Scottish Parliament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scottish ParliamentPàrlamaid na h-Alba Scots Pairlament |
|
|---|---|
| 5th Parliament | |
 |
|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 12 May 1999 |
| Preceded by | Estates of Parliament (pre-1707) UK Parliament (pre-devolution) |
| Leadership | |
|
Presiding Officer
|
Ken Macintosh
Since 12 May 2016 |
|
Opposition groups
|
Jackson Carlaw, Conservative
Richard Leonard, Labour Patrick Harvie, Green Willie Rennie, Liberal Democrat |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 129 |
 |
|
|
Political groups
|
Government (61)
Opposition (67)
Presiding Officer (1)
|
| Committees |
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 and Climate Change |
| Elections | |
| Additional member system | |
|
Last election
|
5 May 2016 |
|
Next election
|
6 May 2021 or earlier |
| Meeting place | |
 |
|
| Holyrood, Edinburgh | |
The Scottish Parliament (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devolved national legislature of Scotland. It is in the capital city, Edinburgh. The Parliament is sometimes called "Holyrood".
The original Parliament of Scotland (or "Estates of Scotland") was the national legislature of the independent Kingdom of Scotland. It existed from the early 13th century until 1707. This was when the Kingdom of Scotland merged with the Kingdom of England under the Acts of Union 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Because of this, the Parliament of Scotland merged with the Parliament of England to form the Parliament of Great Britain, which sat at Westminster in London.
In 1997 there was a referendum where the Scottish people voted for Scotland to have a Parliament again. The current Parliament was established by the Scotland Act 1998. The first meeting was on 12 May 1999.
The Parliament is a devolved assembly, which means that some powers have been kept by the UK Parliament. The issues which the Scottish Parliament can make laws about are called devolved matters. The issues which the UK Parliament must make laws about are called reserved matters. Some examples of devolved matters are health and social services, education and housing. Examples of reserved matters are foreign policy, immigration and the constitution of the Scottish Parliament.
There are 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who are democratically elected. Members are elected for four-year terms. Most of the MSPs belong to political parties. Independent MSPs do not belong to a political party.
The number of MSPs from each party are:
| The number of people in the parties | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
| Party | Leader | Number of MSPs |
| Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | 63 |
| Scottish Conservative Party | Ruth Davidson | 31 |
| Scottish Labour Party | Richard Leonard | 24 |
| Scottish Green Party | Patrick Harvie | 6 |
| Scottish Liberal Democrats | Willie Rennie | 5 |
| Not part of a party (Independent) | None | 2 |
Images for kids
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The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood
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Enric Miralles' Scottish Parliament complex in Holyrood Park during construction. The building was completed in 2004. Above and behind the new Scottish Parliament is the neoclassical Old Royal High School, which was prepared for a previous devolved assembly, but never used.
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Official logo of the Scottish Parliament
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The public entrance of the Scottish Parliament building, opened in October 2004.
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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
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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.
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The Crown of Scotland is carried by The 16th Duke of Hamilton as Queen Elizabeth II leaves the Chamber, following the Opening of the fourth Session in July 2011.
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Private Bill Committees are set up to deal with the legislation required for major public sector infrastructure projects, such as the underground extensions to the National Gallery of Scotland in 2003.
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After a bill has passed through all legislative stages, it becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
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The result for the Kelvin constituency being declared at the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. Ordinary general elections for the Scottish Parliament are held on the first Thursday in May every four years.
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The 2003 election's 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament; 73 represented individual constituencies and 56 represented eight additional member regions
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[[Category:Scottish Parliament| ]
