Legislative Council of the Isle of Man

The Legislative Council ( _gv. Yn Choonseil Slattyssagh) is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man.

It consists of eleven Members of the Legislative Council or MLCs. The House of Keys votes by secret ballot to elect the MLCs, who must be twenty-one years old and a resident for three years, to four year terms; four members are chosen at a time so that the Council has a rotating membership.

Formerly, the Lieutenant Governor presided over the Legislative Council and over Tynwald Court (a joint session of the Council and the House of Keys). Now, however, the President of Tynwald, who is chosen by the whole Tynwald for a six-year term, is the "" President of the Legislative Council, and presides over both the Legislative Council and Tynwald Court, except that the Lieutenant Governor presides once a year on Tynwald Day. Furthermore, the Church of England Bishop of Sodor and Man and the Attorney General appointed by the Lord of Mann have seats on the Legislative Council. The President has a casting vote, the Bishop may vote like other members, while the Attorney General may not vote at all.

The Council does not normally originate legislation (the last Act originating from the Council was the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1986). Instead, it reviews legislation from the House of Keys. The Council, being elected by the MHKs themselves, does not have significant authority in Tynwald.

Composition

Original

The original function of the Legislative Council was executive (i.e. giving advice to the Lieutenant Governor) and its membership was entirely appointed, as follows:

*Lieutenant Governor
*First Deemster
*Second Deemster
*Clerk of the Rolls
*Attorney General
*Receiver General
*Water Bailiff
*Bishop
*Archdeacon
*Vicar General

The first seven were Crown appointments and the last two appointments by the Bishop. Reforms were slowly made to reduce the number of judicial and religious appointments and these members were slowly replaced by indirectly elected members.

1917 Reform

In 1917, the Judicature (Amendment) Act introduced by the Legislative Council removed Clerk of the Rolls from the composition of the Council which thus consisted of the above eight members (excluding the Clerk of the Rolls).

1919 Reform

In 1919 The Archdeacon, the Vicar General and the Receiver General were removed as ex-officio members of the Council by the Constitution Amendment Bill 1919. The members were thus:

*Lieutenant Governor
*First Deemster
*Second Deemster
*Attorney General
*Bishop of Sodor and Man
*2 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
*4 members elected by the House of Keys

1965 Reform

The Second Deemster lost his seat in the Council.

1975 Reform

The First Deemster lost his seat in the Council.

1980 Reform

The Lieutenant Governor was removed as Presiding Officer and replaced by an indirectly elected President of the Legislative Council. The Governor still presided at joint sittings of Tynwald.

1990 Reform

The Lieutenant Governor is removed as Presiding Officer of Tynwald and replaced by a member of Tynwald elected by the Members of the court (i.e. the High Court of Tynwald) as President of Tynwald. The President of Tynwald is also a member of the Legislative Council and presides at its sittings.

Current Composition

*President of Tynwald
*Attorney General
*Bishop of Sodor and Man
*Eight members elected by the House of Keys

The non "ex-officio" members are elected by the House of Keys for terms which end at the end of February following the fourth anniversary of their election.

Current Members of the Legislative Council

*President of Tynwald: Noel Cringle
*Bishop of Sodor and Man: Rt Rev Robert Paterson MA
* Attorney General: John Corlett QC
* Clare Christian
* Pamela Crowe
* Alex Downie
*Dudley Butt
*Edmund Lowey
*George Waft
*Alan Crowe
*Juan Turner

Membership