The country of Scotland was granted the limited ability to govern its own affairs in 1998, and the first term of the Scottish government began in 1999. This essay will be attempting to explain the events of 1979 and onwards that led to the establishment of our devolved government, the powers and functions of our Parliament and Executive, and the impact of devolution on life in Scotland. It will also describe the impact of the proportional representation offered by the Additional Member System of voting. Finally, this essay will look at arguments on the concepts of Devolution, Separatism, and Unionism as applied to Scotland, and which of Scotland’s major political parties support them.
The first referendum on the issue of Scottish Devolution …show more content…
It consists of 129 elected Members of Scottish Parliament (MSP’s) and is based in Holyrood. It serves the same function as the UK Parliament, proposing and passing legislature. However, it can only make decisions on devolved matters, such as Tourism, Education and Housing. It cannot create legislature based on reserved matters, such as Defence, Immigration and Employment. Only the UK Parliament is allowed to suggest and pass legislation on those issues (The Scottish Parliament,). If the Scottish Parliament considers an issue regarding a devolved matter to be better handled through UK wide legislation, they can referred up to Westminster. Devolution has allowed Scotland to make decisions on its own legislation in several areas important to its development. In some cases, legislation first passed in Scottish Parliament later goes on to be adopted down in Westminster for the whole UK. An example of this would be the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act in 2005, which made it an offence for people to smoke in enclosed areas, or for establishments to permit people smoking in those areas, which was then enforced UK-wide through the Health Act 2006 for England and Wales and the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 for Northern Ireland (ash.org, 2015). The idea that the Scottish Parliament can create legislation independently of the British Parliament could be seen as a challenge to its …show more content…
Because it is not divided into two houses with different priorities (like with the House of Lords and the House of Commons), the political process can be considered less complicated and confrontational than down in Westminster. This is also claimed to be reflected in the shape of Holyrood’s chamber benches, which is that of a horse-shoe, instead of the rectangular shape of those in Westminster, where the parties directly face each other (Lockhart, 2014). It attempts to be more open and public with its political processes, a value which is reflected in its more modern, less imposing building. It has yet to accumulate the plethora of traditions and oddities that surround the Westminster-based parliament.
The Scottish Executive is roughly analogous to the UK Executive, being responsible for enacting and enforcing legislation. Elections are held every 4 years. They are led by the First Minister (analogous to the UK's Prime Minister), who is nominated from among their MSPs. Like the Scottish Parliament, it is primarily concerned with devolved matters, but it is also obligated to enforce UK-passed legislation. Which party makes up the Scottish Government is decided by which party owns the most seats in
The first referendum on the issue of Scottish Devolution …show more content…
It consists of 129 elected Members of Scottish Parliament (MSP’s) and is based in Holyrood. It serves the same function as the UK Parliament, proposing and passing legislature. However, it can only make decisions on devolved matters, such as Tourism, Education and Housing. It cannot create legislature based on reserved matters, such as Defence, Immigration and Employment. Only the UK Parliament is allowed to suggest and pass legislation on those issues (The Scottish Parliament,). If the Scottish Parliament considers an issue regarding a devolved matter to be better handled through UK wide legislation, they can referred up to Westminster. Devolution has allowed Scotland to make decisions on its own legislation in several areas important to its development. In some cases, legislation first passed in Scottish Parliament later goes on to be adopted down in Westminster for the whole UK. An example of this would be the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act in 2005, which made it an offence for people to smoke in enclosed areas, or for establishments to permit people smoking in those areas, which was then enforced UK-wide through the Health Act 2006 for England and Wales and the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 for Northern Ireland (ash.org, 2015). The idea that the Scottish Parliament can create legislation independently of the British Parliament could be seen as a challenge to its …show more content…
Because it is not divided into two houses with different priorities (like with the House of Lords and the House of Commons), the political process can be considered less complicated and confrontational than down in Westminster. This is also claimed to be reflected in the shape of Holyrood’s chamber benches, which is that of a horse-shoe, instead of the rectangular shape of those in Westminster, where the parties directly face each other (Lockhart, 2014). It attempts to be more open and public with its political processes, a value which is reflected in its more modern, less imposing building. It has yet to accumulate the plethora of traditions and oddities that surround the Westminster-based parliament.
The Scottish Executive is roughly analogous to the UK Executive, being responsible for enacting and enforcing legislation. Elections are held every 4 years. They are led by the First Minister (analogous to the UK's Prime Minister), who is nominated from among their MSPs. Like the Scottish Parliament, it is primarily concerned with devolved matters, but it is also obligated to enforce UK-passed legislation. Which party makes up the Scottish Government is decided by which party owns the most seats in