The Standing Orders are the rules of procedure for the Parliament.

They have been made in accordance with the Scotland Act 1998.

Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament, 5th Edition, 8th Revision (8 March 2021)

Some Standing Order rules have been suspended or varied for the duration of the public response to Covid-19.

Suspension and variation of Standing Order rules (129KB pdf)

When changes are made to Standing Orders, this is referred to as a Revision. The Revisions are numbered in the order in which they are issued (1st Revision, 2nd Revision, etc.).

This page lists the:

• 5th Edition of the Standing Orders
• each Revision made to the 5th Edition of the Standing Orders
• the dates the Revisions took effect

Each Revision includes the complete text of every Chapter. 

Standing Orders, 5th Edition (April 2016 1.5MB pdf)

Standing Orders, 5th Edition, 1st Revision (September 2016 1.5MB pdf)

Standing Orders, 5th Edition, 2nd Revision (October 2016 1.5MB pdf)

Standing Orders, 5th Edition, 3rd Revision (February 2017 1.2MB pdf)

Standing Orders, 5th Edition, 4th Revision (March 2017 1.3MB pdf)

Standing Orders, 5th Edition, 5th Revision (May 2017 1.3MB pdf)

Standing Orders 5th Edition, 6th Revision (May 2018 1.7MB pdf)

Standing Orders 5th Edition, 7th Revision (September 2019 1.7MB pdf)