General
This section about the Presiding Officer is one of three section set under the heading of the Presiding Officer and Administration. Other sections in the Act relating to the Presiding Officer and setting out his statutory functions include:
Sections 2, 3 and 9 - recommending to Her Majesty the date for holding general elections and fixing the dates of by-elections;
Sections 10 and 14 - receiving notification of a member’s resignation and of the filling of a vacancy in a regional seat;
Section 21 - membership of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body;
Section 26 - administering oaths to witnesses before the Parliament;
Sections 31 to 35 - scrutiny of Bills and submission of Bills for Royal Assent; and
Sections 45 and 46 - recommending to Her Majesty the Parliament's choice of First Minister and the appointment of another member to exercise the First Minister's functions in certain circumstances.
The Standing Orders of the Parliament also provide that the Presiding Officer shall have such other functions as may be conferred upon him or her by the Parliament or by the Standing Orders.