Editing Scotland (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Scotland|Scottish Parliament|Scottish Government}}
{{further|Political parties in Scotland|Elections in Scotland|Electoral system of Scotland}}
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| image1            = King Charles III (July 2023).jpg
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| caption1          = [[King Charles III]]<br />[[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch]]<br />since 2022
| caption2          = [[John Swinney]]<br />[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]]<br />since 2024
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Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, a [[constitutional monarchy]] whose current sovereign is [[Charles III]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 July 2023 |title=Scotland marks the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla |url=https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-07-05/scotland-marks-the-coronation-of-king-charles-iii-and-queen-camilla |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=royal.uk |archive-date=27 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027134536/https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-07-05/scotland-marks-the-coronation-of-king-charles-iii-and-queen-camilla |url-status=live }}</ref> The monarchy uses a variety of styles, titles and other symbols specific to Scotland, most of which originated in the pre–union [[Kingdom of Scotland]]. These include the [[Royal Standard of Scotland]], the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom#In Scotland|royal coat of arms]], and the title [[Duke of Rothesay]], which is traditionally given to the heir apparent. There are also distinct Scottish [[Great Officers of State (United Kingdom)#Scotland|Officers of State]] and Officers of the Crown, and the [[Order of the Thistle]], a [[Order of chivalry|chivalric order]], is specific to the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2016 |title=Opening of Parliament: Procession of the Crown of Scotland |url=http://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/100237.aspx |access-date=9 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=2 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702110213/http://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/100237.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] and the [[Scottish Parliament|Parliament of Scotland]] are the country's primary legislative bodies. The UK Parliament is [[Parliamentary sovereignty|sovereign]] and therefore has supremacy over the Scottish Parliament,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Select Committee on the Constitution |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5802/ldselect/ldconst/142/14206.htm#_idTextAnchor033 |title=Respect and Co-operation: Building a Stronger Union for the 21st century |publisher=House of Lords |year=2022 |chapter=Parliamentary Sovereignty |access-date=27 October 2023 |archive-date=27 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027134536/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5802/ldselect/ldconst/142/14206.htm#_idTextAnchor033 |url-status=live }}</ref> but generally restricts itself to legislating over reserved matters: primarily some taxes, some aspects of social security, defence, international relations, and broadcasting.<ref name="Gate22">{{Cite web |title=Government of Scotland Facts |url=http://www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/government/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503130512/http://www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/government/index.html |archive-date=3 May 2010 |access-date=17 September 2014}}</ref> There is a [[Legislative consent motion|convention]] the UK Parliament will not legislate over devolved matters without the Scottish Parliament's consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sewel Convention |url=https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/sewel-convention/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=UK Parliament |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430144651/https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/sewel-convention/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Scotland is represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], the [[lower chamber]] of the UK Parliament, by 57 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (out of a total of 650).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary constituencies |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/constituencies/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=UK Parliament |archive-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202095932/https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/constituencies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They are elected to single-member [[Scottish Westminster constituencies|constituencies]] under the [[First-past-the-post voting|first-past-the-post]] system of voting. The [[Scotland Office]] represents the British government in Scotland and represents Scottish interests within the government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 August 2004 |title=Scotland Office Charter |url=http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/doc.php?id=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030185025/http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/doc.php?id=11 |archive-date=30 October 2007 |access-date=22 December 2007 |website=Scotland Office website}}</ref> The Scotland Office is led by the [[Secretary of State for Scotland|secretary of state for Scotland]], who sits in the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]].<ref name="jack2">{{Cite web |date=24 July 2019 |title=Alister Jack: What do we know about the new Scottish Secretary? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-49103859 |access-date=18 December 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218082821/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-49103859 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Labour MP [[Ian Murray (Scottish politician)|Ian Murray]] has held the position since July 2024.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 July 2024|title=Ian Murray: From lone Labour MP to Scottish secretary|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxe2xyv13g3o.amp|work=BBC|access-date=5 July 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Scottish Parliament - 49188771378.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Scottish Parliament Building]] in Edinburgh is the seat of the [[Scottish Parliament]] and its [[Committees of the Scottish Parliament|committees]]]]

The Scottish Parliament is a [[unicameral]] legislature with 129 members (MSPs): 73 of them represent individual constituencies and are elected on a [[first-past-the-post]] system, and the other 56 are elected in eight different electoral regions by the [[additional member system (Scottish Parliament)|additional member system]]. MSPs normally serve for a five-year period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 June 2020 |title=Parliamentary and local election terms extended |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/parliamentary-and-local-election-terms-extended |access-date=16 September 2020 |website=www.gov.scot |publisher=Scottish Government |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021124957/https://www.gov.scot/news/parliamentary-and-local-election-terms-extended/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Scottish Parliament has the most extensive [[Devolved, reserved and excepted matters|devolved powers]] amongst the [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolved parliaments]] in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web |title=The progress of devolution - Erskine May - UK Parliament |url=https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/4537/the-progress-of-devolution |website=erskinemay.parliament.uk |access-date=1 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and considered one of the most powerful devolved parliaments internationally.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Mundell speech: 20 years of Scottish devolution |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/david-mundell-speech-20-years-of-scottish-devolution |website=GOV.UK |access-date=1 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The largest party since the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]], has been the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP), which won 64 of the 129 seats.<ref name="2016 results">{{Cite web |title=Scottish Parliament election 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c37d28xdn99t/scottish-parliament-election-2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |website=BBC News |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011204736/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c37d28xdn99t/scottish-parliament-election-2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Scottish Conservatives]], [[Scottish Labour]], the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] and the [[Scottish Greens]] also have representation in the current Parliament.<ref name="2016 results" /> The [[next Scottish Parliament election]] is due to be held on 7 May 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2020/12/enacted#:~:text=Scottish%20Elections%20%28Reform%29%20Act%202020%202020%20asp%2012,and%20received%20Royal%20Assent%20on%208th%20July%202020 |access-date=9 May 2021 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509130926/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2020/12/enacted#:~:text=Scottish%20Elections%20%28Reform%29%20Act%202020%202020%20asp%2012,and%20received%20Royal%20Assent%20on%208th%20July%202020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Scottish Government]], which has been described as one of the most powerful devolved governments globally,<ref>{{cite web |title=5 reasons why Scotland is more powerful as part of the United Kingdom |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/5-reasons-why-scotland-is-more-powerful-as-part-of-the-united-kingdom |website=GOV.UK |access-date=1 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref> is led by the [[First Minister of Scotland|first minister]], who is nominated by MSPs and is typically the leader of the largest party in the Parliament. Other ministers are appointed by the first minister and serve at their discretion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2014 |title=People: Who runs the Scottish Government |url=http://www.gov.scot/About/People |access-date=11 January 2015 |publisher=Scottish Government |archive-date=25 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225061456/http://www.gov.scot/About/People |url-status=live }}</ref> As the head of the Scottish Government, the first minister is responsible for the comprehensive development, implementation and presentation of government policy, and is responsible for promoting the interests of the country at home and internationally.<ref>{{cite web |title=First Minister |url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/first-minister/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=24 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> [[John Swinney]], leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has served as the first minister since 8 May 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=First Minister swearing in ceremony |url=https://www.ros.gov.uk/about/news/2024/first-minister-swearing-in-ceremony |website=ros.gov.uk |publisher=National Records of Scotland |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

