Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

When the Senedd examines the work of the Welsh Government, this process is called ‘scrutiny’. This means holding the Welsh Government to account for its decisions and its actions. This job is done by the committees.

The Second Assembly covers the period of time from May 2003 to April 2007

Business of the Second Assembly

The Secretary of State for Wales is a member of the UK Government and currently has a seat in Cabinet. His or her role is defined as acting to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully taken into account by the UK Government when making decisions that will have effect in Wales; to represent the UK Government in Wales and to be responsible for ensuring the passage of Wales-only legislation through Parliament. The Secretary of State is not a Member of the Senedd.

The Senedd (or Welsh Parliament) is made up of 60 Members from across Wales. They are elected by the people of Wales to represent them and their communities, make laws for Wales, agree Welsh taxes and to ensure the Welsh Government is doing its job properly.

A Short Debate on a topic proposed by a Member (excluding Members who are also Cabinet Secretaries or Welsh Ministers) is held each week that the Senedd meets in Plenary. They are usually held during the final 30 minutes of the Senedd's Wednesday Plenary meeting.

This is the debating chamber in the Senedd building where Plenary Meetings of the Senedd are held. There is a public gallery above the Siambr, where members of the public can arrange to watch the meetings as they happen.

The former Senedd debating chamber, Siambr Hywel is a unique events space in Ty Hywel. It is named after Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) who made the first laws for Wales in the tenth century. When the Senedd building opened its doors in 2006, Siambr Hywel was renovated and re-opened as a dedicated youth debating chamber and interactive learning centre. Siambr Hywel is the first of its kind in Europe and, since its launch in 2009, it has been a popular venue for teaching, conferences and lectures.

The Sixth Senedd covers the period of time from May 2021 onwards.

The next scheduled Senedd elections will be in May 2026.

The Senedd's Standards Commissioner (whose full title is the Senedd Commissioner for Standards) is an independent person appointed by the Senedd to provide advice and assistance relating to the conduct of Members. The Standards Commissioner is an independent investigator of any complaints against Members that they have breached the Senedd's codes, protocols or resolutions. The current Standards Commissioner is Douglas Bain.

These are the written rules which govern Senedd proceedings. They outline the way Members should behave, how Bills are processed and debates organised.

Statements of Opinion allow Members to draw attention to matters of concern or areas of achievement on any subject affecting Wales. They can be tabled by any Member, except those which are also a Cabinet Secretary or Welsh Minister. Statements of Opinion may be supported, opposed or subject to comment in writing by other Members and are published on the Senedd website by the Table Office.

Subordinate legislation can take different forms. The most common form is a statutory instrument (SI). This means that the rules set out in the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 will apply to the subordinate legislation. There are different Senedd procedures for dealing with SIs, most commonly the negative and affirmative procedures (see elsewhere in glossary).

Standing Order 30A requires that a member of the Welsh Government must lay a memorandum (a statutory instrument consent memorandum or SICM) in relation to a statutory instrument laid before the UK Parliament by UK Ministers which requires the consent of the Senedd because that statutory instrument amends primary legislation within the legislative competence of the Senedd.

After a statutory instrument consent memorandum (SICM) has been laid before the Senedd, a motion should be tabled asking for the Senedd’s agreement to the provisions set out in the SICM. These are called Statutory Instrument Consent Motions.

The Senedd can make laws for Wales. Senedd laws are called Acts. Prior to the Government of Wales Act 2006 being amended by the Wales Act 2017, the Senedd had the power to create Acts in 21 subjects, listed below:

1. Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development
2. Ancient monuments and historical buildings
3. Culture
4. Economic development
5. Education and training
6. Environment
7. Fire and rescue services and safety promotion
8. Food
9. Health and health services
10. Highways and transport
11. Housing
12. Local government
13. Welsh Parliament
14. Public services
15. Social welfare
16. Sport and recreation
17. Tourism
18. Devolved taxes
19. Town and country planning
20. Water and flood defences
21. Welsh Language

Subordinate Legislation is also referred to as secondary legislation, delegated legislation or statutory instruments. It includes orders, regulations, rules and schemes, and can include statutory guidance and local orders.

A supplementary budget motion can be moved by a Welsh Minister at any time before, during or after the financial year to which it applies (ie. any time after the Annual Budget Motion has been passed). The purpose of the supplementary budget is to request authorisation for in-year changes to the Annual Budget Motion.