Legislative Council (Isle of Man)
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The Legislative Council of the Isle of Man is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the Manx legislature.
Known in the Manx language as Yn Choonceil Slattyssagh, it consists of 11 indirectly elected members, known as 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 ex officio 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 Monarch of the United Kingdom 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 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
- Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man
- Archdeacon of Sodor and Man
- Vicar General
The Council does not normally originate legislation (the last Act originating from the Cuncil 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.
Current Members of the Legislative Council
- President of Tynwald: Hon Noel Quayle Cringle MLC
- Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man: Rt Rev Graeme Paul Knowles AKC MLC
- Her Majesty's Attorney General: William John Howarth Corlett QC MLC
- Clare Margaret Christian BSc MLC
- Pamela Mavis Crowe MLC, Chairman of the Isle of Man Post Office
- Hon Alexander Frank Downie FIMarEST MCMI FFB MLC
- Hon Donald James Gelling CInstSMM FIMgt MLC
- Dudley Michael William Butt MLC
- Edmund George Lowey MLC
- Leonard Ian Singer MR Pharm S MLC
- George Henry Waft Dip App SS BSc(Hons) MLC
Membership
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.
| Year | Election | Previous Members | Candidates | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Scheduled | |||
| 2003 | Scheduled |
|
| |
| 2002 | (ex officio) |
Norman Radcliffe (death in office) | Donald Gelling | Donald Gelling |
| 2003 | (ex officio) |
Noel Jones (stood down as Lord Bishop) | n/a | Graeme Knowles |
| 2000 | Scheduled | |||
| 2000 | (ex officio) |
Sir Charles Kerruish (stood down as President of Tynwald) | Noel Cringle | Noel Cringle |
| 1998 | (ex officio) |
Mike Kerruish QC (made First Deemster) | n/a | John Corlett QC |
| 1998 | Scheduled |
|
| |
| 1995 | ? | Clifford Irving | ? | ? |
| 1994 | ? | ? | ? | George Waft |
| 1993 | ? | ? | ? |
Clare Christian
|
| 1990 | (constitutional change) |
Ian Anderson (stood down as President of the LegCo) | ? |
Sir Charles Kerruish (ex officio as President of Tynwald) |
| 1988 | ? |
Jack Nivison (stood down as President) | ? | Ian Anderson |
| 1982 | ? | ? | ? | Edmund Lowey |
| 1980 | (constitutional change) |
Sir John Warburton Paul (Governor removed upon retirement) | ? |
Jack Nivison (elected as President of the LegCo) |
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