Welsh assembly

National Assembly for Wales Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Fifth Assembly
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Presiding Officer	Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru
Leader of the House	Jane Hutt, Labour
Structure
Seats	60
Political groups	Government      Labour (29)      Liberal Democrats (1)      Independent (1) Opposition      Plaid Cymru (11)      Conservative (11)      UKIP (6)      Independent UKIP member  (1)
Elections
Voting system	Additional Member System
Last election	5 May 2016
Next election	6 May 2021
Meeting place
Senedd, Cardiff
Website
www.assembly.wales

Government

Opposition

The National Assembly for Wales (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru; commonly known as the Welsh Assembly) is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs (Aelod y Cynulliad). Since 2011, Members are elected for five-year terms under an additional members system, where 40 AMs represent geographical constituencies elected by the plurality system, and 20 AMs represent five electoral regions using the d'Hondt method of proportional representation.

The Assembly was created by the Government of Wales Act 1998, which followed a referendum in 1997. The Assembly had no powers to initiate primary legislation until limited law-making powers were gained through the Government of Wales Act 2006. Its primary law-making powers were enhanced following a Yes vote in the referendum on 3 March 2011, making it possible for it to legislate without having to consult the UK parliament or the Secretary of State for Wales in the 20 areas that are devolved.