First Minister of Scotland elect its members, it is difficult for a single party to gain an overall majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament. The SNP gained an overall majority of seats in the 2011 election, and thus had enough numbers to vote in its leader, Alex Salmond, as First Minister for a second term. After the election of the Scottish Parliament, a First Minister must be nominated within a period of 28 days. Under the terms of the Scotland Act, if the Parliament fails to nominate a First Minister, within this time frame, it will be dissolved and a fresh election held.
First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland of suspension on 11 August 2001 and 22 September 2001. to allow timetables for negotiation to restart. During the periods of suspension, the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland assumed the responsibilities of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. There are three living former First Ministers and two living former deputy First Ministers, not including those who served as acting: First Ministers Deputy First Ministers First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland The First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (, Ulster-Scots: "") are the joint heads of the Northern Ireland Executive and have overall