Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
Encyclopedia
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales is the Speaker
of the National Assembly for Wales
, elected by the Members of the National Assembly for Wales
to chair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.
He or she also heads the Corporate Body (known as the Assembly Commission
) of the National Assembly for Wales
and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. One Deputy Presiding Officer is elected to help fulfil the role. The office of the Presiding Officer is based in Crickhowell House
and is also responsible for the Pierhead Building
in Cardiff Bay
.
The Presiding Officer is also responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The Presiding Officer also acts as Chair of the National Assembly for Wales Commission
, and has special responsibility for promoting democratic engagement, leadership, developing the Assembly’s future legislative powers and external relations
He or she is, along with the Deputy, politically responsible for all aspects of the Presiding Office to which the Standing Orders relate.
The Presiding Officer chairs meetings of the Panel of Subject Committee Chairs, where committee procedures and matters affecting Committee business are discussed. In addition to this, the Presiding Officer acts as the ambassador for the National Assembly, attending speaker’s conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of the Assembly
Neither the Presiding or the deputy presiding officers are allowed to participate in Assembly votes.
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
, elected by the Members of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
to chair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.
He or she also heads the Corporate Body (known as the Assembly Commission
Assembly Commission
The National Assembly for Wales Commission is the corporate body for the National Assembly for Wales. The Commission is responsible for ensuring the property, staff and services are provided for the Assembly...
) of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. One Deputy Presiding Officer is elected to help fulfil the role. The office of the Presiding Officer is based in Crickhowell House
Crickhowell House
Tŷ Hywel is named after Hywel Dda and is used by the National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff, Wales. Previously it was known as Crickhowell House and was named after Lord Crickhowell. It is also informally known as the Assembly Office and houses Assembly Members of the National Assembly for Wales...
and is also responsible for the Pierhead Building
Pierhead Building
The Pierhead Building is a Grade 1 listed building of the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay, Wales. It stands as one of the city of Cardiff's most familiar landmarks and was built in 1897 as the headquarters for the Bute Dock Company....
in Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
.
Role of the Presiding Officer
The main function is to chair plenary sessions of the Assembly, to maintain order and to protect the rights of Members. He or she is responsible for ensuring that business is handled on the basis of equality and impartiality.The Presiding Officer is also responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The Presiding Officer also acts as Chair of the National Assembly for Wales Commission
Assembly Commission
The National Assembly for Wales Commission is the corporate body for the National Assembly for Wales. The Commission is responsible for ensuring the property, staff and services are provided for the Assembly...
, and has special responsibility for promoting democratic engagement, leadership, developing the Assembly’s future legislative powers and external relations
He or she is, along with the Deputy, politically responsible for all aspects of the Presiding Office to which the Standing Orders relate.
The Presiding Officer chairs meetings of the Panel of Subject Committee Chairs, where committee procedures and matters affecting Committee business are discussed. In addition to this, the Presiding Officer acts as the ambassador for the National Assembly, attending speaker’s conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of the Assembly
Neither the Presiding or the deputy presiding officers are allowed to participate in Assembly votes.
List of office holders
| Name | Picture | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rt Hon the Lord Elis-Thomas PC Privy council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on... AM |
May 12, 1999 | May 11, 2011 | Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966... |
Appointed 1999, re-appointed 2003 and 2007 | ||
| Rosemary Butler Rosemary Butler (politician) Rosemary Janet Mair Butler is a British politician and Labour Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Newport West since 1999. Serving briefly as Assembly Secretary for Education in the first two years of the Assembly, she was elected Deputy Presiding Officer of the Assembly in May 2007... AM |
May 11, 2011 | Incumbent | Labour | Appointed 2011. | ||
List of office holders
| Name | Picture | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Davidson Jane Davidson Jane Davidson, AM was the Labour Assembly Member for Pontypridd and the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in the Welsh Assembly Government. She lives in Gwaelod-y-Garth with her husband and three children... AM |
May 12, 1999 | October 17, 2000 | Labour | First Assembly. Resigned from post when she became a Government Minister | ||
| John Marek AM | October, 2000 | May, 2003 | Labour | First Assembly | ||
| John Marek AM | May 7, 2003 | May, 2007 | Forward Wales | Second Assembly | ||
| Rosemary Butler Rosemary Butler (politician) Rosemary Janet Mair Butler is a British politician and Labour Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Newport West since 1999. Serving briefly as Assembly Secretary for Education in the first two years of the Assembly, she was elected Deputy Presiding Officer of the Assembly in May 2007... AM |
May 9, 2007 | May 11, 2011 | Labour | Third Assembly | ||
| David Melding AM | May 11, 2011 | Incumbent | Conservative Welsh Conservative Party The Welsh Conservatives & Unionists , informally the Welsh Conservatives or Welsh Tories, are the part of the Conservative Party which operates in Wales... |
Fourth Assembly | ||
See also
- National Assembly for WalesNational Assembly for WalesThe National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
- Assembly CommissionAssembly CommissionThe National Assembly for Wales Commission is the corporate body for the National Assembly for Wales. The Commission is responsible for ensuring the property, staff and services are provided for the Assembly...