Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales

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The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales (Welsh: Llywydd) is the Speaker of the National Assembly for Wales, elected by the Members of the National Assembly for Wales to chair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.

He or she also heads the Corporate Body (known as the Assembly Commission) of the National Assembly for Wales and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. One Deputy Presiding Officer is elected to help fulfil the role. The office of the Presiding Officer is based in Crickhowell House and is also responsible for the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay.

Role of the Presiding Officer

Rosemary Butler the current Presiding Officer at the Celebration of the Mace

The main function is to chair plenary sessions of the Assembly, to maintain order and to protect the rights of Members. He or she is responsible for ensuring that business is handled on the basis of equality and impartiality.

The Presiding Officer is also responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The Presiding Officer also acts as Chair of the National Assembly for Wales Commission, and has special responsibility for promoting democratic engagement, leadership, developing the Assembly’s future legislative powers and external relations

He or she is, along with the Deputy, politically responsible for all aspects of the Presiding Office to which the Standing Orders relate.

The Presiding Officer chairs meetings of the Panel of Subject Committee Chairs, where committee procedures and matters affecting Committee business are discussed. In addition to this, the Presiding Officer acts as the ambassador for the National Assembly, attending speaker’s conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of the Assembly

Neither the Presiding or the deputy presiding officers are allowed to participate in Assembly votes.

Presiding Officer

List of office holders

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
	The Rt Hon the Lord Elis-Thomas PC AM		May 12, 1999	May 11, 2011	Plaid Cymru	Appointed 1999, re-appointed 2003 and 2007
	Rosemary Butler AM		May 11, 2011	Incumbent	Labour	Appointed 2011.

Deputy Presiding Officer

List of office holders

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
	Jane Davidson AM		May 12, 1999	October 17, 2000	Labour	First Assembly. Resigned from post when she became a Government Minister
	John Marek AM		October, 2000	May, 2003	Labour	First Assembly
	John Marek AM		May 7, 2003	May, 2007	Forward Wales	Second Assembly
	Rosemary Butler AM		May 9, 2007	May 11, 2011	Labour	Third Assembly
	David Melding AM		May 11, 2011	Incumbent	Conservative	Fourth Assembly

See also

• National Assembly for Wales
• Assembly Commission