diminishes the authority of the devolved institutions, and was vehemently opposed by them.}}</ref><ref name=WolffeDevol>{{cite journal |last1=Wolffe |first1=W. James |title=Devolution and the Statute Book |journal=[[Statute Law Review]] |date=7 April 2021 |doi=10.1093/slr/hmab003 |author-link=James Wolffe |location=Oxford |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |url=https://academic.oup.com/slr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/slr/hmab003/6213886 |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=121–136 |access-date=18 April 2021 |issn=0144-3593 |quote=the Internal Market Bill—a Bill that contains provisions which, if enacted, would significantly constrain, both legally and as a matter of practicality, the exercise by the devolved legislatures of their legislative competence; provisions that would be significantly more restrictive of the powers of the Scottish Parliament than either EU law or Articles 4 and 6 of the Acts of the Union...The UK Parliament passed the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and the Internal Market Act 2020 notwithstanding that, in each case, all three of the devolved legislatures had withheld consent. |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421145355/https://academic.oup.com/slr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/slr/hmab003/6213886 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=DougEvi20>{{cite report |last=Dougan |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Dougan |title=Professor Michael Dougan: Evidence on the UK internal market bill |department=Finance and Constitution Committee |date=23 September 2020 |url=https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12840 |publisher=[[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]] |id=21st Meeting 2020, Session 5 |location=Edinburgh |quote=By imposing widespread obligations of non-discrimination and, more important, mutual recognition, the bill seeks to restrict the way that devolved competences operate in practice. |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021090800/https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12840 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=DouganMcEwen20>{{cite report |last1=Dougan |first1=Michael |last2=Hayward |first2=Katy |last3=Hunt |first3=Jo |last4=McEwen |first4=Nicola |last5=McHarg |first5=Aileen |last6=Wincott |first6=Daniel |date=2020 |title=UK and the Internal Market, Devolution and the Union |url=https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/publications/uk-and-internal-market-devolution-and-union |department=Centre on Constitutional Change |author-link1=Michael Dougan |author-link2=Katy Hayward |author-link4=Nicola McEwen |author-link6=Daniel Wincott |publisher=[[University of Edinburgh]]; [[University of Aberdeen]] |pages=2–3 |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018185830/https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/publications/uk-and-internal-market-devolution-and-union |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=LydgateEvi20>{{cite report |last=Lydgate |first=Emily |title=Dr Emily Lydgate, University of Sussex: Evidence on the UK internal market bill |department=Finance and Constitution Committee |date=23 September 2020 |url=https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12840 |publisher=[[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]] |id=21st Meeting 2020, Session 5 |location=Edinburgh |quote=In that context, even though the new powers might not be used, I expect that the UK Government wants the legislation to be in place before those statutory instruments come into force, in case the common frameworks fall apart. What we are seeing is the UK Government responding to a threat by trying to centralise power or create a system that will function in case there is a problem...For example, England might authorise a new active substance for pesticides, or a new GMO, and would then be able to freely export those products to devolved nations, even if they had controls domestically. In so doing, England could competitively undercut producers and in effect undermine permitted divergence. |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021090800/https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12840 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lawscot.org.uk" /><ref name=Dougan20Brief>{{cite report |last=Dougan |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Dougan |date=2020 |title=Briefing Paper. United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Implications for Devolution |url=https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/media/livacuk/law/2-research/eull/UKIM,Briefing,Paper,-,Prof,Michael,Dougan,15,September,2020.pdf |publisher=[[University of Liverpool]] |pages=4–5, 9–10 |location=Liverpool |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026161836/https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/media/livacuk/law/2-research/eull/UKIM,Briefing,Paper,-,Prof,Michael,Dougan,15,September,2020.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

