About the Assembly

The Network Assembly of the Velocity Interoperability Network is the deliberative body of the Velocity Interoperability Network. It considers and passes the measures that become Network law, examines the conduct of departments and network services, hears petitions from the staff of member organisations and from citizens, and keeps a public record of its proceedings.

The Assembly was established on 6 September 2026 and held its inaugural sitting the same day in the Assembly Chamber at Central Exchange, the principal site of the Network. It sits in fortnightly sitting weeks of three days; the calendar for the remainder of 2026 is set out on the Proceedings page. Every sitting is open to the public.

84
Seats in the Assembly: 60 for delegates of member organisations and 24 for citizen delegates: 60
Delegates seated at the inaugural sitting on 6 September 2026: 312
Member organisations electing delegates in twelve member constituencies: 5
Standing committees established at the inaugural sitting

Composition. The Assembly has 84 seats. Sixty are held by delegates elected by the 312 member organisations of the Network, grouped for the purpose into twelve member constituencies of five seats each. Twenty-four seats are reserved for citizen delegates and will be filled following the first citizens' election, expected in the first quarter of 2027. Until then the Assembly sits with its 60 member delegates, and the thresholds in its Standing Orders that refer to the whole Assembly are calculated on the seats filled. The allocation of seats and the officers of the Assembly are described on the Members and Delegations page.

Officers. The Assembly is presided over by a Presiding Officer, elected by ballot of the delegates at the inaugural sitting, and by two Deputy Presiding Officers. The Clerk of the Assembly is its principal permanent official and is responsible for the conduct of its business, the Register of Measures and the Official Record. The Clerk is assisted by a Deputy Clerk, by Counsel to the Assembly, who drafts and settles measures, by the Editor of the Official Record and by the Keeper of the Chamber, who is responsible for order in the Chamber and the galleries.

Functions. The Assembly's work falls into five areas.

Legislation: The Assembly considers measures proposed by departments, delegations and committees and, when a measure has passed its stages and been certified by the Presiding Officer, it becomes Network law and is entered in the Official Register.
Scrutiny of departments and network services: Delegates put written and oral questions to departments, and standing committees examine the conduct, spending and standards of departments and network services and report to the Assembly.
Petitions: Staff of member organisations and citizens of the Network may petition the Assembly. Petitions bearing 250 or more signatures are presented at a sitting and referred to the Petitions Committee.
Appropriation: The Assembly authorises the expenditure of departments and network services through appropriation measures examined first by the Finance and Appropriation Committee.
The public record: The Assembly keeps the Official Record of everything said and decided in the Chamber and in committee, and publishes it on the working day after each sitting.

Relationship to departments. The Assembly does not administer services. Departments and network services of the Network answer to it for the measures they propose and the money they spend, and their officials attend committees to give evidence. A measure passed by the Assembly binds every department and network service and every member organisation to the extent the measure provides.

For the Assembly's origins and the milestones since its establishment, see History; for the rules under which it conducts its business, see the Standing Orders. General enquiries may be sent to contact@assembly.gov.vin.