A major descriptive and analytical introduction to Scottish government and politics in the new era of devolution.This textbook covers the emergence of the Scottish parliament in 1999 and its impact on politics and political actors such as the media, the political parties, local government, pressure groups and the electorate at large. The internal dynamics of the new devolved system are explained and the impact of the parliament on the UK is explored. Chapters include the following topics:* The Long Road to a Scottish Parliament* The Scottish Executive - Scottish Government and Administration after Devolution* Life on the Mound - MSPs and the operation of the Scottish Parliament* The Committee System of the Scottish Parliament * The Legislative Process of the Scottish Parliament * Pressure Group Scotland* The Scottish Secretary, Scotland Office and Scotland at Westminster* Devolution and Multi-Level GovernanceThis is the authoritative textbook introduction to the new era of government and politics in Scotland and will be an ideal course book for all students of Scottish politics, as well as providing a guide for the general reader. It contains a wealth of original material on the new parliament and government of Scotland, and features a number of case studies which provide examples of the functioning of the new institutions.Key Features:* Ideal course text for all Scottish Politics students* A much-needed textbook introduction to the area* Uses primary and secondary material to clarify the internal dynamics of the new devolved system* Explores the wider UK impact of the parliament

Peter Lynch is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Stirling and author of Minority Nationalism and European Integration (1996) and SNP: The History of the Scottish National Party (2002), co-editor of Out of the Ghetto? The Catholic Community in Modern Scotland (1998) and co-author of The Almanac of Scottish Politics (2001).