7.2 An Assembly becomes a Parliament

In 2017, an expert panel published a major report calling for significant changes to the size and electoral arrangements of the Assembly. Whilst increasing the number of AMs proved contentious some of the panel’s recommendations proved easier to progress. The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill was introduced by the Assembly Commission in February 2019. It had three purposes:

• rename the National Assembly to Senedd
• lower the minimum voting age of National Assembly elections to 16
• deliver other reforms to the National Assembly’s electoral and operational arrangements.

It received the necessary supermajority on 27 November 2019.

On 6 May 2020 – exactly one year before the 2021 Senedd Elections – the National Assembly for Wales officially became known as the Welsh Parliament or Senedd Cymru, commonly known as the Senedd.

Senedd Members became known as Member of the Senedd (MS), and Aelod o’r Senedd (AS) in Welsh.