National Assembly for Wales

The National Assembly for Wales ( NAW; Welsh Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, German National Assembly for Wales) is a parliament with the authority to adopt rules for Wales, but without full legislative powers. It elects the First Minister, that is, the Prime Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government.

History

The demand for political autonomy of Wales was first charged by the political party Plaid Cymru, the 1966 could win their first parliamentary seat. In a referendum held in 1979 an autonomy from Britain was still rejected. The decentralization was later become a major concern of the Labour Party. In July 1997 the British government published under Tony Blair a government report in which proposals for devolution in Wales were explained. These were adopted by referendum on 18 September 1997. After that, the Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998 (Law on the Government of Wales from 1998 ), with which the National Assembly was founded by Wales. The first elections were held in May 1999. The National Assembly for Wales ( Transfer of Functions ) Order 1999, the transfer of the powers and functions of the Secretary of State for Wales (Minister of Wales) has been made possible to the National Assembly on 1 July 1999. The Government of Wales Act 2006 the assembly by the British Parliament in individual cases, legislative competence can be granted.

Composition

The National Assembly for Wales has 60 members, entitled AM (Assembly Member), or in Welsh AC ( Aelod y Cynulliad ) wear. Every four years instead of elections, where voters have two votes each. 40 of the 60 members are elected in the electoral districts by the majority electoral system. The remaining 20 members represent the five regions of Wales and be selected by a kind of proportional representation system.

The Senedd

The plenary sessions and most committee meetings are held in designed by the Pritzker Prize winner, Richard Rogers and inaugurated on 1 March 2006 the National Assembly building, the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. The Pierhead Building and Tŷ Hywel, two other sites of the National Assembly, are located in close proximity to the Senedd.