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Difficulty: MediumThe Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive

The Northern Ireland Assembly meets at Stormont in Belfast to debate and pass laws for the people of Northern Ireland. Which of the following statements correctly describes the membership and the unique power-sharing requirements of this devolved government?

  1. There are 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who work on devolved matters, led by a First Minister and deputy First Minister who must act together to lead the Executive.Answer
  2. B
    There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament who focus on reserved matters such as national defence, with decisions made by a simple majority and no requirement for a deputy leader.
  3. C
    The Assembly is made up of 60 Members of the Senedd who are appointed by the UK Government to manage the national budget and international relations.
  4. D
    The Assembly includes 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) who have the sole power to make all legal decisions in Northern Ireland without a power-sharing arrangement.

Answer

The Northern Ireland Assembly consists of 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who oversee devolved matters, with the Executive being led jointly by a First Minister and a deputy First Minister.
The correct answer accurately states that the Northern Ireland Assembly has 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and that the Executive is led by both a First Minister and a deputy First Minister to ensure power is shared between the main political communities.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the specific title and number of members in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Members are called MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly), and there are 90 of them.
This distinguishes the Northern Ireland body from the Scottish (MSPs) and Welsh (MSs) legislatures.
2
Recall the unique governance structure required for Northern Ireland to ensure peace and representation.
Power-sharing requires a joint leadership of a First Minister and a deputy First Minister.
This ensures that both unionist and nationalist communities are represented in the leadership of the Executive.
3
Distinguish between devolved and reserved matters.
The Assembly handles devolved matters like health and education, while the UK Parliament handles reserved matters like defence.
This is a fundamental principle of UK devolution.

Key Concept

The structure and power-sharing requirements of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive