Active Citizens How Governments are formed and laws are made in Wales

Active Citizens: How are governments formed? 1.There are currently 60 Assembly Members (AMs). 2.A government needs the support of half of all the AMs (30 AMs). 3.This was the result in 2011: Source:

Active Citizens: Majority Government In the last Welsh Assembly election in 2011, Labour won 30 out of 60 seats in the Welsh Assembly. This meant Labour had a majority and so could form a single-party majority government.

Active Citizens: Devolved Government In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, some government policies and public services are different from those in England. The UK central government has given certain powers to devolved governments, so that they can make decisions for their own areas. In Wales these areas include: Health and Social Services Farming and Food Communities Natural Resources Skills and Technology Culture, Sport and Tourism Education Economy, Science and Transport

Active Citizens: Cabinet Ministers Once elected, the First Minister of Wales is able to choose cabinet ministers. They are responsible for different government departments. In Wales, there are ministers and deputy ministers for the devolved policy areas, such as education and health. There are 11 government ministers in the Welsh cabinet, as well as the First Minister and the Counsel General for Wales, who gives legal advice to the government. Cabinet ministers meet once a week. They decide on government policy and co- ordinate the work of the different government departments. Cabinet meetings are private and its members should not disclose any information about them. Question Who in this class is most likely to be a cabinet minister in the future? What attributes do they have that would make them a good minister?

Active Citizens: Cabinet Role Play 1.Each of you is going to take on the role of a cabinet minister. You will participate in a mock- cabinet meeting, in which one or more policy issue is discussed. 2.Think about how your cabinet minister would address these topics in a cabinet meeting. 3.Put forward your arguments. Listen to your cabinet colleagues and respond to their points. 4.Your cabinet group needs to come to a decision on the issue and present a summary of the meeting to the rest of the class.

Active Citizens: Cabinet Role-Play Choose one of more of the following topics to base your cabinet meeting on: 1.Ban the use of e-cigarettes in public places where there are children. 2.Extend the school day to start at 8am and end at 5pm. 3.Abolish bus ticket prices for all of Wales. 4.Great Britain should stay in the EU. Even if the topic does not have a direct impact on your department, you are still entitled to share your views and take part in any votes!

Active Citizens: How are laws made? In Wales, decisions and laws made by both the Welsh Assembly and the UK Parliament, depending on whether the power is devolved to Wales or not. Laws in Wales are made in a similar way to in Westminster, but by the Welsh Government and Assembly Members rather than the UK Parliament.

Active Citizens: How are laws made? Proposals Bills Parliamentary stages The Queen’s Assent Act of the National Assembly for Wales or Act of Parliament Watch this video clip on the origins of the Assembly and think about these questions:origins of the Assembly 1.Who comes up with the ideas for a new law? 2.Could someone outside parliament propose a new law?

Active Citizens: How are laws made? 1.Who comes up with the ideas for a new law? 2. Could someone outside parliament propose a new law? Election manifestos Single MP or AM (wants to change a law or create a new one) Need someone in parliament or the Welsh Assembly to sponsor it, depending on the policy area. Experts in a field or pressure groups can try to influence legislation Can be response to something that has happened (increased risk of terrorism) or because something has changed (more people using mobile phones)

Active Citizens: How are laws made? Stage One In Committee: Bill discussed with experts and public. Committee publishes a report. In Plenary: All 60 AMs vote in Plenary on whether Bill should continue. Stage Two In Committee: Committee examines Bill in detail. The Committee discusses changes to the wording of the Bill to improve it, then votes to agree the changes. Stage Three In Plenary: The updated bill is discussed in detail. Each amendment voted on by AMs. If more changes are needed, there may be further stages. Stage Four In Plenary: Final Reading of the Bill to all AMs. Debate on passing the Bill, followed by vote on passage of Bill.

Active Citizens: How are laws made? How does the Welsh Government make laws in the National Assembly? – Think about:  How many steps there are to pass a bill into law?  Are there any issues the Welsh Government cannot legislate on?  Who can propose a bill?

Active Citizens: Make a law Imagine that you are an Assembly Member. What new law would you like to make? Work in pairs to develop an idea. Pitch your idea to the class. Debate these proposals. Vote: Which ideas are supported by a majority of the class?

Active Citizens: Monitor your AM You can find out how your AM has voted in Plenary by visiting the Welsh Assembly website and looking for ‘Plenary Agendas and Decisions’.Welsh Assembly website To find out what new laws the candidates from the various parties want to pass in the future, look at their party manifestos.