Part 2Welsh Assembly Government
Ministers, staff etc.
46The First Minister
(1)
The First Minister is to be appointed by Her Majesty after nomination in accordance with section 47.
(2)
The First Minister holds office at Her Majesty's pleasure.
(3)
The First Minister may at any time tender resignation to Her Majesty and ceases to hold office as First Minister when it is accepted.
(4)
A person ceases to hold office as the First Minister if another person is appointed to that office.
(5)
The functions of the First Minister are exercisable by a person designated by the Presiding Officer if—
(a)
the office of the First Minister is vacant,
(b)
the First Minister is for any reason unable to act, or
(c)
the First Minister has ceased to be an Assembly member.
(6)
A person may not be designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister unless the person is—
(a)
an Assembly member, or
(b)
if the Assembly has been dissolved, a person who ceased to be an Assembly member by reason of the dissolution.
(7)
A person may be designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister only on the recommendation of the Welsh Ministers (unless there is no-one holding office as a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48).
(8)
If a person is designated to exercise the functions of the First Minister, the designation continues to have effect even if the Assembly is dissolved.