Foreword by the Deputy Prime Minister by The Scottish Government Lyrics
This draft Bill – the Scottish Independence Bill – provides the constitutional platform which would serve as the basis for the government of Scotland from Independence Day.
The fundamental principle underpinning the Bill is that, in Scotland, the people are sovereign. This core truth resonates throughout Scotland’s history and will be the foundation stone for Scotland as an independent country.
The simplicity of the statement contained in section 2 of the Bill – “In Scotland, the people are sovereign” – should not mask the radical,
democratic and egalitarian nature of the principle. The people who have the biggest stake in a successful Scotland are those who live and
work here. The Scottish Government believes we get better outcomes for Scotland when decisions about Scotland are made in Scotland by the people of Scotland. That is the essence and also the practical manifestation of embedding the sovereignty of the people within our laws. Sovereignty means the people of Scotland always getting the government we vote for to govern our country the way we want.
Independence is not an end in itself, but a means of building a better future for the people of Scotland. In Scotland’s Future, we said that a
key responsibility of the first Parliament of an independent Scotland would be to put in place a process for preparing a written constitution to
underpin the democratic gains of independence.
A written constitution is the basis of everyday life, setting out and protecting the rights and aspirations of the people of Scotland. It will
be the highest and strongest of laws – a statement of the fundamental principles by which a country chooses to live, regardless of the political
party in power.
This draft Bill provides for a permanent written constitution to be drawn up post-independence by a Constitutional Convention, entirely
autonomous from the Scottish Government. That proposal reflects our strong belief that the process by which Scotland develops and adopts its written constitution will be as important as its content. It should be inclusive and participative, reflecting the fundamental constitutional principle that the people, rather than politicians or state institutions, are the sovereign authority in Scotland.he Scottish Independence Bill would be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in the event of a vote for independence in the referendum. It would be accompanied by a renewed Scotland Act, fully revised and refreshed to operate for an independent country. Proposals for a revised Scotland Act are also summarised in this consultation paper. Together the Scottish Independence Bill and renewed Scotland Act would form the interim constitutional platform for an independent Scotland until the Constitutional Convention prepared the permanent constitution for Scotland.
The Scottish Independence Bill would be subject to the usual parliamentary procedures and enacted in the normal way as an Act of the Scottish Parliament. While respecting those parameters, it is a different type of legislation. The Scottish Independence Bill contains higher-level principles and values that are different from our usual, detailed, technical legislation. This is normal for that great majority of countries who have written constitutions.
In other countries, there is often a high level of public knowledge about the constitution in a way that might not apply to other types of
law. To that end the Scottish Independence Bill has been drafted to be accessible, straightforward and concise. I hope that enables the Bill, and this consultation, to find a wide audience, so that the people of Scotland can see clearly the most important principles, rights and structures of government on which the Scottish Government believes an independent, democratic Scotland should be founded. The Scottish Government has an inherent belief in the ability of the people of Scotland to achieve and succeed. Our proposals, set out in this document, reflect that confidence.
The fundamental principle underpinning the Bill is that, in Scotland, the people are sovereign. This core truth resonates throughout Scotland’s history and will be the foundation stone for Scotland as an independent country.
The simplicity of the statement contained in section 2 of the Bill – “In Scotland, the people are sovereign” – should not mask the radical,
democratic and egalitarian nature of the principle. The people who have the biggest stake in a successful Scotland are those who live and
work here. The Scottish Government believes we get better outcomes for Scotland when decisions about Scotland are made in Scotland by the people of Scotland. That is the essence and also the practical manifestation of embedding the sovereignty of the people within our laws. Sovereignty means the people of Scotland always getting the government we vote for to govern our country the way we want.
Independence is not an end in itself, but a means of building a better future for the people of Scotland. In Scotland’s Future, we said that a
key responsibility of the first Parliament of an independent Scotland would be to put in place a process for preparing a written constitution to
underpin the democratic gains of independence.
A written constitution is the basis of everyday life, setting out and protecting the rights and aspirations of the people of Scotland. It will
be the highest and strongest of laws – a statement of the fundamental principles by which a country chooses to live, regardless of the political
party in power.
This draft Bill provides for a permanent written constitution to be drawn up post-independence by a Constitutional Convention, entirely
autonomous from the Scottish Government. That proposal reflects our strong belief that the process by which Scotland develops and adopts its written constitution will be as important as its content. It should be inclusive and participative, reflecting the fundamental constitutional principle that the people, rather than politicians or state institutions, are the sovereign authority in Scotland.he Scottish Independence Bill would be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in the event of a vote for independence in the referendum. It would be accompanied by a renewed Scotland Act, fully revised and refreshed to operate for an independent country. Proposals for a revised Scotland Act are also summarised in this consultation paper. Together the Scottish Independence Bill and renewed Scotland Act would form the interim constitutional platform for an independent Scotland until the Constitutional Convention prepared the permanent constitution for Scotland.
The Scottish Independence Bill would be subject to the usual parliamentary procedures and enacted in the normal way as an Act of the Scottish Parliament. While respecting those parameters, it is a different type of legislation. The Scottish Independence Bill contains higher-level principles and values that are different from our usual, detailed, technical legislation. This is normal for that great majority of countries who have written constitutions.
In other countries, there is often a high level of public knowledge about the constitution in a way that might not apply to other types of
law. To that end the Scottish Independence Bill has been drafted to be accessible, straightforward and concise. I hope that enables the Bill, and this consultation, to find a wide audience, so that the people of Scotland can see clearly the most important principles, rights and structures of government on which the Scottish Government believes an independent, democratic Scotland should be founded. The Scottish Government has an inherent belief in the ability of the people of Scotland to achieve and succeed. Our proposals, set out in this document, reflect that confidence.