Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is a 108 member legislative body that sits in Belfast with powers devolved to it from the Westminster parliament. It is created as a power sharing body, so that every party is represented in the executive body of the assembly in numbers according to their numerical strength in the assembly as a whole.The assembly was created as part of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and the first election to it was held on June 25, 1998. The initial executive was headed by David Trimble as First Minister.
The assembly was suspended on October 14, 2002 as problems with the practicalities of power sharing mounted. The assembly dissolved on April 28, 2003 as it was scheduled to, but the elections due the following month were postponed by the British Labour government.
It has subsequently been announced that fresh elections will be held on November 27, 2003
The 108 members are elected from 18 multi-member constituencies (the same constituencies used for Westminster elections) by the Single Transferable Vote.
See also:
- Northern Ireland Assembly Election, 1998
- Northern Ireland Assembly Election, 2003
- List of political parties in Northern Ireland
