The main job of a Parliament is deciding on new laws or rules. The people in the Parliament can also ask senior people questions about what they are up to. They may sometimes be able to suggest new laws themselves. They will be expected to look after the people in their area, whether or not they voted for them at election time. A Parliament normally helps to decide how all the country's money should be spent.
Parliaments can have many different forms.
The Scottish Parliament is like these Parliaments in some ways, but very different in others. 1707 Act of Union. Separate Parliaments abolished. 1885 Scottish Office formed. Beginnings of administrative devolution 1886 Post of Secretary for Scotland established 1979 First chance to get a Scottish Parliament.