{{clear}}

=== Diplomacy and relations ===
{{Main|International relations of Scotland|List of consular missions in Scotland}}
{{see|Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom}}
[[File:First Minister meets President of Zambia (53802279691).jpg|thumb|left|First Minister [[John Swinney]] meets with [[President of Zambia]] [[Hakainde Hichilema]] at [[Bute House]], 2024]]

As leader of the Scottish Government, the first minister is a member of the [[Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom|Heads of Government Council]] and the [[Council of the Nations and Regions]], the bodies which facilitate intergovernmental relations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 December 2017 |title=StackPath |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/devolution-joint-ministerial-committee |website=www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206003835/https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/devolution-joint-ministerial-committee |url-status=live }}</ref> Foreign policy is a reserved matter and primarily the responsibility of the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]], a department of the UK Government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 February 2017 |title=Devolved and Reserved Matters – Visit & Learn |url=http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/Education/18642.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722092046/http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/Education/18642.aspx |archive-date=22 July 2017 |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref> Nevertheless, the Scottish Government may promote Scottish interests abroad and encourage foreign investment in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=gov.scot |archive-date=6 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606160325/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International |url-status=live }}</ref> The first minister and the [[constitution secretary]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs |url=https://beta.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/cabinet-secretary-culture-tourism-external-affairs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801221257/https://beta.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/cabinet-secretary-culture-tourism-external-affairs |archive-date=1 August 2018 |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=gov.scot}}</ref> have portfolios which include foreign affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development |url=https://beta.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/minister-international-development-europe |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=gov.scot |archive-date=23 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523091452/https://beta.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/minister-international-development-europe/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="assets.publishing.service.gov.uk">{{cite web |title=The Review of Intergovernmental Relations |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1046083/The_Review_of_Intergovernmental_Relations.pdf |access-date=30 May 2023 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024210943/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1046083/The_Review_of_Intergovernmental_Relations.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Scotland's international network consists of two Scotland Houses, one in [[Brussels]] and the other in [[London]], seven Scottish Government international offices, and over thirty Scottish Development International offices in other countries globally. Both Scotland Houses are independent Scottish Government establishments, whilst the seven Scottish Government international offices are based in [[List of diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom|British embassies]] or British High Commission offices.<ref name="report-2022-23">{{cite web |title=Scotland's International Network Annual Report 2022-23 |url=https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/corporate-report/2023/12/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23/documents/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23.pdf  |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=11 December 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211192122/https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/corporate-report/2023/12/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23/documents/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-international-network-annual-report-2022-23.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2023 }}</ref> The Scottish Government has a network of offices in Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Ottawa, Paris, and Washington, D.C., which promote Scottish interests in their respective areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International relations - gov.scot |url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/international-relations/ |website=gov.scot |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411115447/https://www.gov.scot/policies/international-relations/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, the country has a number of [[List of consular missions in Scotland|foreign diplomatic missions]], most of which are located in the capital city, Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Consular Corps in Scotland {{!}} Consulates in Scotland |url=https://www.consularcorpsscotland.org |website=CCS |access-date=9 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Henry McLeish and George Bush.jpeg|thumb|right|First Minister [[Henry McLeish]] meets with U.S. president [[George W. Bush]] at the [[White House]], 2001]]