Under the terms of the Scotland Acts, the Parliament of the United Kingdom agreed to devolve some of its responsibilities over Scottish domestic policy to the Scottish Parliament.<ref name="UKParliament">{{cite web |title=Devolution: UK Parliament |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/devolution/uk-parliament.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004074220/http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/devolution/uk-parliament.html |archive-date=4 October 2006 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Scotland Office}}</ref> The Scotland Act 1998 enabled the Scottish Parliament to pass [[primary legislation]] on these issues, and to hold the Scottish Government to account.<ref name="Cairney 2014">Cairney, Paul and Johnston, James, "What is the Role of the Scottish Parliament", Scottish Parliamentary Review, Vol. I, No. 2 (Jan 2014) [Edinburgh: Blacket Avenue Press]</ref> Although the Westminster Parliament retains the authority to legislate on devolved matters, under the [[Legislative consent motion|Sewell convention]] it is understood that it will not do so without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.<ref>{{cite legislation UK |year=2016 |chapter=11 |act=Scotland Act 2016 |section=2 |access-date=17 January 2021 |date=23 March 2016}}</ref>

===Powers of the Scottish Parliament===
All matters that are not specifically stated in Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act as [[Devolved, reserved and excepted matters|reserved matters]] are automatically devolved to the Scottish Parliament.<ref name="devolvedmatters">{{Cite web |title=Reserved and devolved matters |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/what-we-do/reserved-and-devolved-matters.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004074305/http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/what-we-do/reserved-and-devolved-matters.html |archive-date=4 October 2006 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Scotland Office}}</ref> The Scottish Parliament has powers over areas such as:

* [[Agriculture in Scotland|agriculture]], [[Fishing industry in Scotland|fisheries]], [[Animal welfare in the United Kingdom|animal welfare]], and [[Forestry in Scotland|forestry]]
* [[Environment of Scotland|environment]], [[Land registration (Scots law)|land registration]] and use
* [[food safety]] and food standards
* [[Consumer protection|consumer advocacy and advice]]
* [[Water supply and sanitation in Scotland|water and sanitation]]
* the [[Crown Estate Scotland|Crown Estate]]
* [[Economy of Scotland|economic development]] and [[inward investment]]
* [[Income tax in Scotland|income tax on non-savings and non-dividend income]]
* issue of [[Scottish Government]] [[Bond (finance)|bonds]] to finance capital investment
* [[Council Tax]], [[Business rates in Scotland|Business rates]], [[Air Departure Tax]], [[Land and Buildings Transaction Tax]], [[Scottish Landfill Tax]] and Scottish Aggregates Tax
* [[Education in Scotland|education]] ([[early childhood education|early]], [[primary education|primary]], [[secondary education|secondary]] and [[tertiary education|tertiary]]) and training
* [[Scots language]] and [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic language]]
* [[Healthcare in Scotland|health]] and [[Social care in Scotland|social care]]
* abortion law
* [[Scots law|legal system]], [[human rights]] and [[Legal aid#Scotland|legal aid]]
* [[Scots civil procedure|civil]] and [[Scottish criminal law|criminal]] law
* [[Courts in Scotland|courts and tribunals]]
* [[legal profession]]
* [[Police Scotland|police]] and [[Scottish Fire and Rescue Service|fire and rescue services]]
* [[Scottish Prison Service|prisons]] and [[parole]]
* [[air gun]] licensing
* [[Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom#Licensing law in Scotland|alcohol licensing]]
* hunting with dogs and dangerous dogs
* [[civil registration]], [[census]], [[demography]], [[statistics]], [[national archives]]
* [[Town and country planning in the United Kingdom|planning permission]]
* [[Local government in Scotland|local government]]
* [[Culture of Scotland|culture]], [[Sport in Scotland|sport]], [[Scottish art|the arts]], heritage and [[Tourism in Scotland|tourism]]
* parking controls, [[Transport in Scotland#Bus travel|bus policy]], concessionary fares, cycling, taxis and minicabs
* [[Transport in Scotland#Railways|railway services, franchising, and construction of new railways]]
* [[Transport in Scotland#Road network|road network]], [[trunk road]] management, [[Road signs in the United Kingdom|road signs]] and [[Road speed limits in the United Kingdom|speed limit]]s
* shipping, ports, inland waterways, harbours and [[Transport in Scotland#Ferries|ferries]]
* [[Housing in Scotland|housing]], [[Homelessness in Scotland|homelessness]] and [[Building regulations in the United Kingdom|building standards]]
* charities
* [[Onshore (hydrocarbons)|onshore]] [[petroleum]]
* heating and cooling
* [[bank holiday]]s
* [[Sunday trading]]
* welfare foods for pregnant women, mothers and children
* devolved [[social security]] benefits

