Editing Senedd (section)

===Road to devolution===
{{main|Welsh devolution}}
Political movements supporting Welsh self-rule began in the late nineteenth century alongside a rise in [[Welsh nationalism]]. The [[Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881]] was the first legislation to acknowledge that Wales had a separate politico-legal character from England. The late 19th century saw the formation of a number of national institutions; a national and annual cultural event, the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales]] in 1861,<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Wales - Eisteddfod - Guide - A brief history of the Eisteddfod|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/eisteddfod2008/sites/guide/history/pages/history_eisteddfod.shtml|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> the [[Football Association of Wales]] in 1876,<ref>{{Cite web|title=FAW / Who are FAW?|url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/about-faw/who-are-faw/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.faw.cymru|language=en}}</ref> the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] in 1881<ref>{{Cite web|title=140 Years of the Welsh Rugby Union|url=https://www.wru.wales/article/140-years-of-the-welsh-rugby-union/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions|language=en-GB}}</ref> and the [[University of Wales]] in 1893.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the University of Wales - University of Wales|url=https://www.wales.ac.uk/en/AboutUs/Developments/History.aspx|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.wales.ac.uk}}</ref>

In 1896, [[Education in Wales]] began to become distinct with the formation of the Central Welsh Board which inspected grammar schools in Wales and The [[Welsh Intermediate Education Act 1889]] was brought about to "make further provision for the intermediate and technical education of the inhabitants of Wales and the county of Monmouth.", making the board responsible for inspection of secondary schools.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-12 |title=The Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/ee4a5728-7f96-3b9f-93ac-29300c2d6066 |access-date=2022-02-04 |website=BBC |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C815 |title=Records of the Welsh Department and successors |date=1880–1983 |others=Board of Education, Board of Education, Welsh Department, Department of Education and Science, Education Office for Wales, Department of Education and Science, Welsh Education Office, Education Department, Ministry of Education, Welsh Department |language=English}}</ref> In 1907, the Welsh department of the [[Board of education|Board of Education]] was formed and in the same year, a Welsh Inspectorate was established for inspection of primary and secondary schools in Wales.<ref name=":0" />

The early 20th century also saw the continued formation of a number of Welsh national institutions; the [[National Library of Wales]] in 1911,<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the Building {{!}} The National Library of Wales|url=https://www.library.wales/librarybuilding/historyofthebuilding|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.library.wales}}</ref> the [[Welsh Guards]] in 1915<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welsh Guards|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/welsh-guards/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> and the Welsh Board of Health in 1919.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C923|title=Records of the Welsh Board of Health|date=1919–1969|others=Welsh Board of Health|language=English}}</ref> The [[Church in Wales]] came into existence in 1920 following the disestablishment of the [[Church of England]] via the [[Welsh Church Act 1914]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/4-5/91|title=Welsh Church Act 1914}}</ref>

An appointed [[Council for Wales and Monmouthshire]] was established in 1949 to "ensure the government is adequately informed of the impact of government activities on the general life of the people of Wales". The council had 27 members nominated by local authorities in Wales, the [[University of Wales]], [[National Eisteddfod of Wales|National Eisteddfod Council]] and the [[Welsh Tourist Board]]. A post of Minister of Welsh Affairs was created in 1951 and the post of [[Secretary of State for Wales]] and the [[Welsh Office]] were established in 1964 leading to the abolition of the Council for Wales. The establishment of the Welsh Office effectively created the basis for the territorial governance of Wales.<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/nation/pages/new_nation01.shtml The road to the Welsh Assembly]'' from BBC [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/ Wales History] website. Retrieved 23 August 2006.</ref> The [[Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)|Royal Commission on the Constitution]] (the Kilbrandon Commission) was set up in 1969 by [[Harold Wilson]]'s Labour Government to investigate the possibility of devolution for Scotland and Wales.<ref name="devolution">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Devolution in the UK |url=http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/devolution/ukdev.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040626074959/http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/devolution/ukdev.htm |archive-date=26 June 2004 |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=[[Department for Constitutional Affairs]] |language=en}}</ref> Its recommendations formed the basis of the 1974 [[White paper]] ''Democracy and Devolution: proposals for Scotland and Wales'',<ref name="devolution" /> which proposed the creation of a Welsh Assembly. However, Welsh voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposals in a [[1979 Welsh devolution referendum|referendum held in 1979]].<ref name="devolution" /><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/wales/briefing/79referendums.shtml The 1979 Referendums]: BBC website. Retrieved 9 July 2006.</ref>