The nation has historic ties to France as a result of the '[[Auld Alliance]]', a treaty signed between the Kingdom of Scotland and [[Kingdom of France]] in 1295 to discourage an English invasion of either country.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{Cite web |title=Scotland's History – The Auld Alliance |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/auld_alliance |publisher=BBC |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222152550/https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/auld_alliance/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The alliance effectively ended in the sixteenth century, but the two countries continue to have a close relationship, with a Statement of Intent being signed in 2013 between the Scottish Government and the [[Government of France]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish & French Connections |url=https://www.scotland.org/events/lorient-celtic-festival/scottish-french-connections |website=Scotland.org |access-date=8 January 2021 |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109233202/https://www.scotland.org/events/lorient-celtic-festival/scottish-french-connections |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004 the [[Scotland Malawi Partnership]] was established, which co-ordinates Scottish activities to strengthen existing links with [[Malawi]], and in 2021, the Scottish Government and [[Government of Ireland]] signed the Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Review, committing both governments to increased levels of co-operation on areas such as diplomacy, economy and business.<ref name="report-2022-23"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2005 |title=About us |url=https://www.scotland-malawipartnership.org/who-we-are/about-us |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=Scotland Malawi Partnership |archive-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801222745/https://www.scotland-malawipartnership.org/who-we-are/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="firstminister.gov.scot">{{Cite web |date=29 November 2016 |title=First Minister in Dublin: Day 2 |url=https://firstminister.gov.scot/first-minister-in-dublin-day-2 |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=First Minister of Scotland |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626001525/https://firstminister.gov.scot/first-minister-in-dublin-day-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Scotland also has [[Scandinavian Scotland|historical and cultural]] ties with the [[Scandinavian countries]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Tara |date=29 September 2022 |title=Arts festival celebrates Scotland's ties to Canada and Scandinavia |url=https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/highlands-arts-festival-celebrates-scotlands-ties-to-canada-and-scandinavia |access-date=13 October 2022 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=How DNA reveals Vikings never left Scotland – BBC REEL |date=6 June 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw3VbJ0RTcQ |language=en |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621152150/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw3VbJ0RTcQ&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Scottish Government policy advocates for stronger political relations with the [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] and [[Baltic states|Baltic]] countries, which has resulted in some Nordic-inspired policies being adopted such as baby boxes.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Heather |first=Alistair |date=17 May 2020 |title=Why Finns believe Scotland could become Nordic nation number six |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/alistair-heather-why-finns-believe-scotland-could-become-nordic-nation-number-six-2855748 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201165903/https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/alistair-heather-why-finns-believe-scotland-could-become-nordic-nation-number-six-2855748 |archive-date=1 December 2022 |access-date=25 September 2022 |website=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nordic Baltic Policy Statement |url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/europe/nordic-baltic-policy-statement/ |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=gov.scot |language=en |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112223310/https://www.gov.scot/policies/europe/nordic-baltic-policy-statement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Representatives from the Scottish Parliament attended the [[Nordic Council]] for the first time in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.parliament.scot/about/news/news-listing/presiding-officer-leads-holyrood-delegation-to-strengthen-links-with-nordic-council|title=Presiding Officer leads Holyrood delegation to strengthen links with Nordic Council|date=31 October 2022|website=parliament.scot|access-date=15 July 2023|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115033121/https://www.parliament.scot/about/news/news-listing/presiding-officer-leads-holyrood-delegation-to-strengthen-links-with-nordic-council|url-status=live}}</ref>

Scotland is a member of the [[British–Irish Council]], the [[REGLEG|Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power]] (REGLEG), the [[British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly]], the [[Council of European Municipalities and Regions]],<ref>{{cite web |title=National Associations |url=https://ccre-cemr.org/national-associations |website=CEMR CCRE |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref> the [[Inter-Parliamentary Forum]], the [[Congress of Local and Regional Authorities]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Détail pays - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities - www.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/congress/country?id=13 |website=Congress of Local and Regional Authorities |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref> the [[Commonwealth Parliamentary Association]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland |url=https://www.uk-cpa.org/where-we-work/americas-caribbean-europe/scotland |website=UK-CPA |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2011 |title=Scotland / Alba |url=http://www.britishirishcouncil.org/member-administrations/scotland-alba |access-date=4 May 2013 |publisher=British-Irish Council |archive-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615223139/http://www.britishirishcouncil.org/member-administrations/scotland-alba |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Members |url=http://www.britishirish.org/members-2 |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214125526/http://www.britishirish.org/members-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[EU–UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly|Parliamentary Partnership Assembly with the European Union]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliamentary Partnership Assembly |url=https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2021/parliamentary-partnership-assembly |website=www.parliament.scot |access-date=22 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Scotland held the Presidency of Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power from November 2003 until November 2004 during the [[premiership of Jack McConnell]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland on the international stage |url=https://spice-spotlight.scot/2019/09/18/scotland-on-the-international-stage/ |website=SPICe Spotlight {{!}} Solas air SPICe |access-date=9 November 2024 |date=18 September 2019}}</ref>

=== Devolution and independence ===
{{Main|Scottish devolution|Scottish independence}}
[[File:Donald Dewar in Strasbourg 01.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Donald Dewar]], the inaugural [[First Minister of Scotland|first minister]] and was referred to as the "[[Father of the Nation]]"<ref>{{cite web |title=Donald Dewar, Father of a Nation? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3727308.stm |website=BBC |access-date=20 January 2025 |date=8 October 2004}}</ref>]] 

[[Devolution]]—the granting of central government powers to a regional government<ref>{{Cite OED|term=Devolution|id=4958732321|access-date=4 November 2023}}</ref>– gained increasing popularity as a policy in the United Kingdom the late twentieth century; it was described by [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]], then [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]], as the "settled will of the Scottish people".<ref>Cavanagh, Michael (2001) ''[http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/aspect/docs/aspectcampaigns.htm The Campaigns for a Scottish Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202030909/http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/aspect/docs/aspectcampaigns.htm |date=2 February 2016 }}''. [[University of Strathclyde]]. Retrieved 12 April 2008.</ref> The Scottish Parliament and [[Scottish Government]] were subsequently established under the [[Scotland Act 1998]]; the Act followed a successful [[Scottish devolution referendum, 1997|referendum in 1997]] which found majority support for both creating the Parliament and granting it limited powers to [[Scottish variable rate|vary income tax]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kerr |first=Andrew |date=8 September 2017 |title=Scottish devolution referendum: The birth of a parliament |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41189455 |access-date=3 January 2019 |archive-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129022824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41189455 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Act enabled the new institutions to legislate in all areas not explicitly reserved by the UK Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Devolved and Reserved Powers |url=https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/devolved-and-reserved-powers |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=www.parliament.scot |language=en |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920053732/https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/devolved-and-reserved-powers |url-status=live }}</ref>

