How the Scottish Parliament WorksAn easy read guide to the Scottish Parliament

Picture: An MSP talks to local people

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Contents

What is the Scottish Parliament? Page 3

What can the Scottish Parliament do? Page 4

What can the Scottish Parliament not do? Page 5

What do MSPs do? Pages 6 and 7

How does the Scottish Parliament make laws? Pages 8 and 9

What is the Scottish Government? Page 10

What words mean Page 11

How can I find out more? Back page

What is the Scottish Parliament?

The Scottish Parliament opened in 1999.It is made up of 129 people calledMembers of the Scottish Parliament, or MSPs.

Most adults who live in Scotland canvote in an election to decide who theirMSPs will be. Scottish Parliamentelections are usually held every 4 years.

Every person in Scotland normally has 8 MSPs who can speak for them. OneMSP works for people in a constituency,or local area. The other 7 MSPs work forpeople in the region, or bigger area.

The MSPs work together in Edinburgh,in the Scottish Parliament building, aswell as in their own areas.

Picture: The Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh

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What can the ScottishParliament do?

The Scottish Parliament can make lawsabout lots of things that matter to peoplein Scotland. These things are calleddevolved matters.

Here are some of the things the ScottishParliament can make laws about.

Health Housing Social work Police and fire services Transport Education and training Farming, forestry and fishing

There was a referendum on 18 September2014 on Scotland becoming an independentcountry. A referendum is where people saywhat they think about a question byvoting Yes or No. Although more peoplevoted No, the Scottish Parliament will getto make laws about more things.

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What can the ScottishParliament not do?

There are some things that the ScottishParliament cannot make laws about.The laws about these things are made inLondon at the UK Parliament. Thesethings are called reserved matters. Hereare some of the things that only the UKParliament can make laws about.

The benefits system Defence (the army, navy and air force) Gambling and the National Lottery Immigration (people coming to live and work in the UK from other countries)

Picture: The UK Parliament, Westminster, London

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What do MSPs do?

Meet local peopleYou can contact any of your MSPs about things that matterto you. You can phone or write to one of your MSPs or youcan go along to a local surgery. A surgery is when an MSParranges to be somewhere at a certain time so that theycan meet people face to face. Ask your library for details.

CommitteesMSPs take part in committee meetings. A committee is asmall group of MSPs who meet regularly to look at certainsubjects. They can propose bills (suggest new laws). Theyalso look in detail at bills that the Scottish Parliament isthinking of turning into laws.

DebatesMSPs go to meetings of the full Parliament in the DebatingChamber. These meetings are usually held on Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Thursdays. One MSP has been chosen bythe others to be in charge of meetings and debates in theChamber. This person is called the Presiding Officer.

Picture: Tricia Marwick MSP, Presiding Officer

Picture: MSPs meet with the public

Picture: A committee meeting

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Question Time MSPs go to Question Time severaltimes each week in the DebatingChamber. This is when they canquestion the people who are in theScottish Government.

Daily business One small group of MSPs suggests theagenda for meetings of the Parliament.Another small group of MSPs makessure the Parliament has what it needsto carry out its work.

Anyone can watch MSPs in theDebating Chamber or at committeemeetings. You can get tickets fromthe Visitor Information Desk or by calling 0131 348 5200 or 0800 092 7600.

Picture: The Debating Chamber

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The Scottish Parliament decides what shouldhappen in Scotland. It can make laws aboutdevolved matters (page 4). A new law starts asa bill. A bill is a paper that gives details of whata new law will be, or what changes will bemade to another law.

The bill is given to Parliament. MSPs willdiscuss it in the Debating Chamber and vote foror against it. If most MSPs vote for the bill, it willthen go to a committee to be looked at carefully.The committee can make changes to it.

Then, MSPs discuss the bill again in theDebating Chamber and vote on it. If most ofthem vote to pass the bill, the Queen signs itand the bill becomes an Act of the ScottishParliament (a new law).

The new law might not start straightaway.

How does the Scottish Parliament make laws?

Picture: Members of a committee talk about a bill

Picture: An Act of the Scottish Parliament

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Here are some laws that the ScottishParliament has made.

The Education (Additional Supportfor Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004This Act says that schools and localcouncils must give extra help tochildren who need it.

The Smoking, Health and SocialCare (Scotland) Act 2005

This Act makes itagainst the law tosmoke in a publicplace.

The Disabled Persons' ParkingPlaces (Scotland) Act 2009

This Act makes itagainst the law forpeople without BlueBadges to park in the places marked foruse by disabled people.

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What is the Scottish Government?

The Scottish Government is a group of MSPs fromthe political party that won the election. In the 2011election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won themost seats, so there is an SNP Government. TheScottish Government decides how to do the thingsthat the Parliament says should happen. TheScottish Government also decides how muchmoney should be spent on devolved matters.

The person in charge of the Scottish Governmentis called the First Minister. The other people in theScottish Government are called CabinetSecretaries and Ministers.

The MSPs who are not part of the ScottishGovernment try to make sure that the First Minister,Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers do a good job.

Picture: Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister

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What words mean

Act another word for a law. A law is a rule thateveryone in the country must follow.

Bill a paper with details of what a new lawshould be or how a law should be changed.

Debate when all the MSPs meet to talk about thingsthat matter to the people of Scotland.

Debating Chamber the large hall where all the MSPs meet fordebates.

Election when people vote for who they want to runthe country.

MSP this is short for Member of the ScottishParliament. An MSP is the person who winsa seat at the election and will speak forlocal people in the Scottish Parliament.

Presiding Officer the person who makes sure that all theMSPs follow the Scottish Parliament's rules.

How can I find out more?

You can look at our website www.scottish.parliament.uk

You can watch debates and committee meetings as theyhappen on the internet.

If you do not have a computer, you can go to your locallibrary. You can use the internet there and see documentsthat the Scottish Parliament has published. PublicInformation can help you find your local library.

For more information about the Scottish Parliament,contact Public Information.

Images on page 4 © Copyright 2006 Photosymbols Ltd All other photos © SPCB All rights reserved.

Parliamentary copyright. © ScottishParliamentary Corporate Body 20144th edition, November 2014 LC

17661 - 11/14

Public Information, The Scottish ParliamentEdinburgh, EH99 1SP

0800 092 7500 or 0131 348 50000131 348 5395 (Gaelic)

You can also contact us using the Text Relay service.

Text the Scottish Parliament on 07786 209888

sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

@ScotParl

/scottishparliament

/scottishparl

Please contactus if you want the words in this leaflet inanother format or language.