Dated events associated with this case. Each event is a shared record: the same event appears identically wherever it is relevant.
· Constitutional change
The Kingdoms of Scotland and England were united as Great Britain, with one Parliament, from 1 May 1707.
Significance here: Ended the separate Parliament of Scotland; the Union later became a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998.
· Referendum or popular consultation
A majority of voters backed the Scotland Act 1978, but the Yes vote fell short of the 40% of the electorate the Act required, and the Act was repealed.
Significance here: The failed threshold ended the first statutory attempt at a Scottish Assembly.
· Referendum or popular consultation
Voters approved a Scottish Parliament (74.3%) and tax-varying powers (63.5%), leading to the Scotland Act 1998.
Significance here: Provided the popular endorsement for the Scotland Act 1998 and the Parliament that first met in 1999.
· Agreement
The UK and Scottish Governments agreed the terms for a legal, single-question independence referendum to be held by the end of 2014.
Significance here: Created the agreed legal route for the 2014 independence referendum.
· Referendum or popular consultation
Voters rejected independence by 55.3% to 44.7% on a turnout of 84.6%.
Significance here: The only independence referendum held in Scotland; Scotland remained in the United Kingdom.
· Legal decision
The UK Supreme Court held that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for an independence referendum without a change to the reserved matters.
Significance here: Closed the route of a referendum legislated for by the Scottish Parliament alone under the current Scotland Act.
· Election
The SNP won 58 of 129 seats and, with the Scottish Greens, formed a pro-independence majority of 73 MSPs.
Significance here: Produced a pro-independence majority of 73 MSPs, followed by a parliamentary call for a section 30 order.
Dates show their real precision. Approximate or uncertain dates are labelled and never converted into an exact day.