===Reserved powers===
Reserved matters are subjects that are outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and are reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament.<ref name="powers">{{cite news |date=14 October 2002 |title=Devolution to Scotland |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2321531.stm |access-date=14 November 2006 |archive-date=23 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623063430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2321531.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> These include:

* [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|the constitution]]
* [[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom|foreign affairs]]
* [[Media of the United Kingdom|broadcasting]]
* [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil service]]
* [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|defence]]
* [[treason]]
* fiscal, economic and monetary policy, currency, government borrowing and lending, the [[exchange rate]] and the [[Bank of England]]
* [[Inheritance Tax in the United Kingdom|inheritance tax]], [[Value-added tax in the United Kingdom|value-added tax]], excise duties, [[Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom|motoring taxation]], [[United Kingdom corporation tax|corporation tax]]
* [[National Insurance]], [[Capital gains tax in the United Kingdom|capital gains tax]], income tax on savings and dividend income
* [[Pensions in the United Kingdom|pensions]]
* financial services and markets
* [[Misuse of Drugs Act 1971|drug policy]]
* data protection
* [[Firearms regulation in the United Kingdom|firearms]]
* [[United Kingdom immigration law|immigration]] and nationality
* national security
* betting, gaming and lotteries
* competition, intellectual property, import and export control, consumer protection
* product standards, weights and measures
* [[Telecommunications in the United Kingdom|telecommunications]]
* [[Postal services in the United Kingdom|post]]
* common markets for UK goods and services
* [[Energy in the United Kingdom|electricity, coal, oil, gas, nuclear energy]]
* employment and industrial relations, health and safety
* most aspects of [[Transport in the United Kingdom|transport]] safety and regulation
* [[Working Tax Credit]], [[Jobseeker's Allowance]], [[Income Support]], [[Child benefits in the United Kingdom|Child Benefit]], [[Child tax credit]], [[Housing Benefit]], [[Universal Credit]].<ref name="devolvedmatters" />

== Scrutiny of government ==
{{See also|Scottish Government}}
[[File:FMQ 2 September 2021.png|thumb|right|First Minister [[Nicola Sturgeon]] in the Scottish Parliament during [[First Minister's Questions (Scottish Parliament)|First Minister's Questions]]]]
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 |title=Making Your Voice Heard |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/myvhitsp/LeafletIndex.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211182617/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/myvhitsp/LeafletIndex.htm |archive-date=11 December 2007 |access-date=16 November 2007 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</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 |title=A Guide to Other Early Business of the Scottish Parliament, including Selection of a Nominee for Appointment as First Minister |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-99/pa0004.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051101105723/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-99/pa0004.htm |archive-date=1 November 2005 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</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 is made by the Sovereign.<ref name="Nominations" />

Several procedures enable the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the Government.<ref name="Cairney 2014" /> The First Minister or members of the cabinet can deliver statements to Parliament upon which MSPs are invited to question. 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>{{cite web |last=Jack McConnell |title=Statement by First Minister on the government's Legislative Programme |url=http://www.thescottishstandard.net/history/scottish-parliament-legislative-programme-2005 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117070535/http://www.thescottishstandard.net/history/scottish-parliament-legislative-programme-2005 |archive-date=17 November 2017 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Scottish Government}}</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>{{Cite web |title=Debate on Scottish Government's Programme |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-05/sor0906-02.htm#Col18773 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703034039/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-05/sor0906-02.htm#Col18773 |archive-date=3 July 2007 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament Official Report, 6 September 2005}}</ref>

