Scottish Parliament: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:47, 10 December 2024

The Scottish Parliament (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the capital city of Edinburgh, it is responsible for making decisions on a wide range of issues that affect the people of Scotland. The Parliament was established in 1999 following a referendum in 1997, where the people of Scotland voted in favor of devolution.

History[edit]

The Scottish Parliament was officially opened on 1 July 1999, marking the first time Scotland had its own parliament since the Acts of Union 1707, which unified the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England into the Kingdom of Great Britain. The establishment of the Parliament was a significant event in Scottish history, symbolizing a return of legislative powers to Scotland.

Structure and Function[edit]

The Scottish Parliament is a unicameral body, meaning it has a single legislative chamber. It consists of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), who are elected using an Additional Member System, a form of proportional representation. This system is designed to ensure a more equitable representation of political parties in the Parliament.

The Parliament has the power to legislate on a wide range of issues, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and the environment. However, certain powers, such as defense and foreign affairs, remain reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The Building[edit]

The Scottish Parliament building is located at Holyrood, at the foot of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Designed by the Spanish architect Enric Miralles, the building is noted for its unique and modern architecture, which has won several awards. The debating chamber, where MSPs meet to discuss and pass legislation, is a focal point of the building.

Front view of the Scottish Parliament building

Role and Responsibilities[edit]

The Scottish Parliament is responsible for scrutinizing the work of the Scottish Government, debating issues of national importance, and passing legislation. It also has the power to vary the rate of income tax in Scotland, a power known as the "Scottish rate of income tax."

Presiding Officer[edit]

The Presiding Officer is the speaker of the Scottish Parliament, responsible for maintaining order during debates, deciding who may speak, and ensuring that the rules of the Parliament are followed. The Presiding Officer is elected by the MSPs and must remain impartial.

First Minister[edit]

The First Minister is the head of the Scottish Government and is responsible for the overall direction and administration of the devolved government. The First Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the Parliament and is appointed by the Monarch.

Also see[edit]

