Recent Reports
Aithisgean ùra
Committee Reports
Aithisgean Chomataidh
Research Briefings
Brathan-ullachaidh Rannsachadh
Feedback
Ais-eòlas
Recent Reports
Aithisgean ùra
Committee Reports
Aithisgean Chomataidh
Research Briefings
Brathan-ullachaidh Rannsachadh
Feedback
Ais-eòlas
Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Dissolution of the Scottish Parliament
Author: Courtney Aitken
SHARE
PDF
Published: Tuesday 10 Mar 2026 (SB 26-18)
Expand
Overview
Report
Hide
Hide
Overview
Report
Summary
Current arrangements for dissolving the Parliament
Ordinary general elections
Statutory timing of Scottish Parliament general elections
Timing of dissolution before an ordinary general election
The "minimum period" for dissolution
Extraordinary general elections
Rescheduling of elections
Ordinary general elections
Interaction with UK Parliamentary general elections
Presiding Officer's power to reschedule elections
Extraordinary general elections
Pre-election campaign period
Sitting days, recess and the pre-election campaign period
Guidance issued during the pre-election campaign period
Consequences of dissolution
Status of Members of the Scottish Parliament
Status of the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Status of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Status of Scottish Ministers
Effect of dissolution on parliamentary business
Bills
Secondary legislation
Motions
Oral and written questions
Petitions
Sources
prev
next
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Standing Orders of The Scottish Parliament (6th Edition, 11th Revision). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/parliament-rules-and-guidance/-/media/24b42bf2da6742b4b8391a4738eb4385.ashx
[accessed 24 February 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (1998). The Scotland Act 1998. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents
[accessed 24 February 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (2015). The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/425/contents
[accessed 24 February 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (2025). The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2025/9780111063330/introduction
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Recess and dissolution dates. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/when-the-parliament-sits/recess-dates#:~:text=The%20Scottish%20Parliament%20is%20in%20recess%20on,will%20be%20dissolved%20is%20April%209%2C%202026.
[accessed 24 February 2026]
Torrance, D. (2025). What is a proclamation?. Retrieved from
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/what-is-a-proclamation/
[accessed 24 February 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (1999). The Scottish Parliament (Letters Patent and Proclamations) Order 1999. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/737/contents/made
[accessed 24 February 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (2025). Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2025/4/contents
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2024). Policy Memorandum: Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/scottish-elections-representation-and-reform-bill/introduction/policy-memorandum-accessible.pdf
[accessed 23 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2024, April 30). Letter from the Minister for Parliamentary Business to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. Retrieved from
http://parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/standards-procedures-and-public-appointments-committee/correspondence/2024/letter-from-the-minister-for-parliamentary-business-dated-30-april-2024.pdf
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2025). Note by the Clerk on The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 [draft]. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/11074/Subordinate-Legislation-Note-by-the-Clerk
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2024). Policy Memorandum to the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/scottish-elections-representation-and-reform-bill/introduction/policy-memorandum-accessible.pdf
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Guidance for Members and their staff during the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election campaign. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/spcb/policies/guidance-for-members-and-their-staff.pdf
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2025). S6M-19538. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-19538
[accessed 5 March 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2025). S6M-19539. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-19539
[accessed 5 March 2026]
Scottish Government. (2026). Scottish Parliament Election: 7 May 2026, guidance for the Scottish Government, its agencies and National Devolved Public Bodies. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-parliament-election-7-2026-guidance-scottish-government-agencies-national-devolved-public-bodies/pages/1/
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/parliament-organisations-groups-and-people/scottish-parliamentary-corporate-body
[accessed 24 February 2026]
Aitken, C. (2023). Reconsideration Stage. Retrieved from
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2023/1/27/7469413b-0be9-4559-ad3a-f3dad3571d7d-1
[accessed 24 February 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (2023). The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Prohibition on Submission for Royal Assent) Order 2023. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/41/contents/made
[accessed 3 March 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2022). Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/gender-recognition-reform-scotland-bill
[accessed 3 March 2026]
legislation.gov.uk. (2010). Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/10/contents
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Office of the Clerk dates. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/about/how-parliament-works/when-the-parliament-sits/office-of-the-clerk-dates#:~:text=Motions%2C%20amendments%20and%20questions%20may,used%20to%20calculate%20timeframes%20for:
[accessed 24 February 2026]
Cowie, G., & Torrance, D. (2020). Devolution: The Sewel Convention. Retrieved from
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8883/CBP-8883.pdf
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-citizen-participation-and-public-petitions-committee
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2025). Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Minutes: 24 September 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-citizen-participation-and-public-petitions-committee/meetings/2025/citizen-participation-and-public-petitions-committee-24-september-2025/minutes
[accessed 24 February 2026]
The Scottish Parliament. (2026). Petitions. Retrieved from
https://petitions.parliament.scot/
[accessed 24 February 2026]
Last Updated: 31/5 1:55am
An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.
Refresh
BACK TO TOP
