Scottish Parliament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scottish ParliamentPàrlamaid na h-Alba Scots Pairlament |
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| 6th Scottish Parliament | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 12 May 1999 |
| Preceded by | UK Parliament (pre-devolution) Parliament of Scotland (pre-union) |
| Leadership | |
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Presiding Officer
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Alison Johnstone
Since 13 May 2021 |
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Minister for Parliamentary Business
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George Adam, SNP
Since 20 May 2021 |
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Opposition leaders
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 129 |
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Political groups
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Government (70)
Opposition (58)
Other (1)
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| Elections | |
| Additional member system | |
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Last election
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6 May 2021 |
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Next election
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On or before 7 May 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Scottish Parliament Building Edinburgh, Scotland |
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The Scottish Parliament (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba Scots: Scots Pairlament) is Scotland's law-making body. It is located in Holyrood, a part of Edinburgh, the capital city. People often call it Holyrood for short. This Parliament is made up of 129 elected members. They are called Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). MSPs are elected for five-year terms. They use a special voting system called the additional member system.
The Parliament has the power to make laws for Scotland. This power is called devolution. It means some powers from the main UK Parliament in London have been given to Scotland. The Scottish Parliament can make laws on many things. These include education, health, and justice. Other important matters, like defence, are still handled by the UK Parliament. The first meeting of the new Scottish Parliament was on 12 May 1999.
Contents
How the Scottish Parliament Started
Scotland used to have its own Parliament. This was before 1707. In 1707, Scotland and England joined to form Great Britain. After this, the Scottish Parliament stopped existing. Laws for Scotland were then made by the UK Parliament in London.
Over time, many people in Scotland wanted their own Parliament again. They wanted more control over Scottish matters. After World War I, there were ideas for a Scottish Parliament. In the 1960s, more people supported the idea of Scotland governing itself. This was called home rule.
A group called the Kilbrandon Commission looked into this in 1973. They suggested creating a Scottish Assembly. This Assembly would make laws for most Scottish issues. In 1979, people in Scotland voted in a referendum. A small majority voted for a Scottish Assembly. But not enough people voted, so the Assembly was not created.
Support for a Scottish Parliament grew in the 1980s and 1990s. This was because the UK government was often led by the Conservative Party. But Scotland itself elected very few Conservative politicians. In 1997, a new referendum was held. This time, most people voted for a new Scottish Parliament. They also agreed it should have powers to change taxes. The first election for the new Parliament was on 6 May 1999. On 1 July 1999, power was officially moved from London to the new Parliament in Scotland.
The Parliament Building
Since 2004, the Scottish Parliament has been in a new building. It is in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh. A Spanish architect named Enric Miralles designed it. He worked with a local firm called RMJM. The building has unique features. These include leaf-shaped parts and a grass roof. There are also walls made from stones from old buildings. The building was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in October 2004.
Where the Parliament Met Before
Before the Holyrood building was ready, the Parliament met in other places. From 1999 to 2004, it met in the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Sometimes, it had to move. For example, in May 2000, it met in Glasgow. In May 2002, it met in Aberdeen.
Parliament Leaders
After each election, MSPs choose a Presiding Officer. This person is like a speaker in other parliaments. They also choose two deputies. The Presiding Officer and deputies are chosen by a secret vote.
The main job of the Presiding Officer is to lead meetings in the main chamber. They must be fair and not take sides. They also make sure the Parliament runs smoothly. They help set the work plan for the Parliament. The current Presiding Officer is Alison Johnstone.
The Presiding Officer decides who speaks during debates. They also make decisions on rules. They can ask members to follow the rules if they are not.
The Debating Chamber
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The main room where MSPs meet is called the debating chamber. It has 131 seats. 129 seats are for the elected MSPs. Two seats are for Scotland's top legal officers. These officers are not elected MSPs, but they are part of the Scottish Government. They can speak in meetings but cannot vote.
The seats are arranged in a semicircle. This design is common in Europe. It is meant to encourage MSPs to work together. MSPs usually sit with others from their own political party. The First Minister and other government ministers sit at the front. The Presiding Officer sits opposite them.
In front of the Presiding Officer's desk is a special mace. It is made of silver and gold. It has words like Wisdom, Compassion, Justice, and Integrity on it. The mace shows that the Parliament has the power to make laws. It is displayed in a glass case. When a full meeting is happening, the mace is raised above the glass.
How Parliament Works
The Parliament usually meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This is from January to June and September to December. Meetings in the main chamber are usually on Wednesday afternoons and Thursdays. Anyone can watch the debates and committee meetings. You can also watch them online on Parliament TV.
At the start of Tuesday meetings, there is "Time for Reflection." A speaker talks for a few minutes about faith or beliefs. This is different from formal prayers. Speakers come from all over Scotland. They represent different religions.
The Presiding Officer decides who speaks in debates. They try to make sure all sides and parties get a chance to speak. Important speakers, like ministers, speak for longer. Other speakers have less time. MSPs can call each other by name. They can also clap. Speeches are usually in English. But MSPs can speak in Scots or Gaelic if the Presiding Officer agrees.
Every sitting day, usually at 5 pm, MSPs vote on proposals. This is called "Decision Time." A bell rings to call MSPs back to the chamber. MSPs vote using electronic consoles on their desks. Each MSP has a special card to identify them. The results are known very quickly.
