Someone who is not an MSP can introduce a private bill, but the purpose of such a bill is limited. The purpose of a private bill is to obtain for the individual or corporation proposing it specific powers that go beyond or conflict with the general law. A member of the public cannot introduce a bill to change the general law that applies across Scotland, for example, concerning health, education or housing.

For members of the public who wish to see changes to the general law, there are several ways to make their concerns known. These include:

• contacting their MSPs (for example, an MSP could introduce a member’s bill or take the proposal to a committee which might bring forward a committee bill)
• submitting a petition asking the Parliament to amend an existing law or introduce a new law. More information on petitioning the Parliament is available in the document How to submit a public petition.

The Scottish Parliament’s Education Service produces a range of resources designed to fit in with the curriculum in Scottish primary and secondary schools, as well as materials for teachers and interactive resources on the internet.

Scottish Parliament committees frequently consult the public when conducting inquiries into issues of concern or considering the general principles of a bill at Stage 1. Details of current Scottish Parliament consultations are available on our website.

The Scottish Government also carries out consultation exercises, which allow you to express your opinions on proposals. Information about the Scottish Government's consultation process and details of its current and forthcoming consultations can be found in the Consultations section of the Scottish Government's website.

Cross-Party Groups provide an opportunity for MSPs of all parties and members of the public and outside organisations to meet and discuss a shared interest in a particular cause or subject. A list of Cross-Party Groups is published on our website. By clicking on the name of a group on this list, you can find out about its purpose, its membership and who you should contact for more information.

Any group or individual member of the public can submit a petition to the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee. More information on how to do this is available in the document How to submit a public petition (587KB pdf). The committee will consider how to respond to the petition. There are a number of options open to the Public Petitions Committee including:

• forwarding the petition to another parliamentary committee for consideration
• forwarding the petition to an external organisation e.g. a local authority.

If you have an issue that you want to raise, it is important to make sure that the right person gets to hear about it. The leaflet Who Represents Me? may help you decide who to contact. This publication outlines the roles and responsibilities of the different organisations that influence the lives of people in Scotland and provides useful contact details.