Editing Scottish Parliament (section)

== Officials ==
{{main|Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament}}

[[File:Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of the Scottish Parliament.jpg|thumb|left|[[Queen Elizabeth II]] at the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999 alongside then [[First Minister of Scotland]] [[Donald Dewar]] and then Presiding Officer [[Lord Steel of Aikwood]]]]
After each election to the Scottish Parliament, at the beginning of each parliamentary session, Parliament elects one MSP to serve as [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]], the equivalent of the speaker in other legislatures, and two MSPs to serve as deputies. The Presiding Officer (currently [[Alison Johnstone]]) and deputies (currently [[Annabelle Ewing]] and [[Liam McArthur]]) are elected by a [[secret ballot]] of the 129 MSPs, which is the only secret ballot conducted in the Scottish Parliament. Principally, the role of the Presiding Officer is to chair chamber proceedings and the [[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Parliament: The Presiding Officer |url=http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/presiding-officer.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=2 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202025350/http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/presiding-officer.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> When chairing meetings of the Parliament, the Presiding Officer and his/her deputies must be politically impartial.<ref name="PresidingOfficer">{{cite web |title=About the Parliament: The Presiding Officer: The Presiding Officer |url=http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/99449.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=9 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609092837/http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/99449.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> During debates, the Presiding Officer (or the deputy) is assisted by the parliamentary clerks, who give advice on how to interpret the [[Parliamentary procedure|standing orders]] that govern the proceedings of meetings. A vote clerk sits in front of the Presiding Officer and operates the electronic voting equipment and chamber clocks.<ref name="Chamber">{{cite web |title=The Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/documents/Chamber.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029074244/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/documents/Chamber.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2006 |access-date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Scottish Parliament}}</ref>

As a member of the [[Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body]], the Presiding Officer is responsible for ensuring that the Parliament functions effectively and has the staff, property and resources it requires to operate.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Parliament: Corporate Governance: Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB): SPCB Remit |url=http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/18324.aspx |access-date=1 July 2016 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617081755/http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/18324.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> Convening the Parliamentary Bureau, which allocates time and sets the work agenda in the chamber, is another of the roles of the Presiding Officer. Under the Standing Orders of the Parliament the Bureau consists of the Presiding Officer and one representative from each political party with five or more seats in the Parliament. Amongst the duties of the Bureau are to agree the timetable of business in the chamber, establish the number, remit and membership of parliamentary committees and regulate the passage of legislation (bills) through the Parliament. The Presiding Officer also represents the Scottish Parliament at home and abroad in an official capacity.<ref name="PresidingOfficer" />

The Presiding Officer controls debates by calling on members to speak. The Presiding Officer rules on [[points of order]] raised by members, which are not subject to debate or appeal. The Presiding Officer may also discipline members who fail to observe the rules of the Parliament.<ref name="PresidingOfficer" />