When a general election is called the Prime Minister visits the Queen to formally dissolve Parliament.
But someone else has an important job to do, one which takes place on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
The Lord Lyon, who is in charge of Scotland's heraldry, will be giving a Royal Proclamation on the Mercat Cross on Thursday.
Aided by his heralds in striking robes, he will declare that Parliament has been dissolved.
The proclamations are a colourful, quaint ceremony which will be accompanied by much fanfare.
So why does this happen?
For centuries, the Mercat Cross structure in front of the city chambers has been at the heart of civic life in Scotland.
The current one was built in 1866 but a cross has been there since the 15th Century. It was used for state announcements in the days before TV news bulletins and Twitter feeds.
Proclamations which affect all of Scotland are read out there, in practice this means the dissolution of Parliament for a general election and the succession of the monarch.
Upon the , the Lord Lyon will proclaim the news to those gathered nearby.
Joseph Morrow is the current Right Honourable Lord Lyon King of Arms. This part of his job is like Scotland's town crier, shouting "hear ye, hear ye!"
In 2018, the Mercat Cross was rededicated after a major restoration project. A carved unicorn sits on top of it - Scotland's national animal.
What's happening on Thursday?
The ceremony begins at noon on Thursday, November 7.
A procession will set off from West Parliament Square, just in front of St Giles' Cathedral.
It will consist of some colourfully-dressed people who hold traditional roles in the Lyon Court and the royal household.
They include the State Trumpeters, Lyon Macer, Falkland, Linlithgow, Unicorn and Dingwall Pursuivants and the Marchmont, Snawdoun and Rothesay Heralds.
The Sheriff Clark and the Lord Lyon complete the procession.
Soldiers from Balaklava company, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders will form a guard of honour while the regimental band will provide music.
Visitors and residents will be able to see the event from the Royal Mile.
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