Two more pieces of legislation, the Scotland Acts of [[Scotland Act 2012|2012]] and [[Scotland Act 2016|2016]], gave the Scottish Parliament further powers to legislate on taxation and social security;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Douglas |date=2 February 2016 |title=Scotland's tax powers: What it has and what's coming? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35470086 |access-date=27 April 2017 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |archive-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203203616/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35470086 |url-status=live }}</ref> the 2016 Act also gave the Scottish Government powers to manage the affairs of the [[Crown Estate Scotland|Crown Estate in Scotland]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2016 |title=Holyrood gives approval to devolved powers Scotland Bill |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35815426 |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125214530/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35815426 |url-status=live }}</ref> Conversely, the [[United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020]] constrains the Scottish Parliament's autonomy to regulate goods and services,<ref name=MaMu22>{{cite book |last1=Masterman |first1=Roger |last2=Murray |first2=Colin |title=Constitutional and Administrative Law |date=2022 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=9781009158503 |pages=471–473 |edition=Third |chapter=The{{nbsp}}United Kingdom's Devolution Arrangements |quote=UK Internal Market Act 2020 imposed new restrictions on the ability of the devolved institutions to enact measures...mutual recognition and non-discrimination requirements mean that standards set by the legislatures in Wales and Scotland cannot restrict the sale of goods which are acceptable in other parts of the UK. In other words, imposing such measures would simply create competitive disadvantages for businesses in Wales and Scotland; they would not change the product standards or environmental protections applicable to all goods which can be purchased in Wales and Scotland. |doi=10.1017/9781009158497 |s2cid=248929397 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/constitutional-and-administrative-law/E1EB9FEDC43459C991E42BD945231DB5 |access-date=27 October 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504011056/https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/constitutional-and-administrative-law/E1EB9FEDC43459C991E42BD945231DB5 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=DouHu22>{{cite journal|last1=Dougan|first1=Michael|last2=Hunt|first2=Jo|last3=McEwen|first3=Nicola|last4=McHarg|first4=Aileen|author-link1=Michael Dougan|author-link3=Nicola McEwen|title=Sleeping with an Elephant: Devolution and the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020|journal=[[Law Quarterly Review]]|date=2022|volume=138|issue=Oct|pages=650–676|url=https://dro.dur.ac.uk/35167/|location=London|publisher=[[Sweet & Maxwell]]|ssrn=4018581|via=[[Durham University|Durham Research Online]]|access-date=4 March 2022|quote=The Act has restrictive – and potentially damaging – consequences for the regulatory capacity of the devolved legislatures...the primary purpose of the legislation was to constrain the capacity of the devolved institutions to use their regulatory autonomy...in practice, it constrains the ability of the devolved institutions to make effective regulatory choices for their territories in ways that do not apply to the choices made by the UK government and parliament for the English market.|issn=0023-933X|archive-date=2 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802185022/https://dro.dur.ac.uk/35167/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the academic view is that this undermines devolution.{{refn|<ref name=Gu23>{{cite book |last1=Guderjan |first1=Marius |title=Intergovernmental Relations in the UK: Cooperation and Conflict in a Devolved Unitary State |date=2023 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=London/New York|doi=10.4324/9781003349952|isbn=978-1-032-39485-5 |pages=166–176|s2cid=257877108 |quote=Since the act became law on 17 December 2020, the devolved administrations can continue to set standards for goods and services produced within their territory, but their rules do not apply to goods and services coming from other jurisdictions. They also must accept products imported into one part of the UK. This undermines their legislative autonomy and renders certain policies ineffective|url=https://www.routledge.com/Intergovernmental-Relations-in-the-UK-Cooperation-and-Conflict-in-a-Devolved/Guderjan/p/book/9781032394855}}</ref><ref name=Keating21>{{cite journal |last=Keating |first=Michael |title=Taking back control? Brexit and the territorial constitution of the United Kingdom|author-link=Michael Keating (political scientist)|journal=[[Journal of European Public Policy]]|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|location=Abingdon|date=2 February 2021 |volume=29|issue=4|pages=491–509|doi=10.1080/13501763.2021.1876156|hdl=1814/70296|doi-access=free|hdl-access=free|quote=The UK Internal Market Act gives ministers sweeping powers to enforce mutual recognition and non-discrimination across the four jurisdictions. Existing differences and some social and health matters are exempted but these are much less extensive than the exemptions permitted under the EU Internal Market provisions. Only after an amendment in the House of Lords, the Bill was amended to provide a weak and non-binding consent mechanism for amendments (equivalent to the Sewel Convention) to the list of exemptions. The result is that, while the devolved governments retain regulatory competences, these are undermined by the fact that goods and services originating in, or imported into, England can be marketed anywhere.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lydgate |first1=Emily |last2=Anthony |first2=Chloe |title=Brexit, food law and the UK's search for a post-EU identity |journal=[[Modern Law Review]] |date=September 2022 |volume=85 |issue=5|publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]]|location=London|doi-access=free|quote=While the mutual recognition principle preserves devolved powers, rather than requiring that devolved nations conform with a wide range of harmonised standards (as they did in the EU), the Act undermines devolution simply because devolved legislation will no longer apply to all relevant activity in the devolved territory...Devolution is also undermined by the asymmetry of legislative authority...the UK Internal Market Act is a protected enactment, which devolved administrations are unable to appeal or modify, but which the UK parliament will be able to modify when legislating for England.|pages=1168–1190 |doi=10.1111/1468-2230.12735}}</ref><ref name=DouganMcEwen20>{{cite report |last1=Dougan |first1=Michael |last2=Hayward |first2=Katy |last3=Hunt |first3=Jo |last4=McEwen |first4=Nicola |last5=McHarg |first5=Aileen |last6=Wincott |first6=Daniel |date=2020 |title=UK and the Internal Market, Devolution and the Union |url=https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/publications/uk-and-internal-market-devolution-and-union |quote=The market access principles undermine devolved competences in two ways...[they] significantly undermine the purpose of devolution, which was to enable the devolved nations and regions to legislate according to their own local needs and political preferences. |department=Centre on Constitutional Change |author-link1=Michael Dougan |author-link2=Katy Hayward |author-link4=Nicola McEwen |author-link6=Daniel Wincott |publisher=[[University of Edinburgh]]; [[University of Aberdeen]] |pages=2–3 |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018185830/https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/publications/uk-and-internal-market-devolution-and-union |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Arm22>{{cite journal |last1=Armstrong |first1=Kenneth A. |title=The Governance of Economic Unionism after the United Kingdom Internal Market Act |journal=[[Modern Law Review]] |date=May 2022 |volume=85 |issue=3 |pages=635–660 |doi=10.1111/1468-2230.12706|doi-access=free|location=Oxford|publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]]|quote=So when used to disapply relevant requirements in a destination devolved jurisdiction the effect is different from that generated by the devolution statutes when they treat rules that are outside of competence as being 'not law'. In this way, the legislative competence of each jurisdiction is formally maintained, but its exercise constrained by the extraterritorial reach of regulatory norms applicable elsewhere in the UK and by the potential for regulatory competition where local producers are subject to local rules but competing goods can enter that market in compliance with the regulatory standards from where they originate...the UKIM Act 2020 allows extraterritorial application of rules that reflect different preferences or even undermines local preferences through regulatory competition, its effects are not insignificant for devolved legislatures.}}</ref>}}

