Government

Scotland is one of three devolved areas in the United Kingdom, that is, areas controlled by regional governments as well as the central British government. The Scottish Parliament assumed its full legislative powers on July 1, 1999. it has 129 members.

The Scottish government is led by the first minister, who is usually the leader of the political party that controls the most seats in the Parliament. He or she appoints the Scottish government, called the Scottish Executive that includes ministers appointed by the first minister. The Executive also has two legal officials: the lord advocate, the principal law officer of Scotland and the government's constitutional and legal adviser on Scottish affairs; and the solicitor general for Scotland, a junior law officer and deputy minister. The Scottish Parliament controls taxes and legislates on a wide variety of domestic issues, including health, housing, roads, social work, education and local government. The European Union's Common Agriculture and Fisheries Policies apply in Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom.

The areas controlled by the British Parliament and government are called “reserved issues”. Social security, European Union and international relations, defense, immigration, broadcasting, and abortion are included in reserved issues. Scotland elects 59 of the 646 members of the British House of Commons.