The Welsh Parliament, known as Senedd Cymru, serves as Wales’s devolved legislative body elected by the people, handling substantial areas of public administration.

On May 7, Welsh voters will cast their ballots to select 96 Members of the Senedd representing 16 different constituencies.

These newly elected officials will subsequently have the opportunity to pass legislation applicable throughout Wales.

Nevertheless, Wales only exercises authority that the UK Parliament in London has transferred to it. Those matters still overseen by the Westminster parliament are termed reserved powers.

While Wales governs domains such as schooling and medical services, matters including border control, the legal system and law enforcement, and military affairs continue falling under Westminster’s jurisdiction.

Recognising the distinction between Senedd and Westminster responsibilities proves essential when determining where to address concerns impacting individuals and their neighbourhoods.

So what exactly will the incoming Senedd Members chosen on May 7 actually govern?

The expansion of Senedd authority

In 1999, the institution then called the National Assembly for Wales was founded as a unified corporate entity.

The Assembly possessed only the capacity to enact secondary legislation within spheres already decentralised through the Government of Wales Act 1998 – meaning primary lawmaking for Wales remained Westminster’s duty.

The Government of Wales Act 2006 altered this arrangement, granting the Assembly legislative powers over devolved subjects across 20 fields, encompassing education, health services, and the Welsh language.

Consequently, the awkwardly titled Welsh Assembly Government (which essentially functioned as a group of Assembly Members) transformed into a legally separate administration called the Welsh Government.

In 2011, a referendum concerning the National Assembly’s competences took place, with the public consulted on whether the Assembly should possess complete legislative authority within those 20 subject areas where it operates.

The nation approved, and the Welsh Assembly acquired the capacity to introduce Acts of the Assembly without requiring sign-off from the UK Parliament.

The Wales Act 2017 subsequently shifted Wales from a conferred matters framework to a reserved matters approach, mirroring Scotland’s system, meaning those subjects remaining under Westminster’s authority are specifically enumerated and any subject not specified becomes decentralised to the Senedd.

Additional competences granted to Wales through the Wales Act 2017 encompassed the establishment of the Welsh Revenue Authority; the option to increase or decrease income tax by a maximum of 10p per pound; and the authority to modify voting qualifications.

As of April 2026, the Senedd exercises substantial legislative authority over most dimensions of health and social welfare, accommodation, schooling, regional transportation, business growth, social care, language and heritage, conservation, and municipal administration.

The Senedd additionally possesses certain taxation competencies, including oversight of local levies, duties on property transfers, and the option to modify income tax rates within Wales.

Nonetheless, the Senedd maintains fewer competencies than both the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, particularly as it lacks jurisdiction over law enforcement and the justice system.