03.05.2007
This note sets out information on the appointment process for the First Minister and Scottish Ministers.
Selection of the First Minister
The Scotland Act states that the election for the nomination of the First Minister must occur within 28 days of the election (ie on or before 30 May). The actual date will be determined by the Parliament on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau.
Candidates are able to withdraw their candidature during any stage of the voting process on the day. The voting process will take place in the main chamber of the Scottish Parliament and Members will vote using the electronic voting system.
Written nominations for First Minister have to be submitted to the Clerk no later than 30 minutes before the selection and voting process begins. Nomination forms will be made available to Members from the Parliamentary Business Team on the day.
Nominations must be seconded by another Member who has already been sworn in.
Members will be informed of the candidates and asked to vote for one candidate only. Each candidate may be allowed to speak briefly in support of their nomination.
Counting of Votes
If a candidate wins more votes than the total number received by all other candidates and the total number of votes cast is more than a quarter of the total number of seats in the Parliament, that candidate will be elected.
Where there is only one candidate, Members will be asked to vote or abstain. If that candidate obtains a simple majority he or she will be declared as the Parliament's nomination.
Where there are two or more candidates and none gains an absolute majority in the first vote, successive rounds of voting will be held, with Members voting for one candidate in each round with the candidate receiving the fewest votes in each round being eliminated. This procedure is repeated until only one candidate remains or until a candidate receives more votes than the total number of votes for all the other candidates.
Appointment of Scottish Ministers
It is expected that a further meeting at a later date will be held to agree the First Minister's recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen for the appointment of Scottish Ministers and Junior Scottish Ministers.
Ministers in the Scottish Executive are appointed by the First Minister with the approval of The Queen.
Before seeking that approval, the First Minister requires the agreement of the Parliament. The First Minister will put a motion to the Parliament seeking its agreement to his or her proposal for the appointment of an individual Member to be a Minister or a group of Members to become Ministers.
The motion must be approved by a simple majority of Members, with the total number of votes cast greater than a quarter of the total number of seats in the Parliament.
Amendments to the motion are permissible under Standing Orders. Each amendment selected by the Presiding Officer will be voted on in turn.
Appointment of Junior Scottish Ministers
The same procedures, with any appropriate modifications, apply as those for the selection of other Scottish Ministers.