Scottish Parliament

   Scotland did not have its own parliament between the passage of the Act of Union with England in 1707 and 1999. The present parliament was created by the Scotland Act of 1998. It is elected every four years by the additional member system, 73 members (Members of the Scottish Parliament, MSPs) being elected in constituencies under first past the post, the other 56 being chosen by a party list system (based on the European constituencies) which introduces an element of proportionality. Now located in the costly new Holyrood building, the Scottish Parliament was from the beginning of the debate on the form of devolution meant to be a very different body from that in Westminster. It was supposed to be less adversarial, to be based on power-sharing, to emphasise equal opportunities, to be open to consultation and embrace participation, and to operate through a strong committee system, so that much of its work would not take place on the floor of the chamber.

   Further reading: P. Lynch, Scottish Government and Politics, Edinburgh University Press, 2001