The [[Scottish Parliament general election, 2007|2007 Scottish Parliament elections]] led to the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP), which supports [[Scottish independence]], forming a [[minority government]]. The new government established a "[[National Conversation]]" on constitutional issues, proposing a number of options such as increasing the powers of the Scottish Parliament, [[federation|federalism]], or a referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. The three main unionist opposition parties–[[Scottish Labour]], the [[Scottish Conservatives]], and the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]]–created a separate [[Calman Commission|commission]] to investigate the distribution of powers between devolved Scottish and UK-wide bodies while not considering independence.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Party people confront new realities |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7195800.stm |access-date=18 January 2008 |first=David |last=Porter |date=18 January 2008 |archive-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123085719/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7195800.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2009 the SNP proposed a bill to hold a referendum on independence in November 2010, but was defeated by opposition from all other major parties.<ref name="ReferendumBill2010">{{Cite web |date=2 September 2009 |title=Referendum Bill |url=http://www.gov.scot/About/programme-for-government/2009-10/summary-of-bills/referendum-bill |archive-url=http://www.gov.scot/About/Factfile/18060/11552 |archive-date=10 September 2009 |access-date=10 September 2009 |website= |publisher=[[Scottish Government]]}}</ref><ref name="Times3Sep09">{{Cite news |last=MacLeod |first=Angus |date=3 September 2009 |title=Salmond to push ahead with referendum Bill |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6820542.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=10 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531170941/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6820542.ece |archive-date=31 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 September 2010 |title=Scottish independence plan 'an election issue' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11196967 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=7 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007113657/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11196967 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:The Edinburgh Agreement signing (8090772713).jpg|thumb|right|Signing of the [[Edinburgh Agreement (2012)|Edinburgh Agreement]] in 2012 to hold a referendum on independence]]

The [[2011 Scottish Parliament election]] resulted in an SNP overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, and on 18 September 2014 a [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on Scottish independence]] was held.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Andrew |date=21 March 2013 |title=Scottish independence: Referendum to be held on 18 September, 2014 |work=BBC News |location=London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-21828424 |access-date=21 March 2013 |archive-date=21 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321165209/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-21828424 |url-status=live }}</ref> The referendum resulted in a rejection of independence, by 55.3% to 44.7%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2014 |title=Scotland votes no: the union has survived, but the questions for the left are profound |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/19/scottish-independence-union-survived-put-away-flags}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scotland decides |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/live |access-date=19 September 2014 |website=BBC |archive-date=9 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609121516/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/live |url-status=live }}</ref> During the campaign, the three main parties in the British Parliament–the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]–pledged to extend the powers of the Scottish Parliament.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-independence-referendum-statement-by-the-prime-minister Scottish Independence Referendum: statement by the Prime Minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929043500/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-independence-referendum-statement-by-the-prime-minister |date=29 September 2014 }}, UK Government</ref><ref name="kelvin" /> An all-party [[Smith Commission|commission]] chaired by [[Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin]] was formed,<ref name="kelvin">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29273177 Scottish referendum: Who is Lord Smith of Kelvin?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112235245/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29273177 |date=12 November 2018 }}, BBC News</ref> which led to the Scotland Act 2016.<ref>{{Cite act | url = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/11/contents/enacted | title = Scotland Act 2016 | legislature = Parliament of the United Kingdom | date = 23 March 2016 | language = English}}</ref>

