State the time limit within which the Senedd must nominate a First Minister after an election.

It has 28 days from the poll to make a nomination, and if none is made the Llywydd must propose a date for a fresh election.

Explain why the First Minister's power of patronage is smaller than the Prime Minister's.

Statute caps the number of Welsh Ministers and Deputy Ministers, at seventeen since the 2026 election, so there are far fewer posts available to reward or promote members.

What role does the First Minister play beyond the Senedd chamber?

The First Minister speaks for Wales in dealings with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations, and represents Wales on trade and diplomatic visits.

WJEC AS-Level Government and Politics 603-1979-3

The British Constitution

Topic overview The nature of the constitution: uncodified, unitary and flexible Statute law as a source of the constitution Common law and works of constitutional authority Constitutional conventions Parliamentary sovereignty The rule of law Parliamentary government and constitutional monarchy Constitutional reform since 1997 The debate on a codified constitution The UK, the European Union and Brexit The UK, NATO and the United Nations

The Judiciary and the Supreme Court

Topic overview The constitutional role of the Supreme Court The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and the creation of the Court The Supreme Court as the highest court of appeal The separation of powers in the UK Judicial independence Judicial neutrality and the appointment of judges Judicial review and the doctrine of ultra vires Supreme Court rulings on constitutional matters A separate legal jurisdiction for Wales

The UK Executive

Topic overview The core executive The roles of the Prime Minister The powers and resources of the Prime Minister The royal prerogative The composition of the Cabinet The roles and functions of the Cabinet Collective ministerial responsibility Individual ministerial responsibility Prime ministerial government and its limits The civil service

Parliament and the Accountability of Government

Topic overview The composition of the House of Commons The House of Lords: composition and powers The functions of Parliament The legislative process Private members' bills and delegated legislation Select committees Questions, debates and confidence in the government Backbench MPs and peers The role of the Opposition Parliamentary privilege Parliamentary sovereignty in practice Executive dominance and where power lies

Government and the Senedd in Wales

Topic overview The First Minister of Wales The Welsh Government and its Cabinet Collective and individual ministerial responsibility in Wales The powers and resources of the Welsh Government The origins and structure of the Senedd The composition and election of the Senedd The legislative competence of the Senedd The legislative process in the Senedd Plenary and the business of the Senedd Senedd committees Members of the Senedd and the Opposition Debates over the effectiveness of the Senedd

Devolution and the United Kingdom

Topic overview The nature and forms of devolution The origins of devolution in the UK The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive Devolution in England Asymmetry in the devolution settlement The West Lothian question and English votes for English laws Funding devolution and the Barnett formula Devolution, sovereignty and the union Debates over the future of the union

Citizenship and Rights

Topic overview The meaning of citizenship Global citizenship Freedom, equality and active citizenship The rule of law and protection under the law The rights of minorities Positive discrimination and positive action The sources of rights in the UK Equality legislation on race and gender Freedom of expression, association and religion Privacy, liberty and the right to a fair trial Conflicts between rights Debates over a British Bill of Rights

The Protection of Human Rights

Topic overview The courts and the protection of rights Judicial review: grounds and remedies Judicial review in practice The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights The European Court of Human Rights The Human Rights Act 1998 The Human Rights Act in the courts Enforcing equality law Ombudsmen and commissioners Pressure and campaigning for rights Debates over the protection of rights in the UK

Democracy and Participation

Topic overview Direct democracy Representative democracy Comparing direct and representative democracy Turnout in Wales and the UK Apathy, abstention and the participation crisis Legitimacy and the mandate Pluralism and elitism Who participates and why Widening participation and franchise reform

Electoral Systems in the UK

Topic overview The functions of elections and the language of electoral systems First Past the Post: how it works First Past the Post: advantages and criticisms The Additional Member System and Senedd elections The Single Transferable Vote Party list systems The supplementary vote and the alternative vote Proportionality, fairness and effects on party systems Coalition and minority government Key elections in Wales Referendums in Wales and the UK

Voting Behaviour in the UK

Topic overview The sociological model and social class Party identification and partisan dealignment The rational choice model The valence model and governing competence Age, gender, ethnicity and education Region, nation and voting in Wales Election campaigns and party leaders The media and voting behaviour Turnout, tactical voting and volatility

Political Parties in Wales and the UK

Topic overview The functions of political parties The Labour Party: origins and ideology The Conservative Party: origins and ideology The Liberal Democrats and the centre ground Plaid Cymru and the Welsh party system Smaller and minor parties Party organisation and the role of members Leadership selection in the main parties Candidate selection and representation Manifestos, platforms and the mandate Party funding, cash for influence and reform

Pressure Groups and Social Movements

Topic overview Pressure groups and how they differ from parties Sectional and promotional groups Insider and outsider groups Access points in Wales and the UK Lobbying and direct contact with decision-makers Direct action and public campaigning Using the media and new technologies Factors in pressure group success Pressure groups and the health of democracy Social movements: nature, membership and methods The women's movement and the environmental movement

Government and the Senedd in Wales

12 subtopics
36 things to know
AS Unit 1

What Government and the Senedd in Wales covers

Government and the Senedd in Wales is examined in AS Unit 1, Government in Wales and the United Kingdom — how devolution works. It covers the First Minister of Wales, the Welsh Government and its Cabinet, collective and individual ministerial responsibility in Wales, the powers and resources of the Welsh Government, the origins and structure of the Senedd, the composition and election of the Senedd, the legislative competence of the Senedd, the legislative process in the Senedd, plenary and the business of the Senedd, Senedd committees, members of the Senedd and the Opposition and debates over the effectiveness of the Senedd.

