Introduction
Enter a discussion on devolution and invariably someone will use the expression that ‘devolution is a process and not an event’. While this may be cliche, it is also very accurate. The purpose of this free course, Understanding devolution in Wales, is to help you understand the current state of the devolution settlement in Wales and the events which shaped it.
This course is divided into three parts: the first sets out the positions of the major political parties in Wales then traces the devolution settlement as it developed between 1997 and 2021. The second probes the major issues facing devolution in Wales today. The final section considers the relationship between devolution and voters in Wales.
Note on terminology
The Welsh Parliament was known as the National Assembly for Wales and Members of the Senedd (MSs) were known as Assembly Members (AMs) between 1999 and 2020. The Welsh Government was known as the Welsh Assembly Government until 2011. These terms will be used when historical references are made.
Glossary
The course contains a glossary defining some potentially unfamiliar terms. You will occasionally find terms highlighted in the text – clicking on them will take you to the definition in the glossary. You can also navigate to the glossary manually at any time, at the end of whichever section you are studying.