Parliament of Scotland

The Parliament of Scotland was the legislative body responsible for making laws and debating policies in Scotland, existing from the 13th century until 1707. It comprised representatives of the land-owning elite, clergy, and commoners, and met in Edinburgh. In 1707, it merged with the English Parliament to form the Parliament of Great Britain, creating a unified legislative body for the entire kingdom. Today, Scotland has its own devolved Parliament established in 1999, which handles domestic issues like education and health, while reserved powers remain with the UK Parliament in Westminster.