Parliamentary time is also set aside for question periods in the debating chamber. A "General Question Time" takes place on a Thursday between 11:40&nbsp;a.m. and noon where members can direct questions to any member of the Scottish Government.<ref name="Brief" /> At 2:30&nbsp;pm, 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 noon and 12:30&nbsp;p.m. on Thursdays, when Parliament is sitting, [[First Minister's Questions (Scottish Parliament)|First Minister's Question Time]] takes place.<ref name="Brief" /> This gives members an opportunity to question the First Minister directly on issues under their jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 13 Statements and Parliamentary Questions |url=https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/parliament-rules-and-guidance/standing-orders/chapter-13-statements-and-parliamentary-questions |website=www.parliament.scot |access-date=29 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

Members who wish to ask general or themed questions, or questions of the First Minister, must lodge them with parliamentary clerks beforehand and selections are made by the Presiding Officer. Written questions may also be submitted by members to ministers. Written questions and answers are published in the ''Official Report''.<ref name="Brief" />

The first session of Leaders' Virtual Question Time, or virtual First Minister's Questions, was held on 9 April 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2020 |title=Scottish Parliament to hold Leaders' Virtual Question Time |url=https://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/114963.aspx |access-date=9 April 2020 |website=The Scottish Parliament |archive-date=8 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508125021/https://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/114963.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Members, constituencies and voting systems ==
{{main|Electoral system in Scotland}}
[[File:Scottish Parliament election map 2021.svg|thumb|right|300px|The Scottish elections are divided into two tiers.]]

Elections for the Scottish Parliament were amongst the first in Britain to use a [[Mixed-member proportional representation]] (MMP) system.<ref name="PR">{{Cite web |title=Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/devolution/parliament-and-executive.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004074201/http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/devolution/parliament-and-executive.html |archive-date=4 October 2006 |access-date=8 November 2006 |publisher=Scotland Office}}</ref> The system is a regionalized form of MMP,  known as the [[Additional member system|additional member]] system (AMS) of [[proportional representation]] in Britain. Under the system, voters are given two votes: one for a specific candidate and one for a political party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 April 2003 |title=Electoral system: How it works |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2840087.stm |access-date=17 January 2021 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117004759/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2840087.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The one vote is used to elect the local member; the other is grouped with votes from other districts in the region to compose party-proportional representation within the region. (There are no overall levelling seats.)

Of the 129 MSPs, 73 are elected to represent [[first-past-the-post]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions|constituencies]] and are known as "Constituency MSPs".<ref name="ScotParlWorks" /> 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 |date=2 April 2002 |title=Close of Consultation on Scottish Parliament size |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/release.php?id=3231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004081816/http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/release.php?id=3231 |archive-date=4 October 2006 |access-date=17 October 2006 |publisher=Scotland Office}}</ref> Given the geographical distribution of [[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 [[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Western Isles]] comprise a much smaller number of electors, due to their dispersed population.<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 by the plurality system.<ref name="PR" />

The remaining 56 MSPs, called "List MSPs", are elected by an additional members system, which seeks to make the overall results more proportional, countering any distortions in the constituency results. Seven list MSPs are elected from each of eight [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions from 2011#Electoral regions|electoral regions]], of which constituencies are sub-divisions:<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSPs |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/index.htm |access-date=17 October 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=21 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221184830/http://scottish.parliament.uk/msp/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]
* [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]]
* [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]]
* [[Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothian]]
* [[Mid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Mid Scotland and Fife]]
* [[North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|North East Scotland]]
* [[South Scotland]]
* [[West Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|West Scotland]]

[[File:MSP Group Shot Dec2004-lg.jpg|right|thumb|The 2003 election's 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament; 73 represented individual constituencies and 56 represented eight additional member regions]]

