National Assembly for Wales

The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly in Wales that has the power to makes legislation. There are 60 members, who are formally known as Assembly Members, or AMs. The members of the Welsh Assembly are elected to four year terms. 40 members of the National Assembly for Wales represent geographical constituencies.

These members are elected by a plurality system. The remaining 20 seats involve 20 members of the National Assembly for Wales who are elected from five electoral regions, and selected using the d'Hondt method to determine the proper proportional representation.

The Welsh Assembly was established following the passage of the Government for Wales Act of 1998. This Act transferred most of the powers that had been located in the Welsh office or held by the Secretary of State for Wales to the National Assembly for Wales. Under the original construction of the National Assembly for Wales, the Welsh Assembly lacked the authority to initiate primary legislation.

After the Government of Wales Act of 2006 was passed, however, the Welsh Assembly gained a limited power to legislate some areas through the passage of Assembly Measures. However, these Measures remain subject to veto by the Secretary of State and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

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