| GLOSSARY OF TERMS |
| |
| Absolute
majority: a number of votes equivalent to more than
half of the total number of seats in the Parliament (in a
Parliament with 129 seats, 65 votes would be required to
obtain an absolute majority). |
| All-purpose
Committee: Committee combining the
"Standing" and "Select" Committee
roles at Westminster, and which therefore undertakes
Enquiries, considers legislation and scrutinises the
Executive. |
| Clerk of
the Parliament: Head Official and Chief Executive of
the Parliament administration. |
| Clerk to
a Committee: Official providing support to a
Committee of the Parliament. |
| Convener:
Chairperson of a Committee. |
| Derogation:
Exception made for a particular group with respect to a
piece of legislation. |
| Executive
Bill: Bill proposed by the party or parties forming
the Scottish Executive. |
| Financial
Legislation: Legislation authorising the Scottish
Executive to spend money. |
| First
Minister: Head of the Scottish Executive. |
| Intra
vires: Within the legislative competence of the
Scottish Parliament. |
| Legislative
Competence: Areas within which the Scottish
Parliament can legislate under the terms of the Scotland
Act 1998. |
| MSP:
Member of the Scottish Parliament. |
| Non-Executive
Business: Business proposed by parties who do not
form part of the Scottish Executive, or by independents. |
| Plenary:
Meeting of the full Parliament. |
| Presiding
Officer: MSP who chairs the Plenary and is
responsible for the orderly conduct of the Parliament
(similar to the Speaker at Westminster). |
| Primary
Legislation: Acts of the Scottish Parliament. |
| Private
Legislation: Legislation promoted through the
Parliament by private individuals/bodies. |
| Private
Member's Bill: Proposed legislation introduced by an
individual MSP. |
| Quorum:
Minimum number of Members required to be present for
business to be undertaken. |
| Recess: Times
when the Parliament is not meeting. |
| Scottish
Administration: Umbrella term for the Scottish
Executive, junior Scottish Ministers, certain
non-Ministerial officers (eg Registrar General), and
their staff. |
| Scottish
Block: Financial resources allocated each year to
Scotland by Westminster. |
| Scottish
Executive: Ministers of the new Scottish Government -
a First Minister, Scottish Ministers, Lord Advocate and
Solicitor General. |
| Junior
Scottish Ministers: MSPs appointed to assist the
Scottish Ministers. |
| Scottish
Law Officers: Lord Advocate and Solicitor General. |
| Scottish
Ministers: Ministers appointed by the First Minister,
with the agreement of the Parliament and approved by Her
Majesty The Queen. |
| Scottish
Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB): The body which
will provide the Parliament with property, services and
staff. |
| Secondary
Legislation: Legislation which can be made by the
Executive and others (eg Registrar General, Courts
(normally with Parliamentary approval)) implementing
policy already agreed by the Parliament in an Act, or in
an Act of the Westminster Parliament. Also known as
Subordinate or Delegated Legislation. |
| Standing
Orders: Rules governing the proceedings of the
Parliament. |
| Statutory
Instrument: A type of Secondary Legislation. |
| Subject
Committee: A Committee of the Parliament whose remit
will be to consider a particular policy area, and which
is not one of the mandatory Committees whose remit is
prescribed in Standing Orders. |
| Sub
judice: Issue currently subject to legal proceedings.
|
| Ultra
vires: Legislation outwith the competence of the
Scottish Parliament. |
