Donald Dewar: "Redressing the balance of power"

But as well as the high-profile legislation which has been passed, the way the parliament is actually working is surely worthy of an end-of-term prize.

Some of the committees came in for a fair amount of criticism when they were first set up while others were showered with praise.

Look to the rural affairs, enterprise and lifelong learning and justice committees for shining examples of how the system should operate.

The Tory MSP Alex Johnstone has to set aside his party affiliations to impartially chair meetings to scrutinise the Labour MSP Mike Watson's bill to outlaw hunting with hounds.

Likewise the Scottish National Party MSP for North Tayside John Swinney takes on a slightly different persona in the committee room from that adopted in the debating chamber when discussing tuition fees.

John Swinney: Different persona

Unlike at Westminster, bills are not presented as a fait accompli for politicians to vote on at the end of the process.

When a bill comes before the Scottish Parliament for its stage three debate, it has already been taken apart by any number of committees, amendments have been proposed and expert witnesses have been called.

Backbenchers of all parties are much more involved in what is happening and a whole host of new personalities have emerged on the political stage.

Who can forget the look of complete joy on the face of the Green MSP Robin Harper when he was elected?

He now cuts a dashing figure on the Mound in his rainbow-coloured Doctor Who-style scarf.

Wendy Alexander has raised her profile

Politicos who were little known outside their immediate party circle are now much more widely recognised.

Every time the rural affairs minister gets to his feet you can almost hear the opening bars of Dad's Army since - to many observers - the Lib Dems' Ross Finnie is uncannily like Captain Mainwaring.

The Communities Minister, Wendy Alexander, will find it difficult to shake off the image as a diminutive motormouth talking at more than 19 to the dozen or as the woman at the centre of the storm over the repeal of Section 28.

She can at least draw comfort from the fact that she is definitely known to the Scottish public now - which is a far cry from her previous existence as a backroom politician.