Part I The National Assembly for Wales
The Assembly
1 The Assembly.
1
There shall be an Assembly for Wales to be known as the National Assembly for Wales or Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (but referred to in this Act as the Assembly).
2
The Assembly shall be a body corporate.
3
The exercise by the Assembly of its functions is to be regarded as done on behalf of the Crown.
2 Membership.
1
The Assembly shall consist of—
a
one member for each Assembly constituency, and
b
members for each Assembly electoral region.
2
The Assembly constituencies and Assembly electoral regions, and the number of Assembly seats for each Assembly electoral region, shall be as provided for by or in accordance with Schedule 1.
3
Members of the Assembly (referred to in this Act as Assembly members) shall be returned in accordance with the provision made by and under this Act for—
a
the holding of ordinary elections of Assembly members, and
b
the filling of vacancies in Assembly seats.
4
An ordinary election involves the holding of elections for the return of the entire Assembly.
5
The term of office of an Assembly member—
a
begins when he is declared to be returned as an Assembly member, and
b
continues until the end of the day before the day of the poll at the next ordinary election.
6
But an Assembly member may at any time resign his seat by giving notice to—
a
the presiding officer, or
b
any person authorised by the standing orders of the Assembly to receive the notice.
7
The validity of anything done by the Assembly is not affected by any vacancy in its membership.