Following the [[European Union Referendum Act 2015]], the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]] was held on 23 June 2016 on Britain's membership of the [[European Union]]. A majority in the United Kingdom voted to withdraw from the EU, while a majority within Scotland voted to remain a member.<ref name=":2"/> The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced the following day that as a result a [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|new independence referendum]] was "highly likely".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=24 June 2016 |title=Scottish Leader Nicola Sturgeon Announces Plans for Second Independence Referendum |url=https://time.com/4381327/brexit-nicole-sturgeon-scotland-referendum/ |magazine=Time |access-date=24 June 2016 |archive-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624121953/http://time.com/4381327/brexit-nicole-sturgeon-scotland-referendum/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=24 June 2016 |title=Brexit: Nicola Sturgeon says second Scottish independence vote 'highly likely' |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36621030 |access-date=24 June 2016 |archive-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803120628/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36621030 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union. Because constitutional affairs are reserved matters under the Scotland Act, the Scottish Parliament would again have to be granted temporary additional powers under Section 30 to hold a legally binding vote.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Glenn |author-link=Glenn Campbell (broadcaster) |date=6 November 2020 |title=Indyref2: Scottish Secretary rejects new vote 'for a generation' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-54827100 |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116114519/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-54827100 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sim |first=Philip |date=19 December 2019 |title=Scottish independence: What is a section 30 order? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50744526 |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118154406/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50744526 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 December 2019 |title=General election 2019: Sturgeon says legal indyref2 is a 'hard truth' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50687876 |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907155822/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50687876 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Local government ===
{{Main|Local government in Scotland|Subdivisions of Scotland}}
[[File:SouthLanarkshireCouncilHQ.JPG|thumb|right|[[Lanark County Buildings]] in [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], seat of [[South Lanarkshire Council]]]] 
For [[Local government in Scotland|local government]] purposes Scotland is subdivided into 32 single-tier council areas.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940039_en_1.htm "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301043228/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940039_en_1.htm |date=1 March 2010 }} Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 26 September 2007.</ref> The areas were established in 1996, and their councils are responsible for the provision of all local government services. Decisions are made by councillors, who are elected at [[Elections in Scotland|local elections]] every five years. The leader of the council is typically a councillor from the party with the most seats; councils also have a civic head, typically called the [[Provost (civil)|provost]] or [[lord provost]], who represents the council on ceremonial occasions and chairs council meetings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local authorities: factsheet |url=http://www.gov.scot/publications/local-authorities-factsheet/ |access-date=28 October 2023 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922192732/https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-authorities-factsheet/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Community council|Community Councils]] are informal organisations that represent smaller subdivisions within each council area.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Scotland – Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/ukgeographies/administrativegeography/scotland |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122182241/https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/ukgeographies/administrativegeography/scotland |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Police Scotland]] and the [[Scottish Fire and Rescue Service]] cover the entire country. For healthcare and postal districts, and a number of other governmental and non-governmental organisations such as the churches, there are other long-standing methods of subdividing Scotland for the purposes of administration.

There are [[Cities of Scotland|eight cities in Scotland]]: [[Aberdeen]], [[Dundee]], [[Dunfermline]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Glasgow]], [[Inverness]], [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] and [[Stirling]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Cities |url=http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/city/citygj.htm |access-date=17 September 2014 |website=Dca.gov.uk |archive-date=17 January 2009 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090117113043/http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/city/citygj.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[City status in the United Kingdom]] is conferred by the monarch through [[letters patent]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=City status |url=http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/city/cityhome.htm |access-date=17 September 2014 |website=Dca.gov.uk |archive-date=17 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117105426/http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/city/cityhome.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Armed forces in Scotland}}
{{see|Scots Army|Royal Scots Navy|Military history of Scotland}}
[[File:Eurofighter Typhoon, ZK312 (19451923880).jpg|thumb|left|A [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon FGR4]] in [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] markings at [[RAF Lossiemouth]]]]

