Active Citizens: General election v. Welsh Assembly election

1. Active Citizens: General election v. Welsh Assembly election • In May 2015, there was a general election across the whole of the UK. • Members of Parliament are elected in a general election for five years to sit in the UK Parliament at Westminster. • They represent constituencies from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They The Houses of Parliament, Westminster The Welsh Assembly building, also known as the Senedd.

2. Active Citizens: General election v. Welsh Assembly election • The main legislative body in the United Kingdom is the UK Parliament. • After two referendums in 1997, the Welsh people voted in favour of setting up a Welsh Assembly. The first Welsh Assembly elections were held in May 1999. • Since 2011, the Welsh Assembly has legislated on devolved policy areas without needing the permission from the UK Parliament first.

3. Active Citizens: What is devolution? The Welsh National Assembly can make laws in these policy areas: Food Economic development Agriculture, forestry, animals, plants and rural development Ancient monuments and historic buildings Education and training Fire and rescue services and fire safety Health and health services Culture Highways and transport Environment

4. Active Citizens: How are Assembly Members elected? Wales is split into 40 geographical areas. These are called parliamentary seats or assembly constituencies. In each constituency, every British citizen aged 18 or over and resident in Wales has two votes. The first vote is for a constituency member and is counted using the first past the post system. The second vote is for regional members and is counted using a more proportional system. Map of Welsh constituencies

5. Active Citizens: How are Assembly Members elected? Watch this short video from the 2011 National Assembly elections to find out how each vote will be counted in the upcoming elections in May.

6. Active Citizens: How are AMs elected? There are 60 elected Assembly Members from across the political spectrum. Some AMs are elected in safe seats, where one party often secures a large majority of the vote. Caerphilly shown as one of the 40 Welsh Assembly constituencies. Which constituency do you live in? What is the name of your AM? Which party do they belong to?

7. Active Citizens: How are AMs elected? Llanelli, a marginal Labour/Plaid Cymru seat. In other constituencies the voting is very close. These are called marginal seats. Do you live a marginal or a safe seat?

8. Active Citizens: Who can vote in Welsh Assembly elections? 1. 16 and 17 year olds 2. Prisoners 3. Irish Citizens living in Wales No No Yes 4. EU Citizens living in Wales 6. British citizens over 18 living in Wales. 5. Commonwealth Citizens living in Wales Yes Yes Yes https://www.gov.uk/voting-in-the-uk/general-elections

9. Active Citizens: Recap Questions • What is a constituency? • How are AMs elected? • What is the difference between a safe and a marginal seat? • Which groups of people are not able to vote in Welsh National Assembly elections?

10. Active Citizens: Mock Election Hold a mock election in your class! Who are the candidates? What are their policies? Do they need a campaign team to help them to design posters and prepare a short speech? Hold a short hustings so the rest of the class can question the candidates. Organise a private ballot and see who wins.