3 How law is made in the Scottish Parliament

The Scotland Act 1998 provided minimum requirements for the process which was to be followed by the Scottish Parliament in creating law by considering and passing Bills. Section 36(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 required there to be at least three distinct stages to which Bills are subject, including a stage when MSPs can debate and vote on the general principles of a Bill, a stage when they can consider and vote on its details and a final stage when the Bill can be passed or rejected.