Each political party draws up a list of candidates standing in each electoral region, from which the list MSPs are elected. Independents can also stand in regions, in which case they are treated as a one-person "list". Candidates can stand for both a constituency and a list; should they be elected for a constituency, this takes precedence and they are skipped over when apportioning seats from their party list.<ref name="AMSSystem">{{Cite news |date=2 April 2003 |title=Electoral System – How it works |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2840087.stm |access-date=22 October 2006 |archive-date=4 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904172645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2840087.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> If a list MSP later leaves the Parliament, the next person on the resigning MSPs' party's list takes the seat.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 May 2005 |title=Labour loses out in key Marginals |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/scotland/4514791.stm |access-date=14 November 2006 |archive-date=17 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050517184434/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/scotland/4514791.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Should a list MSP leave their party, however, they retain their seat and are not replaced. If an independent list MSP leaves the Parliament, they are not replaced and the seat is left vacant until the next general election.<ref name = "margo">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26883278 |quote=As Ms MacDonald was an independent MSP elected to Holyrood as a regional list member, there will be no by-election, and her seat will remain vacant until the next Scottish Parliament election, in 2016. |title=Independent MSP Margo MacDonald dies |date=5 April 2014 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 January 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406023045/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26883278 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The total number of seats in the Parliament is allocated to parties proportionally to the number of votes received in the second vote of the ballot using the [[d'Hondt method]]. For example, to determine who is awarded the first list seat, the number of list votes cast for each party is divided by one plus the number of seats the party won in the region (at this point just constituency seats). The party with the highest quotient is awarded the seat, which is then added to its constituency seats in allocating the second seat. This is repeated [[Iterated function|iteratively]] until all available list seats are allocated.<ref name="AMSSystem" /> As the allocation of seats to parties mirrors the popular vote, it is commonplace for the most successful party in the election not to win an outright majority of the seats, thereby requiring them to  seek some form and level of cross-party support for their initiatives in government. Nonetheless, the 2011 election saw the SNP become the first–and to date, only–party to win a majority government.<ref>{{cite web |title=SNP wins majority in Scottish elections |date=6 May 2011 |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/alex-salmonds-snp-wins-majority-in-scottish-elections |access-date=12 July 2011 |publisher=channel4.com |archive-date=12 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712205311/http://www.channel4.com/news/alex-salmonds-snp-wins-majority-in-scottish-elections |url-status=live }}</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>{{cite web |title=Electoral Administration Act 2006 |url=http://www.dca.gov.uk/legist/electroadmin_factsheet.pdf |access-date=6 February 2007 |publisher=Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) |archive-date=5 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205155605/http://www.dca.gov.uk/legist/electroadmin_factsheet.pdf |url-status=live }} ''The Electoral Administration Act 2006, reduced the age of candidacy in the United Kingdom from 21 to 18.''</ref> and must be a [[citizen of the United Kingdom]], the Republic of Ireland, one of the countries in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], a citizen of a [[British overseas territory]], or a [[European Union]] citizen resident in the UK.<ref name="Disqualifications">{{cite web |title=Scotland Act 1998, Section 15, Disqualification from membership of Parliament |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--b.htm#15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525094355/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--b.htm#15 |archive-date=25 May 2007 |access-date=1 November 2006 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)}}</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 he or she is judged to be insane under the terms of the [[Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003]].<ref name="Disqualifications" /> There is no legal prohibition on holding a [[dual mandate]], sitting in both the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons. However, while several members of the original Scottish Parliament held seats at Westminster, it is now rare; since 2011, only one MSP has served concurrently as an MP for a significant period of time.<ref>{{cite web |title=MSPs with Dual Mandates |url=https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/101080.aspx |website=www.parliament.scot |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=12 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312184724/https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/101080.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Priddy |first1=Sarah |title=Members of Parliament holding dual mandates |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04101/ |date=26 March 2021 |access-date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507135316/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04101/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Elections ==
{{see also|List of by-elections to the Scottish Parliament}}
{{Scottish Parliament election results graph (percentage)}}
Elections for the Scottish Parliament are for all 129 seats using the [[Additional Member System]]. There have been six elections to the Parliament, in [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]], [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]], [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]], [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011]], [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016]] and [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021]].

