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Home » About » Appointment and Role

Appointment and Role

The First Minister is a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and is appointed by royal warrant from the Monarch following a vote by MSPs to nominate the individual.

Since devolution in 1999, the leader of the political party with the largest number of MSPs elected to the Parliament (Holyrood) has been appointed First Minister.

Taking oath of office at the Court of Session

Having been endorsed by parliament and received the royal warrant, the First Minister must take the oath of office (be ‘sworn in’) at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in front of the Lord President and other senior judges.

Nicola Sturgeon sworn in as First Minister of Scotland

The short ceremony also confirms the First Minister as ‘Keeper of the Scottish Seal’ – an ex-officio and largely ceremonial title that was previously held by secretaries of state for Scotland but conferred on first ministers since devolution. The Scottish Seal (formerly known as the ‘Great Seal of Scotland’ first used by Duncan II in 1094) is the two-plate metal mould used to create the wax seal conferring Crown approval for official documents.

Role and responsibilities

As head of the Scottish Government, the First Minister is responsible for the overall development, implementation and presentation of the administration’s policies and for promoting and representing Scotland at home and overseas.

Subject to Parliament’s agreement, the First Minister appoints other ministers – including a Deputy First Minister and cabinet secretaries who sit in cabinet – from among MSPs.

FM and Cabinet May 2016

First Minister and her Cabinet, pictured May 2016

 

The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet, the main forum for ministers to consider and make key decisions on the strategic priorities and policies of the government to achieve its objectives. The First Minister – also following the agreement of the Parliament – recommends to the Monarch the appointment of the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General (the ‘law officers’), who are also members of the Scottish Government and, together with cabinet secretaries and junior ministers are collectively known as the ‘Scottish ministers’.

The First Minister is also responsible for nominating judges for appointment by the Monarch, including the Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice Clerk, following the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

Scottish ministers, including the First Minister, are accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the policy and actions of the Scottish Government. As an MSP, any minister including the First Minister, may take part in debates or vote in the main chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

Read about Nicola Sturgeon’s experiences of her first year as First Minister

  • History of the office
  • Appointment and Role
  • First Minister’s Biography
  • Bute House
    • History of Bute House

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Watch First Minister @NicolaSturgeon wish everyone celebrating a peaceful and happy #ChineseNewYear ⬇️ #YearOfTheOx pic.twitter.com/Wb6TxVJQrS

A year on from the publication of the Care Review, First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has reaffirmed her commitment to delivering the changes needed to improve the lives of care experienced people #KeepThePromise pic.twitter.com/1y9gOn3HXf

Scotland is committed to ensuring that we use the full potential of the Coalition to deliver ambitious and deliverable plans for a just transition to net zero. We must work together to address the climate crisis and build a greener, fairer and more equal world. pic.twitter.com/hXFnBw0THV

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has spoken to Minister-President Kretschmann from @RegierungBW to discuss the handover of the European co-chair of the #Under2Coalition from Baden-Württemberg to Scotland as well as a number of other shared priorities. pic.twitter.com/8OqDPpmu6f

“We must continue to try to be the light, wherever there is darkness.” On #HolocaustMemorialDay First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has honoured the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, and called for everyone to build a safer, more peaceful world. pic.twitter.com/5cOE8KIHoe

FM @NicolaSturgeon has met the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls to discuss the latest @NACWGScot report into tackling gender inequality in Scotland. Check out the full report bit.ly/2020NACWGReport #GenerationEqual pic.twitter.com/adbqX3gNuw

The Scottish Government has lodged a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) with the Scottish Parliament, recommending that consent cannot be given to the UK Government’s “inadequate and damaging” Brexit deal with the EU. More information: gov.scot/news/brexit-de… pic.twitter.com/aF6hfFmDqX

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has addressed the Zero Carbon Forum and committed to working with our European partners to fight climate change. We are delighted that Mayor @AnneHidalgo signed the Edinburgh Declaration on biodiversity this week, on behalf of the city of Paris. pic.twitter.com/V87NNkLQ2V

We have a winner! Sophie Blackett, Age 10 from Calderwood, East Kilbride has designed the First Minister's 2020 Christmas card.🎄📨 Well done Sophie and thank you to everyone who took part, we had almost 700 fantastic entries.🌟 Sophie's design along with the message inside⬇️ twitter.com/ScotGovFM/stat… pic.twitter.com/EjBNmEaPk4

“We want Scotland to be regarded internationally as a leader on human rights issues.” – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a message to mark #HumanRightsDay Watch the full message⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6NXzsQISfR

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