Most votes follow party lines. Political parties tell their members how to vote. MSPs who vote against their party might face problems. But sometimes, parties allow "free votes." This means members can vote as they wish. This often happens on moral issues.
After Decision Time, there is a "Members Debate." This lasts for 45 minutes. It is a debate on a topic suggested by an MSP who is not a government minister. These topics are often about local issues or events.
Committees
Much of the Parliament's work happens in committees. Committees are important because the Scottish Parliament has only one chamber. This is different from the UK Parliament, which has two. Committees help MSPs check what the government is doing. They also help create new laws.
Committees are small groups of MSPs. They focus on specific topics like health, education, or justice. They listen to experts and gather information. They can suggest changes to new laws. They can also propose new laws themselves. Committees can investigate any topic in their area. They can also look at requests from the public.
There are different types of committees. Mandatory Committees deal with things like finance and public petitions. Subject Committees match government departments. For example, there is a committee for Education and Culture.
Sometimes, special committees are set up for private bills. These bills are proposed by people or groups outside Parliament. They are usually for big projects, like building new railways.
Making Laws and Powers
The Scotland Act 1998 sets out what the Scottish Parliament can do. It explains which areas the Parliament can make laws on. These are called devolved matters. Areas it cannot make laws on are called reserved matters.
When the Parliament wants to make a new law, it starts with a bill. A bill is a draft law. Bills can be introduced by the Scottish Government, a committee, or an individual MSP. Most bills come from the government. Bills go through several steps in Parliament. Once approved, they become Acts of the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Parliament's powers have grown over time. The Scotland Act 2012 and Scotland Act 2016 gave it more powers. These included powers over taxes and welfare. However, the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 has changed how some of these powers work. This Act aims to keep rules similar across the UK after Brexit. Some people believe it limits Scotland's ability to make different choices.
The UK Parliament in London can still make laws on devolved matters. But there is an agreement called the Sewell convention. This means the UK Parliament usually asks for the Scottish Parliament's permission first.
What the Scottish Parliament Can Make Laws On
The Scottish Parliament has powers over many areas. These include:
- Farming, fishing, and forests
- Environment and land use
- Food safety
- Water and sanitation
- Economic development
- Some income tax and other taxes (like Council Tax)
- Education (from early years to university)
- Scottish and Gaelic languages
- Health and social care
- Legal system, human rights, and courts
- Police and fire services
- Prisons
- Local government
- Culture, sport, arts, and tourism
- Roads, railways, and ferries
- Housing and homelessness
- Social security benefits (some)
What the UK Parliament Keeps Control Of
Some matters are reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Parliament cannot make laws on these. These include:
- The UK's constitution
- Foreign affairs (dealing with other countries)
- Broadcasting (TV and radio)
- Defence (the armed forces)
- Money, banking, and the economy
- Most taxes (like VAT and Corporation Tax)
- Pensions
- Drug policy
- Immigration and nationality
- National security
- Firearms
- Telecommunications and post
- Energy (electricity, oil, gas, nuclear)
- Employment rules
- Most transport safety rules
- Some social security benefits (like Universal Credit)
Checking the Government
The political party (or parties) with the most seats in Parliament forms the Scottish Government. After an election, MSPs vote for a First Minister. This person is the head of the Scottish Government. Usually, the leader of the largest party becomes First Minister. The First Minister then chooses other MSPs to be ministers. These ministers form the Scottish cabinet.
The Scottish Parliament has ways to check what the government is doing. The First Minister or ministers can make statements. MSPs can then ask them questions. For example, the First Minister gives a speech each year about the government's plans. Opposition leaders and other MSPs then ask questions about these plans.
There are also regular question times. On Thursdays, MSPs can ask questions to any government minister. There is also a special "First Minister's Question Time." This is when MSPs can ask the First Minister direct questions. MSPs must submit their questions beforehand. They can also send written questions to ministers. All questions and answers are published.
MSPs and Voting
Elections for the Scottish Parliament use a system called the additional member system (AMS). Voters get two votes. One vote is for a specific candidate in their local area. The other vote is for a political party.
- Constituency MSPs: 73 MSPs are elected to represent local areas called constituencies. Voters choose one person. The person with the most votes wins. These are called "Constituency MSPs." If a Constituency MSP leaves Parliament, a special election is held to replace them.
- List MSPs: The other 56 MSPs are called "List MSPs." They are elected from eight larger areas called electoral regions. This system helps make sure the total number of seats for each party matches the votes they received. Each party has a list of candidates for each region. If a List MSP leaves Parliament, the next person on their party's list takes their place.
The AMS system often means that no single party wins a clear majority of seats. This encourages parties to work together. However, in 2011, the Scottish National Party (SNP) was the first party to win a majority on its own.
To be an MSP, you must be over 18. You must also be a citizen of the UK, Ireland, a Commonwealth country, a British overseas territory, or an EU citizen living in the UK. Some people cannot be MSPs. These include police officers, soldiers, and civil servants.
Elections to the Scottish Parliament
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Elections for all 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament happen every five years. The last election was on 6 May 2021.
People who can vote in Scottish Parliament elections include:
- Citizens of the UK, Ireland, and EU member states.
- Citizens of other countries who have permission to live in the UK and are resident in Scotland.
- The minimum voting age is 16. This is different from UK general elections, where the voting age is 18.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento Escocés para niños
