The Government of Wales Act 1998

The Government of Wales Act 1998 established the framework for devolved government in Wales. It created the Welsh Assembly (now Senedd Cymru), giving Wales its own elected body responsible for certain areas like health, education, and local government, while the UK Parliament retains control over reserved matters such as defense and foreign policy. The Act set out how the Assembly is formed, its powers, and procedures, fostering greater self-governance for Wales within the United Kingdom. It marked a significant step toward decentralization, allowing Wales to address local issues more directly through its elected representatives.