Template:Scottish politics Template:Parliaments of the United Kingdom

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Scottish Parliament logo.svg|thumb]] [[File:ScottishParliamentFront.JPG|thumb]] [[File:Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of the Scottish Parliament.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Debating chamber, Scottish Parliament (31-05-2006).jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox legislature
+{{Infobox legislature
 | name = Scottish Parliament
 | native_name = Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
+| native_name_lang = gd
 | legislature = Unicameral
 | coa_pic = Scottish Parliament logo.svg
-| coa_res = 200px
+| coa_res = 150px
 | house_type = Devolved unicameral legislature
 | foundation = 1 July 1999
@@ Line 17: / Line 18: @@
 | voting_system1 = Additional member system
 | last_election1 = 6 May 2021
-| next_election1 = 2026
+| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
-| session_room = Scottish Parliament - Main Chamber.jpg
+| session_room = File:Debating_chamber,_Scottish_Parliament_(31-05-2006).jpg
 | session_res = 250px
 | meeting_place = Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 ==History==
-The concept of a separate Scottish Parliament dates back to the early 20th century, but it was not until the late 20th century that significant progress was made. The [[Scotland Act 1998]] was a pivotal piece of legislation that led to the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. The Act was passed by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] and received Royal Assent on 19 November 1998.
+The Scottish Parliament was officially opened on 1 July 1999, marking the first time Scotland had its own parliament since the [[Acts of Union 1707]], which unified the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England into the Kingdom of Great Britain. The establishment of the Parliament was a significant event in Scottish history, symbolizing a return of legislative powers to Scotland.
-The first elections to the Scottish Parliament were held on 6 May 1999, and the Parliament officially convened on 1 July 1999. The establishment of the Parliament marked a significant moment in Scottish history, as it was the first time since 1707 that Scotland had its own legislature.
+[[File:Her_Majesty_Queen_Elizabeth_II_at_the_opening_of_the_Scottish_Parliament.jpg|thumb|Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of the Scottish Parliament]]
 ==Structure and Function==
-The Scottish Parliament is a unicameral body, meaning it has a single legislative chamber. It consists of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). The Parliament operates under a mixed-member proportional representation system, known as the [[Additional Member System]]. This system combines first-past-the-post and proportional representation to elect MSPs.
+The Scottish Parliament is a unicameral body, meaning it has a single legislative chamber. It consists of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), who are elected using an [[Additional Member System]], a form of proportional representation. This system is designed to ensure a more equitable representation of political parties in the Parliament.
-The Parliament is responsible for a range of devolved matters, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport. It has the power to pass legislation on these issues and to scrutinize the work of the [[Scottish Government]].
+The Parliament has the power to legislate on a wide range of issues, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and the environment. However, certain powers, such as defense and foreign affairs, remain reserved to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]].
-==Presiding Officer==
+==The Building==
-The Presiding Officer is the speaker of the Scottish Parliament and is responsible for maintaining order during debates, deciding who may speak, and ensuring that the rules of the Parliament are followed. The Presiding Officer is elected by the MSPs and must remain impartial.
+The Scottish Parliament building is located at Holyrood, at the foot of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Designed by the Spanish architect Enric Miralles, the building is noted for its unique and modern architecture, which has won several awards. The debating chamber, where MSPs meet to discuss and pass legislation, is a focal point of the building.
+[[File:ScottishParliamentFront.JPG|thumb|Front view of the Scottish Parliament building]]
-==Committees==
+==Role and Responsibilities==
-The Scottish Parliament has several committees that play a crucial role in its work. These committees examine legislation, scrutinize the work of the Scottish Government, and conduct inquiries into specific issues. Committees are made up of MSPs from different political parties to ensure a balanced representation.
+The Scottish Parliament is responsible for scrutinizing the work of the [[Scottish Government]], debating issues of national importance, and passing legislation. It also has the power to vary the rate of income tax in Scotland, a power known as the "Scottish rate of income tax."
-==Legislative Process==
+==Presiding Officer==
-The legislative process in the Scottish Parliament involves several stages. A bill is first introduced and then goes through a series of readings and committee reviews. MSPs have the opportunity to debate the bill and propose amendments. If the bill passes all stages, it is sent for Royal Assent and becomes law.
+The Presiding Officer is the speaker of the Scottish Parliament, responsible for maintaining order during debates, deciding who may speak, and ensuring that the rules of the Parliament are followed. The Presiding Officer is elected by the MSPs and must remain impartial.
-==Devolution and Powers==
+==First Minister==
-The Scottish Parliament has devolved powers, meaning it can legislate on certain issues independently of the UK Parliament. These powers include areas such as health, education, and local government. However, some matters, known as reserved matters, remain under the control of the UK Parliament, such as defense and foreign affairs.
+The First Minister is the head of the Scottish Government and is responsible for the overall direction and administration of the devolved government. The First Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the Parliament and is appointed by the Monarch.
-==Elections==
+[[File:The_Queen_at_the_Scottish_Parliament.jpg|thumb|The Queen at the Scottish Parliament]]
-Elections to the Scottish Parliament are held every five years. The Additional Member System is used to elect MSPs, with 73 MSPs elected from single-member constituencies and 56 MSPs elected from regional lists.
 ==Also see==
 * [[Devolution in the United Kingdom]]
-* [[Scotland Act 1998]]
+* [[Acts of Union 1707]]
 * [[Scottish Government]]
-* [[First Minister of Scotland]]
 * [[Politics of Scotland]]
+* [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]
 {{Scottish politics}}
-{{UK devolution}}
+{{Parliaments of the United Kingdom}}
 [[Category:Scottish Parliament]]
 [[Category:Politics of Scotland]]
+[[Category:1999 establishments in Scotland]]
 [[Category:Devolution in the United Kingdom]]