As one of the countries of the United Kingdom, the [[British Armed Forces]] are the armed forces of Scotland. Of the money spent on UK defence, about £3.3&nbsp;billion can be attributed to Scotland as of 2018/2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government Expenditure & Review 2018-19 |url=https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2019/08/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-gers/documents/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2018-19/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2018-19/govscot%3Adocument/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2018-19.pdf?forceDownload=true |website=www.gov.scot |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=6 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406224956/https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2019/08/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-gers/documents/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2018-19/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2018-19/govscot%3Adocument/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-2018-19.pdf?forceDownload=true |url-status=live }}</ref> Scotland had a long military tradition predating the [[Treaty of Union]] with England. Following the Treaty of Union in 1707, the [[Scots Army]] and [[Royal Scots Navy]] merged with their English counterparts to form the [[Royal Navy]] and the [[British Army]], which together form part of the [[British Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zDxnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22british+army%22+1660|title=Redcoats and courtesans: the birth of the British Army (1660–1690)|last=Williams|first=Noel T. St John|date=1 January 1994|publisher=Brassey's (UK)|pages=1–2|isbn=9781857530971|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610012306/https://books.google.com/books?id=zDxnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22british+army%22+1660|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historybritishs00waltgoog|title=History of the British Standing Army. A.D. 1660 to 1700|last=Walton|first=Clifford|date=1 January 1894|publisher=Harrison and Sons|page=[https://archive.org/details/historybritishs00waltgoog/page/n42 16]}}</ref> The [[Atholl Highlanders]], Europe's only remaining legal [[private army]], did not join the Scots Army or Royal Scots Navy in merging with English armed forces, remaining a private army not under the command of the British Armed Forces.<ref>{{cite web |title=Atholl Highlanders |url=https://atholl-estates.co.uk/blair-castle/atholl-highlanders/ |website=www.atholl-estates.co.uk |publisher=Atholl Estates |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013741/https://atholl-estates.co.uk/blair-castle/atholl-highlanders/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Numerous [[Scottish regiment]]s have at various times existed in the British Army. Distinctively Scottish regiments in the British Army include the [[Scots Guards]], the [[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]] and the [[154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC]], an [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] regiment of the [[Royal Logistic Corps]]. In 2006, as a result of the ''[[Delivering Security in a Changing World]]'' [[white paper]], the Scottish infantry regiments in the [[Scottish Division]] were amalgamated to form the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Regiment of Scotland |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland/#:~:text=The%20Royal%20Regiment%20of%20Scotland%20was%20formed%20in%202006%20through,those%20regiments%20that%20formed%20us. |website=www.army.mod.uk |publisher=The British Army |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=7 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107194152/http://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland/#:~:text=The%20Royal%20Regiment%20of%20Scotland%20was%20formed%20in%202006%20through,those%20regiments%20that%20formed%20us. |url-status=live }}</ref>  As a result of the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition]]'s [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010]], the Scottish regiments of the line in the [[British Army]] [[Infantry of the British Army|infantry]], having previously formed the Scottish Division, were reorganised into the [[Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division]] in 2017. Before the formation of the Scottish Division, the Scottish infantry was organised into a [[Lowland Brigade (United Kingdom)|Lowland Brigade]] and [[Highland Brigade (United Kingdom)|Highland Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Army to merge Scottish brigades |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1329420/Army-to-merge-Scottish-brigades.html |website=www.telegraph.co.uk |date=7 May 2001 |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013739/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1329420/Army-to-merge-Scottish-brigades.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Because of their topography and perceived remoteness, parts of Scotland have housed many sensitive defence establishments.<ref>The large number of military bases in Scotland led some to use the euphemism "Fortress Scotland". See Spaven, Malcolm (1983) ''Fortress Scotland''. London. Pluto Press in association with Scottish CND.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 December 2006 |title=Pensioner, 94, in nuclear protest |work=[[BBC News Online]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6186213.stm |url-status=live |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215171500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6186213.stm |archive-date=15 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Reprieve for RAF Lossiemouth base |work=News.bbc.co.uk |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4083933.stm |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-date=12 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112005112/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4083933.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Between 1960 and 1991, the [[Holy Loch]] was a base for the US fleet of [[Polaris ballistic missile|Polaris]]-equipped [[ballistic missile submarine]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dunoon and the US Navy |url=http://www.argyllonline.co.uk/places/dunoon-cowal/dunoon-and-the-us-navy |access-date=17 September 2014 |website=Argyllonline.co.uk |archive-date=2 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902021616/http://www.argyllonline.co.uk/places/dunoon-cowal/dunoon-and-the-us-navy/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Today, [[HMNB Clyde|His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde]], {{Convert|25|mi|km|abbr=off}} north-west of Glasgow, is the base for the four [[Trident (missile)|Trident]]-armed {{Sclass|Vanguard|submarine|0}} [[ballistic missile submarine]]s that comprise the Britain's [[nuclear deterrent]].[[File:Challenger2-Bergen-Hohne-Training-Area-2.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Challenger 2]] [[main battle tank]] of the [[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]]]]

Scotland's [[Scapa Flow]] was the main base for the [[Royal Navy]] in the 20th century.<ref>Angus Konstam, ''Scapa Flow: The Defences of Britain's Great Fleet Anchorage 1914–45'' (2009).</ref> As the [[Cold War]] intensified in 1961, the United States deployed [[Polaris ballistic missile]]s, and submarines, in the [[Firth of Clyde]]'s [[Holy Loch]]. Public protests from [[CND]] campaigners proved futile. The Royal Navy successfully convinced the government to allow the base because it wanted its own Polaris submarines, and it obtained them in 1963. The RN's nuclear submarine base opened with four {{Sclass|Resolution|submarine|0}} Polaris submarines at the expanded [[HMNB Clyde|Faslane Naval Base]] on the [[Gare Loch]]. The first patrol of a [[Trident missile|Trident]]-armed submarine occurred in 1994, although the US base was closed at the end of the Cold War.<ref>Andrew Marr, ''A History of Modern Britain'' (2009), p. 211.</ref>

A single front-line [[Royal Air Force]] base is located in Scotland. [[RAF Lossiemouth]], located in [[Moray]], is the most northerly [[Anti-aircraft warfare|air defence]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] base in the United Kingdom and is home to four [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] combat aircraft squadrons, three [[Poseidon MRA1]] squadrons, and a full–time, permanently based RAF Regiment squadron.<ref>{{cite web |title=RAF Lossiemouth |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/#:~:text=RAF%20Lossiemouth%20in%20Moray%2C%20north,and%20an%20RAF%20Regiment%20squadron. |website=www.raf.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106232247/https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/#:~:text=RAF%20Lossiemouth%20in%20Moray%2C%20north,and%20an%20RAF%20Regiment%20squadron. |url-status=live }}</ref> An additional four RAF Reserve Squadrons are based in Scotland – 612 Squadron, 2622 (Highland) Squadron and 602 Squadron in Glasgow, and 603 Squadron in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Royal Air Force in Scotland |url=https://www.deliveringforscotland.gov.uk/security/the-royal-air-force-in-scotland/ |website=Delivering for Scotland |access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

=== Law and order ===
{{Main|Scots law}}

[[File:Parliament Square, Edinburgh facing east.jpg|thumb|left|[[Parliament House, Edinburgh]], the former [[Parliament of Scotland]], houses the [[College of Justice|Supreme Courts of Scotland]]]]

