( abbr AM )
1. a person elected to represent one of the 40 constituencies or one of the five regions into which Wales is divided for the Welsh Assembly . Each constituency elects one AM and each region elects four AMs. These elections are separate from general elections for the British Parliament . They were first held in 1999 and take place every four years.
2. a person elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly . Six members of the Assembly are elected from each of the 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland. These elections are separate from general elections for the British Parliament . They were first held in 1998 and take place every four years.