Where it is assessed

AS Unit 1

Government in Wales and the United Kingdom.

Check the WJEC specification ↗

The 12 subtopics

Each one has its own page. WJEC AS Government and Politics students sit this topic in the first year.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Set out how a Bill passes through the Senedd once its general principles are agreed.

Key term

Explain how the Welsh Government and the Senedd differ, and who administers policy in Wales.

Key term

What is the Welsh Government?

Key term

How is the First Minister of Wales chosen?

Key term

Define collective responsibility as it applies to Welsh Ministers.

Key term

Where does most of the Welsh Government's money come from?

Numbers

Which Act created the National Assembly for Wales?

Key term

Which electoral system was used for the Senedd from 1999 until 2021?

Key term

Define legislative competence.

Key term

What is plenary?

Key term

Give three functions of a Senedd committee.

Key term

Give three functions of a member of the Senedd.

Numbers

Give three Welsh laws that show the Senedd making policy distinct from England.

Numbers

Which statute first created the office that became First Minister of Wales?

Key term

Define individual ministerial responsibility.

Key term

Name the two fully devolved Welsh taxes introduced in April 2018.

Numbers

Which Act separated the Welsh legislature from the Welsh executive?

Key term

How were the sixty seats divided under the Additional Member System in Wales?

Numbers

Which Act introduced the reserved powers model in Wales, and when did it take effect?

Key term

Name the four sources from which a Senedd Bill may come.

Key term

Who chairs plenary, and what is expected of that person?

Key term

How large is a typical Senedd committee?

Key term

What is casework?

Key term

What did the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 change?

Key term

Give three powers the First Minister holds over the Welsh Government.

Key term

Who sits in the Welsh Cabinet?

Key term

Which document sets out the standards expected of Welsh Ministers?

Key term

Which body collects the devolved Welsh taxes?

Numbers

When and by what statute did the Assembly become the Senedd?

Key term

Explain why the Additional Member System produced a more proportional result than first past the post alone.

Key term

Why is the reserved powers model regarded as clearer than the model it replaced?

Process

What happens at Stage 1 of a Senedd Bill?

Key term

How does the Llywydd vote?

Key term

Explain how Senedd subject committees differ from Westminster select committees.

Key term

How did the roles of constituency and regional members differ under the Additional Member System?

Evaluation

Give two weaknesses of Senedd scrutiny.

Take Government and the Senedd in Wales further

The same content, four other ways.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
How is the First Minister of Wales chosen?
Model answer
The Senedd nominates one of its own members, and the monarch then formally appoints that person to the office.
2
State the time limit within which the Senedd must nominate a First Minister after an election.
Model answer
It has 28 days from the poll to make a nomination, and if none is made the Llywydd must propose a date for a fresh election.
3
Which statute first created the office that became First Minister of Wales?
Model answer
The Government of Wales Act 1998 created it, under the original title of First Secretary, and the title First Minister came into use afterwards.
4
Give three powers the First Minister holds over the Welsh Government.
Model answer
The First Minister appoints and dismisses ministers, allocates their portfolios, and chairs the Cabinet and sets its agenda.
5
Explain why the First Minister's power of patronage is smaller than the Prime Minister's.
Model answer
Statute caps the number of Welsh Ministers and Deputy Ministers, at seventeen since the 2026 election, so there are far fewer posts available to reward or promote members.
6
What role does the First Minister play beyond the Senedd chamber?
Model answer
The First Minister speaks for Wales in dealings with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations, and represents Wales on trade and diplomatic visits.

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The British Constitution

The Judiciary and the Supreme Court

The UK Executive

Parliament and the Accountability of Government

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Wyn developed it.

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AAccess is bought rather than earned.

BWealthy interests are heard disproportionately.

CMuch of it happens where the public cannot see it.

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Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

Statute law is enacted by the legislature.

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Government and the Senedd in Wales revision questions

Is Government and the Senedd in Wales examined at AS in WJEC Government and Politics?: Yes. It sits in AS Unit 1, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
What does Government and the Senedd in Wales cover in WJEC AS-Level Government and Politics?: 12 subtopics: the first minister of wales, the welsh government and its cabinet, collective and individual ministerial responsibility in wales, the powers and resources of the welsh government, the origins and structure of the senedd, the composition and election of the senedd, the legislative competence of the senedd, the legislative process in the senedd, plenary and the business of the senedd, senedd committees, members of the senedd and the opposition and debates over the effectiveness of the senedd. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is Government and the Senedd in Wales organised?: By the WJEC 603-1979-3 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

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