Scots law has a basis derived from [[Roman law]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Faculty of Law |url=http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/history/chpt4.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122202314/http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/history/chpt4.aspx |archive-date=22 November 2007 |access-date=22 October 2007 |publisher=The University of Edinburgh School of Law}}</ref> combining features of both uncodified [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]], dating back to the {{Lang|la|[[Corpus Juris Civilis]]}}, and [[common law]] with [[Legal institutions of Scotland in the High Middle Ages|medieval sources]]. The terms of the Treaty of Union with England in 1707 guaranteed the continued existence of a separate legal system in Scotland from that of England and Wales.<ref>The Articles: legal and miscellaneous, UK Parliament House of Lords (2007). "Article 19: The Scottish legal system and its courts were to remain unchanged":{{Cite web |title=Act of Union 1707 |url=http://www.parliament.uk/actofunion/04_05_legal.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114022831/http://www.parliament.uk/actofunion/04_05_legal.html |archive-date=14 November 2007 |access-date=22 October 2007 |publisher=House of Lords}}</ref> Prior to 1611, there were several regional law systems in Scotland, most notably [[Udal law]] in [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]], based on old Norse law. Various other systems derived from common [[Celtic law|Celtic]] or [[Brehon laws]] survived in the Highlands until the 1800s.<ref>"Law and institutions, Gaelic" & "Law and lawyers" in M. Lynch (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'', (Oxford, 2001), pp. 381–382 & 382–386. Udal Law remains relevant to land law in Orkney and Shetland: {{Cite web |title=A General History of Scots Law (20th century) |url=http://www.lawscot.org.uk/uploads/Ad-Hoc/AGeneralHistoryofScotsLaw_20thCentury.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925220347/http://www.lawscot.org.uk/uploads/Ad-Hoc/AGeneralHistoryofScotsLaw_20thCentury.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=25 September 2007 |access-date=20 September 2007 |publisher=Law Society of Scotland}}</ref>
Scots law provides for three types of [[Courts of Scotland|courts]] responsible for the administration of justice: civil, criminal and [[Law of Arms|heraldic]]. The supreme civil court is the [[Court of Session]], although civil [[appeal (law)|appeals]] can be taken to the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]] (or before 1 October 2009, the [[Judicial functions of the House of Lords|House of Lords]]). The [[High Court of Justiciary]] is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. The Court of Session is housed at [[Parliament House, Edinburgh|Parliament House]], in Edinburgh, which was the home of the pre-Union [[Parliament of Scotland]] with the High Court of Justiciary and the Supreme Court of Appeal currently located at the [[Lawnmarket]]. The [[sheriff court]] is the main criminal and civil court, hearing most cases. There are 49 sheriff courts throughout the country.<ref>[http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/locations/index.asp "Court Information"] www.scotcourts.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 September 207. {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320151120/http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/locations/index.asp |date=20 March 2015 }}</ref> [[District Courts of Scotland|District courts]] were introduced in 1975 for minor offences and small claims. These were gradually replaced by [[Justice of the Peace Court]]s from 2008 to 2010.

For three centuries the Scots legal system was unique for being the only national legal system without a parliament. This ended with the advent of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, which legislates for devolved matters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/devolved-and-reserved-powers|title=Devolved and Reserved Powers|website=www.parliament.scot|access-date=28 October 2023|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920053732/https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/devolved-and-reserved-powers|url-status=live}}</ref> Many features within the system have been preserved. Within criminal law, the Scots legal system is unique in having three possible verdicts: "guilty", "not guilty" and "''[[not proven]]''".<ref>{{Cite news |title=The case for keeping 'not proven' verdict |work=Timesonline.co.uk |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article431121.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1 |access-date=17 September 2014 |publisher=The Times |archive-date=25 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525121435/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article431121.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both "not guilty" and "not proven" result in an [[acquittal]], typically with no possibility of retrial per the rule of [[double jeopardy]]. A retrial can hear new evidence at a later date that might have proven conclusive in the earlier trial at first instance, where the person acquitted subsequently admits the offence or where it can be proved that the acquittal was tainted by an attempt to [[Perverting the course of justice|pervert the course of justice]]. Scots juries, sitting in criminal cases, consist of fifteen jurors, which is three more than is typical in many countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2009 |title=Scotland's unique 15-strong juries will not be abolished |publisher=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scotland-s-unique-15-strong-juries-will-not-be-abolished-1-1037747 |access-date=13 March 2017 |website=www.scotsman.com |archive-date=14 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314064457/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scotland-s-unique-15-strong-juries-will-not-be-abolished-1-1037747 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Court of Session (53707036026).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Court of Session]] is the highest national court for [[Civil law (common law)|civil cases]]]]

The [[Lord Advocate]] is the chief legal officer of the [[Scottish Government]] and [[the Crown]] in Scotland. The Lord Advocate is the head of the systems in Scotland for the investigation and prosecution of crime, the investigation of deaths as well as serving as the principal legal adviser to the Scottish Government and representing the government in legal proceedings.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=Lord Advocate |url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/lord-advocate/ |website=www.gov.scot |date=16 August 2021 |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115014431/https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/lord-advocate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They are the chief [[public prosecutor]] for Scotland and all [[prosecution]]s on indictment are conducted by the [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]] in the Lord Advocate's name on behalf of the Monarch.<ref name="auto1"/> The officeholder is one of the [[Great Officers of State (United Kingdom)#Scotland|Great Officers of State]] of Scotland. The current Lord Advocate, [[Dorothy Bain]], was nominated by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, and was appointed in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/dorothy-bain-qc/ | website=www.gov.scot | publisher=Scottish Government | title=Rt Hon Dorothy Bain KC | access-date=7 January 2024 | archive-date=14 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714174415/https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/dorothy-bain-qc/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The Lord Advocate is supported by the [[Solicitor General for Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/solicitor-general/ | website=www.gov.scot | publisher=Scottish Government | title=Solicitor General | access-date=7 January 2024 | archive-date=5 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305000828/https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/solicitor-general/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2013, Scotland has had a unified police force known as [[Police Scotland]]. The [[Scottish Prison Service]] (SPS) manages the prisons in Scotland, which collectively house over 8,500 prisoners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prisoner Population |url=http://www.sps.gov.uk/default.aspx?documentid=7811a7f1-6c61-4667-a12c-f102bbf5b808 |publisher=Scottish Prison Service |website=www.sps.gov.uk |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307182522/http://www.sps.gov.uk/default.aspx?documentid=7811a7f1-6c61-4667-a12c-f102bbf5b808 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs]] is responsible for the Scottish Prison Service within the Scottish Government.