How the Scottish Parliament Works An easy read guide to the Scottish Parliament

Transcription

1 How the Scottish Parliament Works An easy read guide to the Scottish Parliament

2 2 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 An MSP talks to local people

3 3 What is the Scottish Parliament? The Scottish Parliament opened in It is made up of 129 people called Members of the Scottish Parliament, or MSPs. Most adults who live in Scotland can vote in an election to decide who their MSPs will be. Scottish Parliament elections are usually held every 4 years. Every person in Scotland normally has 8 MSPs who can speak for them. One MSP works for people in a constituency, or local area. The other 7 MSPs work for people in the region, or bigger area. The MSPs work together in Edinburgh, in the Scottish Parliament building, as well as in their own areas. The Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh

4 4 What can the Scottish Parliament do? The Scottish Parliament can make laws about lots of things that matter to people in Scotland. These things are called devolved matters. Here are some of the things the Scottish Parliament 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 September 2014 on Scotland becoming an independent country. A referendum is where people say what they think about a question by voting Yes or No. Although more people voted No, the Scottish Parliament will get to make laws about more things.

5 5 What can the Scottish Parliament not do? There are some things that the Scottish Parliament cannot make laws about. The laws about these things are made in London at the UK Parliament. These things are called reserved matters. Here are some of the things that only the UK Parliament 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) The UK Parliament, Westminster, London

6 6 What do MSPs do? MSPs meet with the public Meet local people You can contact any of your MSPs about things that matter to you. You can phone or write to one of your MSPs or you can go along to a local surgery. A surgery is when an MSP arranges to be somewhere at a certain time so that they can meet people face to face. Ask your library for details. Committees MSPs take part in committee meetings. A committee is a small group of MSPs who meet regularly to look at certain subjects. They can propose bills (suggest new laws). They also look in detail at bills that the Scottish Parliament is thinking of turning into laws. A committee meeting Debates MSPs go to meetings of the full Parliament in the Debating Chamber. These meetings are usually held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. One MSP has been chosen by the others to be in charge of meetings and debates in the Chamber. This person is called the Presiding Officer. Tricia Marwick MSP, Presiding Officer

7 7 Question Time MSPs go to Question Time several times each week in the Debating Chamber. This is when they can question the people who are in the Scottish Government. Daily business One small group of MSPs suggests the agenda for meetings of the Parliament. Another small group of MSPs makes sure the Parliament has what it needs to carry out its work. Anyone can watch MSPs in the Debating Chamber or at committee meetings. You can get tickets from the Visitor Information Desk or by calling or The Debating Chamber

8 8 How does the Scottish Parliament make laws? The Scottish Parliament decides what should happen in Scotland. It can make laws about devolved matters (page 4). A new law starts as a bill. A bill is a paper that gives details of what a new law will be, or what changes will be made to another law. Members of a committee talk about a bill The bill is given to Parliament. MSPs will discuss it in the Debating Chamber and vote for or against it. If most MSPs vote for the bill, it will then go to a committee to be looked at carefully. The committee can make changes to it. Then, MSPs discuss the bill again in the Debating Chamber and vote on it. If most of them vote to pass the bill, the Queen signs it and the bill becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament (a new law). The new law might not start straightaway. An Act of the Scottish Parliament

9 9 Here are some laws that the Scottish Parliament has made. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 This Act says that schools and local councils must give extra help to children who need it. The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 This Act makes it against the law to smoke in a public place. The Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 This Act makes it against the law for people without Blue Badges to park in the places marked for use by disabled people.

10 10 What is the Scottish Government? The Scottish Government is a group of MSPs from the political party that won the election. In the 2011 election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won the most seats, so there is an SNP Government. The Scottish Government decides how to do the things that the Parliament says should happen. The Scottish Government also decides how much money should be spent on devolved matters. The person in charge of the Scottish Government is called the First Minister. The other people in the Scottish Government are called Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers. The MSPs who are not part of the Scottish Government try to make sure that the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers do a good job. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister

11 11 What words mean Act Bill Debate Debating Chamber Election MSP Presiding Officer another word for a law. A law is a rule that everyone in the country must follow. a paper with details of what a new law should be or how a law should be changed. when all the MSPs meet to talk about things that matter to the people of Scotland. the large hall where all the MSPs meet for debates. when people vote for who they want to run the country. this is short for Member of the Scottish Parliament. An MSP is the person who wins a seat at the election and will speak for local people in the Scottish Parliament. the person who makes sure that all the MSPs follow the Scottish Parliament's rules.

12 How can I find out more? You can look at our website You can watch debates and committee meetings as they happen on the internet. If you do not have a computer, you can go to your local library. You can use the internet there and see documents that the Scottish Parliament has published. Public Information can help you find your local library. For more information about the Scottish Parliament, contact Public Information. Public Information, The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh, EH99 1SP or (Gaelic) You can also contact us using the Text Relay service. Text the Scottish Parliament on sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk Please contact us if you want the words in this leaflet in another format or language. Images on page 4 Copyright 2006 Photosymbols Ltd All other photos SPCB All rights /scottishparliament /scottishparl Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body th edition, November 2014 LC /14