Following the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], the new Labour Government argued that an Assembly would be more democratically accountable than the [[Welsh Office]]. For eleven years prior to 1997 Wales had been represented in the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] by a [[Secretary of State for Wales|Secretary of State]] who did not represent a Welsh constituency at [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]].<ref>[http://www.comisiwnrichard.gov.uk/content/template.asp?ID=/content/evidence/oral/wlga/index-w.asp Evidence to Richards Commission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928162655/http://www.comisiwnrichard.gov.uk/content/template.asp?ID=%2Fcontent%2Fevidence%2Foral%2Fwlga%2Findex-w.asp |date=28 September 2007}} of Cllr Russell Goodway. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2006.</ref> A [[1997 Welsh devolution referendum|referendum was held]] in Wales on 18 September 1997 in which voters approved the creation of the National Assembly for Wales with a total of 559,419 votes, or 50.3% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/analysis/rozenberg2.shtml Politics 97] by Joshua Rozenberg: BBC website. Retrieved 9 July 2006.</ref>

The following year the [[Government of Wales Act 1998|Government of Wales Act]] was passed by the [[United Kingdom parliament]], establishing the Assembly. On 1 July 1999 the powers of the Secretary of State for Wales were transferred to the Assembly and the Welsh Office ceased to exist.<ref>{{citation |title=Key Events in the Development of the National Assembly for Wales: First Assembly, 1999–2003 |url=https://senedd.wales/NAfW%20Documents/ke-1997-2003.pdf%20-%2023052011/ke-1997-2003-English.pdf |page=15 |publisher=National Assembly for Wales |access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref>

In July 2002, the [[Welsh Government]] established an [[Richard Commission|independent commission]], with [[Ivor Richard|Lord Richard]] (former leader of the [[House of Lords]]) as chair, to review the powers and electoral arrangements of the National Assembly to ensure that it is able to operate in the best interests of the people of Wales.<ref name="richardspage">''[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100410160947/http://www.richardcommission.gov.uk/content/template.asp?ID=/index.asp The Richard Commission]''. Archived Richard Commission Website, includes copy of Commission report. Archived 10 April 2010.</ref> The Richard Commission reported in March 2004. It recommended that the National Assembly should have powers to legislate in certain areas, whilst others would remain the preserve of Westminster.<ref name="richardspage" /> It also recommended changing the electoral system to the [[single transferable vote]] (STV) which would produce greater [[proportional representation|proportionality]].<ref name="richardspage" />

In response, the British government, in its ''Better Governance for Wales'' White Paper, published on 15 June 2005, proposed a more permissive law-making system for the Welsh Assembly based on the use of Parliamentary Orders in Council.<ref>''[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060213211049/http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/2005/better_governance_for_wales_report.pdf Better Governance for Wales White Paper, Archived February 2006]''. Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Wales in June 2005. Downloadable PDF. Retrieved 9 December 2005.</ref><ref>''[http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/topstories/wales.htm Electoral Reform for Wales] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041208073417/http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/topstories/wales.htm |date=8 December 2004 }}''. Electoral Reform Society response to rejection of Richard Commission recommendations. Retrieved 9 December 2005.</ref> In so doing, the Government rejected many of the cross party Richard Commission's recommendations. This has attracted criticism from opposition parties and others.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}