A provost (introduced into Scots from French) is the ceremonial head
of Scottish local authorities and other statutory elected civic bodies
past and present such as Town, District and Community Councils, and
under the name prévôt (French pronunciation: ​[pÊ eˈvoË ]) was a
governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Régime
France.Most of Scotland's 32 modern unitary council areas elect a
Provost, who, alongside ceremonial duties similar to mayors in other
countries, also acts as convener of the council. In the cities and
council areas of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee, the
alternative title of Lord Provost is used.Most of Scotland's 32 modern
unitary council areas elect a Provost, who, alongside ceremonial
duties similar to mayors in other countries, also acts as convener of
the council. In the cities and council areas of Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Aberdeen, and Dundee, the alternative title of Lord Provost is used.As
a secular title, praepositus is also very old, dating to the
praepositus sacri cubiculi of the late Roman Empire, and the
praepositus palatii of the Carolingian court. The title developed in
France from where it found its way into Scots, where in Scotland it
became the style (as provost) of the principal magistrates of the
Royal Burghs (roughly speaking, the equivalent of "mayor" in other
countries) ("Lord Provost" in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and
Dundee), and into England, where it is applied to certain officers
charged with the maintenance of military discipline. A Provost Marshal
is an officer of the army originally appointed when troops are on
service abroad (and now in the United Kingdom as well) for the prompt
repression of all offenses. He may at any time arrest and detain for
trial persons subject to military law committing offences, and may
also carry into execution any punishments to be inflicted in pursuance
of a court martial (Army Act 1881, § 74). A provost sergeant is in
charge of the garrison police or regimental police. The 'Provost' also
refers to the military police in general. The British Army
pronunciation is 'Prov-oh', though the U.S. Army pronunciation is
'Pro-vost' as written.Historically the provost was the chief
magistrate or convener of a Scottish burgh council, the equivalent of
a mayor in other parts of the English-speaking world. Previous to the
enactment of the Town Councils (Scotland) Act 1900 various titles were
used in different burghs, but the legislation standardised the name of
the governing body as “the provost, magistrates, and councillorsâ€
of the burgh. After the re-organisation of local government in
Scotland in 1975, the title of Lord Provost was reserved to Aberdeen,
Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, while other district councils could
choose the title to be used by the convener; in 1994 twenty-two
councils had provosts. Provost (civil) Top Movies & Young Movies