The Assembly
1The Assembly
(1)There is to be an Assembly for Wales to be known as the National Assembly for Wales or Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru (referred to in this Act as “the Assembly”).
(2)The Assembly is to consist of—
(a)one member for each Assembly constituency (referred to in this Act as “Assembly constituency members”), and
(b)members for each Assembly electoral region (referred to in this Act as “Assembly regional members”).
(3)Members of the Assembly (referred to in this Act as “Assembly members”) are to be returned in accordance with the provision made by and under this Act for—
(a)the holding of general elections of Assembly members (for the return of the entire Assembly), and
(b)the filling of vacancies in Assembly seats.
(4)The validity of any Assembly proceedings is not affected by any vacancy in its membership.
(5)In this Act “Assembly proceedings” means any proceedings of—
(a)the Assembly,
(b)committees of the Assembly, or
(c)sub-committees of such committees.
2Assembly constituencies and electoral regions
(1)The Assembly constituencies are the parliamentary constituencies in Wales (as specified in the Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1041)).
(2)There are five Assembly electoral regions.
(3)The Assembly electoral regions are as specified in the Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006.
(4)There are four seats for each Assembly electoral region.
(5)For provision about alterations in the Assembly electoral regions and in the allocation of seats to those regions see Schedule 1.
(6)Subsections (1), (3) and (4) are subject to any Order in Council under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c. 56), as that Act has effect as extended by that Schedule.