These are some of the key dates in devolution's first 10 years:
May 6, 1999: Scots go to the polls to elect the first devolved Parliament. Labour wins 56 seats, the SNP 35, the Conservatives 18, the Liberal Democrats 17, and the Greens and SSP win one each. Independent Dennis Canavan is also elected.
May 12, 1999: Scotland's newly-elected MSPs meet for the first time. As the oldest member Winnie Ewing chairs proceedings, saying: "The Scottish Parliament, which adjourned on March 25 1707, is hereby reconvened."
May 13, 1999: After days of talks, Labour and the Liberal Democrats agree a coalition pact.
July 1, 1999: The Queen opens the new Parliament on the day it gains full legislative powers.
June 21, 2000: After a long and debilitating battle which has dominated the Parliament's first year, MSPs pass a law repealing the ban on the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities.
July 17, 2000: Alex Salmond announces he will stand down as SNP leader, saying he has decided to "pass on the torch." He is succeeded by John Swinney.
October 10, 2000: Donald Dewar, who five months previously has undergone heart surgery, trips as he leaves Bute House in Edinburgh and is admitted to hospital, where he dies the following day. He is succeeded as First Minister by Henry McLeish.
November 8, 2001: Henry McLeish resigns as First Minister after controversy over the subletting of his Westminster constituency office in Glenrothes. He is succeeded by Jack McConnell.
February 13, 2002: A ban on hunting wild animals with dogs is finally passed by MSPs after lengthy controversy.
May 1, 2003: Second Holyrood elections: Labour win 50 seats, the SNP 27, Conservatives 18, Liberal Democrats 17, Greens 7, SSP 6, Senior Citizens' Unity Party 1. Three independents - Margo MacDonald, Dennis Canavan, and Dr Jean Turner - are also returned.
RESIGNATIONS ABOUND
June 22, 2004: John Swinney resigns as SNP leader after the party dips below 20% in the European Parliament elections.
September 3, 2004: Alex Salmond succeeds John Swinney as SNP leader. He had entered the contest on July 15, having previously said: "If nominated, I'll decline. If drafted, I'll defer. And if elected, I'll resign."
September 15, 2004: Lord Fraser publishes his report into the Holyrood building fiasco.
October 9, 2004: After years of delay and rising costs, the new Holyrood Parliament building is officially opened with a price tag of £414 million.
May 9, 2005: Jim Wallace resigns as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, days after the Lib Dems become the second biggest Scottish party at Westminster with 11 seats and 22.6% of the vote. He is succeeded by Nicol Stephen.
October 31, 2005: David McLetchie unexpectedly resigns as Scottish Tory leader, after finding himself unable to close down a row over his taxi expense claims.
March 2, 2006: A beam in the ceiling of the Scottish Parliament swings loose, and dangles precariously above the Conservative benches, still held by its upper socket. MSPs meet in other venues for the next two months.
BALLOT PROBLEMS
May 3, 2007: After an election night plagued by ballot paper problems, the SNP emerges as the biggest party from the third Holyrood election, which sees the return of 47 SNP, 46 Labour, 17 Conservative, 16 Liberal Democrat, and two Green MSPs plus the independent Margo MacDonald.
May 5, 2007: Any SNP hopes of a coalition with the Liberal Democrats are dashed when they agree unanimously not to back a referendum on independence.
May 11, 2007: The SNP and the two Greens reach a cooperation deal which falls short of a coalition, but brings Green support for Alex Salmond's nomination as First Minister.
August 15, 2007: Jack McConnell quits as Labour leader. He is succeeded by Wendy Alexander in an uncontested election.
July 2, 2008: Nicol Stephen quits as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. He is succeeded by Tavish Scott.
September 13, 2008: Iain Gray succeeds Wendy Alexander as Scottish Labour leader. She resigned after a long-running row over her leadership election campaign donations.
January 28, 2009: The SNP fail to get its budget passed through Parliament, throwing Holyrood into chaos. The budget is passed, with concessions, the following week
