Page "Parliament of Scotland" Paragraph 11

The Scottish parliament evolved during the Middle Ages from the King's Council of Bishops and Earls.

It is perhaps first identifiable as a parliament in 1235, described as a ‘ colloquium ’ and already with a political and judicial role.

By the early 14th century, the attendance of knights and freeholders had become important, and from 1326 burgh commissioners attended.

Consisting of The Three Estates ; of clerics, lay Tenants-in-chief and burgh commissioners sitting in a single chamber, the Scottish parliament acquired significant powers over particular issues.

Most obviously it was needed for consent for taxation ( although taxation was only raised irregularly in Scotland in the medieval period ), but it also had a strong influence over justice, foreign policy, war, and all manner of other legislation, whether political, ecclesiastical, social or economic.

Parliamentary business was also carried out by ‘ sister ’ institutions, before c. 1500 by General Council and thereafter by the Convention of Estates.

These could carry out much business also dealt with by Parliament — taxation, legislation and policy-making — but lacked the ultimate authority of a full parliament.

The Scottish parliament met in a number of different locations throughout its history.

In addition to Edinburgh, meetings were held in Perth, Stirling, St Andrews, Dundee, Linlithgow, Dunfermline, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Berwick-upon-Tweed.