Under the Scotland Act 1998, ordinary general elections for the Scottish Parliament are held on the first Thursday in May every four years ([[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]], [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]], [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]] and so on).<ref name="ScotlandAct2">{{Cite web |title=Scotland Act 1998 – Section 2 Ordinary General Elections |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519073825/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#2 |archive-date=19 May 2007 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)}}</ref> The date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by the Monarch 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>{{Cite web |title=Scotland Act 1998 – Section 46 Choice of the First Minister |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--d.htm#46 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031023519/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--d.htm#46 |archive-date=31 October 2007 |access-date=10 May 2007 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)}}</ref> the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the Monarch 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>{{Cite web |title=Scotland Act 1998 – Section 3 Extraordinary General Elections |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519073825/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#3 |archive-date=19 May 2007 |access-date=14 November 2006 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)}}</ref>

The latest Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 6 May 2021.<ref name="dates act">{{Cite web |title=Scottish Elections (Dates) Act 2016 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/13/enacted?view=plain |access-date=7 May 2016 |publisher=legislation.gov.uk |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025035903/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/13/enacted?view=plain |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the [[Scotland Act 1998]], an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament would normally have been held on the first Thursday in May four years after the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016 election]], i.e. in May 2020.<ref name="ScotlandAct1">{{Cite web |title=Scotland Act 1998 – Section 2 Ordinary General Elections |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#2 |access-date=8 May 2007 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |archive-date=19 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519073825/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80046--a.htm#2 |url-status=live }}</ref> This would have coincided with the proposed date of the next United Kingdom general election until an early UK election was called [[2017 United Kingdom general election|in 2017]].<ref name="clash">{{Cite press release |title=Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill published |date=18 November 2015 |publisher=Scottish Government |url=http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scottish-Elections-Dates-Bill-published-1f67.aspx |access-date=6 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604112556/http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scottish-Elections-Dates-Bill-published-1f67.aspx |archive-date=4 June 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2015, the Scottish Government published a Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill, which proposed to extend the term of the Parliament to five years.<ref name="clash" /> That Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 25 February 2016 and received Royal Assent on 30 March 2016, setting the new date for the election as 6 May 2021.<ref name="dates act" />

Citizens of the UK, Ireland, [[EU member states]] and other countries who have permission to enter or remain in the UK (or who do not need such permission), and are resident in Scotland, are entitled to vote. The minimum voting age is 16.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-02/Your%20Scottish%20Parliament%20election%20voting%20guide%20May%202021.pdf |title=Your Scottish Parliament election voting guide |date=2021 |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=11 May 2021 |archive-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429153038/https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-02/Your%20Scottish%20Parliament%20election%20voting%20guide%20May%202021.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> This differs from elections to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|the Westminster parliament]], which are restricted to citizens of the UK, Ireland and qualifying [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] citizens, with a minimum voting age of 18. Citizens of other non-[[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[EU member states]] who are resident in Scotland have been entitled to vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament since 1999. Since this date, the franchise has been further extended, with a two-thirds majority being required to make changes to the franchise under the Scotland Act 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/elections-representation-franchise-bill/ |title=New Bill to extend electoral franchise |date=21 June 2019 |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=11 May 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513191513/https://www.gov.scot/news/elections-representation-franchise-bill/ |url-status=live }}</ref> From the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016]] election, the franchise for Scottish Parliament elections was expanded to include 16- and 17-year-olds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 June 2015 |title=Cut in Scottish voting age passed unanimously |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-33173488 |access-date=8 May 2016 |archive-date=7 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407010142/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-33173488 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, the Scottish Parliament voted to extend the right to vote in Scotland to all foreign nationals with leave to remain (limited or indefinite).<ref name="scot2020">{{Cite web |date=20 February 2020 |title=Right to vote extended |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/right-to-vote-extended/ |access-date=21 February 2020 |website=[[Scottish Government]] |archive-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316171031/https://www.gov.scot/news/right-to-vote-extended/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Criticism ==
{{for|criticisms of the Scottish Parliament Building|Scottish Parliament Building#Controversy}}
The resignation of [[Henry McLeish]] as First Minister, brought on by an [[Officegate|office expenses scandal]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 November 2001 |title=Text of Henry McLeish's resignation speech to the Scottish Parliament |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/nov/09/uk.scotland2 |access-date=14 November 2006 |archive-date=27 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127170154/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/scotland/story/0,,590307,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> generated controversy in the first years of the Scottish Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=David McCrone |date=8 April 2003 |title=Peeblin' Wi' Stanes: Assessing the Scottish Parliament, 1999–2003 |url=http://www.institute-of-governance.org/onlinepub/mccrone/assessingscotparl.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022021052/http://www.institute-of-governance.org/onlinepub/mccrone/assessingscotparl.html |archive-date=22 October 2006 |access-date=14 October 2006 |publisher=Institute of Governance}}</ref> Various academics have written on how the Scottish Parliament can be improved as a governing institution.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul Cairney |date=13 May 2013 |title=How Can the Scottish Parliament Be Improved as a Legislature |url=http://www.scottishparliamentaryreview.org/ |publisher=Scottish Parliamentary Review |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711095923/http://www.scottishparliamentaryreview.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== West Lothian question ===
{{main|West Lothian question}}

