Reading Time: < 1 minuteAs the Session 7 Parliament gets underway, SPICe will publish a series of blogs to help to explain how devolution works. This mini blogpost provides a central hub for this work to assist Members and others.
Tag: Parliament and Government
Scottish Parliament Committees
Reading Time: 5 minutesThis short blog provides information on the names and remits of Session 7 committees as well as the size of each and the political party of the convener and deputy convener. There are 16 committees (seven mandatory and nine subject committees).
The parliamentary week
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis short blog explains the Presiding Officer’s proposals for the parliamentary week.
The new Scottish Government
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis blog outlines the new Scottish Government and also provides information on junior Ministers.
Explainer: what is the role of a committee convener and how are conveners and deputy conveners chosen?
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis short blog looks at the role of committee conveners and the rules for how conveners and deputy conveners are chosen.
Explainer: what is the Parliamentary Bureau and who sits on it?
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis short blog explains what the Parliamentary Bureau is and who sits on the Bureau.
The King’s Speech 2026
Reading Time: 7 minutesThis blog provides an overview of the King’s Speech and focuses on its potential implications for Scotland. It also explains how the Scottish Parliament considers legislative consent memorandums for relevant UK Bills.
Explainer: how can parties work together to form a government?
Reading Time: 7 minutesSince 1999, Scotland has seen majority government, minority government, coalition government and government under a formal cooperation agreement.
This blog explains why and how different political parties can work together under different models to form a government and highlights previous examples.
Explainer: how is the Scottish Government formed after a general election?
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis blog explains how a Scottish Government is formed following a general election to the Scottish Parliament.
Explainer: how does the Parliament nominate a First Minister?
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis blog explains how the Parliament nominates a candidate for First Minister.