Teacher Notes- Short Assembly Length – 15 minutes Task Notes / Looking for more? As they are entering the class/hall, ask the young people to discuss which issues are The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 makes a important to them as young people? What affects their day-to-day lives? number of changes to elections to the Senedd, and to the functions of the Senedd. On the screen, a series of powers will be displayed – some of which are reserved to the These are: UK Parliament, and others which are devolved to the Senedd. Ask the young people to - Lowing the voting age to 16 for Senedd Elections consider who has control over each power – the Senedd or the UK Parliament. held after 6 April 2021; - Extending the right to vote to qualifying foreign Reveal the answers, allowing time for young people to reflect on who has control over citizens; the issues most important to them. - Renaming the National Assembly for Wales to “Senedd Cymru” or “the Welsh Parliament”, and related name changes, such as Members of the Senedd, and Acts of the Senedd;

Changing its name to Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament reflects how its role has grown, and the further law- making it has acquired over the past 20 years.

In 2018 (following the Wales Act 2017), the model of devolution in Wales changed to a ‘reserved powers model’, similar to those already in use in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This means that the Senedd can legislate on anything for Wales, except for the list of areas in the Act, where the UK Parliament will retain exclusive power to legislate for Wales (things such as defence, foreign policy, currency).

Play the animated video about the Senedd. The 5 minute video covers its history, its powers, its members, and voting in Senedd elections.

Finish the session with our Kahoot quiz to see just how much the young people have learnt about the Senedd and its elections.