Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)

The Northern Ireland Assembly was a legislative assembly set up by the Government of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1973 to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland with the power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive made up of unionists and nationalists. It was dissolved in March 1975.

History

The Assembly was created by section 1 of the Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973. Elections were held on 28 June 1973. The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, which received royal assent on 18 July 1973, abolished the suspended Parliament of Northern Ireland and the post of Governor and made provision for a devolved administration consisting of an Executive chosen by the Assembly. 108 members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from Northern Ireland's 12 Westminster constituencies, with 5 to 8 seats for each depending on its population.

The Assembly met for the first time on 31 July 1973. Following the Sunningdale Agreement, a power-sharing Executive was established from 1 January 1974. After opposition from within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Ulster Workers' Council strike over the proposal of an all Ireland council, the Executive and Assembly collapsed on 28 May 1974 when Brian Faulkner resigned as Chief Executive. The Assembly was prorogued the following day, but continued to exist in abeyance until formally dissolved on 28 March 1975, via an Order in Council made under the Northern Ireland Act 1974.

Members of the Northern Ireland Executive (1974)

Legislation passed

The Assembly had powers to pass primary legislation known as Assembly Measures. Four such measures were passed by the assembly:

See also

• Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973
• Northern Ireland Executive (1974)
• Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 1973
• 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election

References

External links

• Conflict Archive - University of Ulster