Politics of Wales
Encyclopedia : P : PO : POL : Politics of Wales
Wales is a constituent country of the United Kingdom. Despite being highly integrated with its larger neighbour England (and indeed part of the same legal system for nearly 500 years), Wales has retained its identity as a distinct country.
Since the late 19th century assorted groups have argued for varying measures of devolution or ‘home rule’ for Wales and in 1964 the establishment of the Welsh Office enshrined a measure of territorial governance. In 1997 the people of Wales narrowly voted to establish a National Assembly for Wales or Welsh Assembly. This body, while unable to pass primary legislation, absorbed most of the executive and secondary legislative functions of the Secretary of State for Wales in areas such as health, education, transport, the environment and local government. The Assembly is comprised of 60 directly elected members, of whom 40 are elected via the First Past The Post and 20 via the more proportional Alternative Member System.
In 2005, the Government announced its intention to seek Parliamentary approval for a revised Government of Wales Act to give the Welsh Assembly broader law making powers.
See also
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