As a consequence of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish MPs sitting in the [[UK House of Commons]] are 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 phenomenon is known as the [[West Lothian question]] and has led to criticism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oonagh Gay |date=26 June 2007 |title=The West Lothian Question |publisher=House of Commons Research Paper |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02586.pdf |access-date=9 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102063652/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02586.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=2 January 2007}}</ref> Following the Conservative victory in the [[2015 UK election]], [[Parliamentary procedure|standing orders]] of the House of Commons were changed to give MPs representing English constituencies a new "veto" over laws only affecting England, known as [[English votes for English laws]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2 July 2015 |title=New 'veto' announced for English MPs |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33351688 |access-date=4 July 2015 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003408/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33351688 |url-status=live }}</ref> The mechanism was abolished in 2021.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=Commons scraps English votes for English laws |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57828406 |access-date=11 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022053214/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57828406 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Abolition ===
Parties such as the [[Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party]],<ref>{{cite web |title=POLICIES |url=https://www.abolishholyrood.org/policy |url-status=dead |access-date=7 April 2021 |website=Abolish the Scottish Parliament |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421143150/https://www.abolishholyrood.org/policy}}</ref> the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP),<ref>{{cite web |last=MacKay |first=Donald |title=UKIP Scotland – The Scottish Parliament Manifesto 2021 |url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/f6e3b8c6/files/uploaded/UKIP%20Scotland%20Manifesto%202021%20v2.1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513163602/https://irp.cdn-website.com/f6e3b8c6/files/uploaded/UKIP%20Scotland%20Manifesto%202021%20v2.1.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2021 |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> and [[Scottish Unionist Party (1986)|Scottish Unionist Party]] (SUP)<ref>{{cite web |title=Campaign Issues |url=https://www.scottishunionistparty.co.uk/content/view/13/8/ |url-status=dead |access-date=12 April 2019 |website=The Scottish Unionist Party Proudly Scottish ~ Proudly British |archive-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412044348/https://www.scottishunionistparty.co.uk/content/view/13/8/}}</ref> have advocated abolition of the Scottish Parliament.

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References== 
{{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* 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.&nbsp;241–260
* Dardanelli, P. (2005): ''Between Two Unions: Europeanisation and Scottish Devolution'', Manchester University Press, {{ISBN|0-7190-7080-5}}
* Hassan, Gerry (1999): ''A Guide to the Scottish Parliament: The Shape of Things to Come'', The Stationery Office", {{ISBN|0-11-497231-1}}
* Hassan, Gerry (2019): ''The Story of the Scottish Parliament: The First Two Decades Explained'', Edinburgh University Press, {{ISBN|978-1-4744-5490-2}}
* 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|0-7486-1699-3}}
* Taylor, Brian (1999): ''The Scottish Parliament'', Polygon, Edinburgh, {{ISBN|1-902930-12-6}}
* 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|0-85976-412-5}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.scottishparliament.tv Scottish Parliament TV]

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