Role of Plenary

Plenary is a meeting attended by all Assembly Members. It takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons in the Siambr. It is broadcast live on S4C2.

The Presiding Officer publishes an agenda for each meeting which allocates time to Government, Non-Government and Assembly business. Information relating to plenary and committee proceedings is published as the Business Notice on the internet.

For each week the Assembly meets in plenary, time is allocated to Oral Questions to the First Minister, other Welsh Ministers, the Counsel General and the Assembly Commission. In addition Assembly Members can contribute to statements and debates and vote on tabled motions and amendments. The Presiding Officer holds a ballot and the successful Member proposes a topic for a Short Debate before the end of plenary on a Wednesday.

As the Assembly has increased legislative power, Assembly Members can also consider and amend proposed legislation known as Legislative Competence Orders and Assembly Measures. Such legislation can only be enacted by resolution of the Assembly in plenary.