Seats 11 | Voting system Indirect election | |
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Type Upper house of the Tynwald President Stephen Rodan
Since 19 July 2016 | ||
The Legislative Council (Manx: Yn Choonceil Slattyssagh) is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is often referred to as "LegCo".
Contents
- 2016 Review of the Functioning of Tynwald
- Original
- 1917 reform
- 1919 reform
- 1961 reform
- 1965 reform
- 1969 reform
- 1975 reform
- 1980 reform
- 1990 reform and current composition
- References
It consists of eleven Members (MLCs):
The MLCs are elected by the House of Keys by secret ballot for a term of four years. Four retire every two years, so four MLCs are elected at a time. An MLC must be at least 21 years old and resident in the Isle of Man. As at 28 February 2017 legislation is under way to change the method by which the Keys elect MLCs. The relevant legislative provisions are to be repealed and replaced by an amendment (not yet specified) to the Standing Orders of the House of Keys.
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 Lord of Mann have seats on the Legislative Council. The Bishop is a voting member, the Attorney General is a non-voting member, and the President has the casting vote.
The Council does not usually originate legislation (the last Act originating from the Council was the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1986). Instead, it reviews draft legislation originating from the House of Keys. However the Equality Bill currently going through Tynwald (as at March 2017) originated in the Council.
2016 Review of the Functioning of Tynwald
For many years there has been considerable debate about the functioning of Tynwald, and specifically about the composition, method of election, and functions of the Legislative Council. In the past, a number of reforms were made in the composition of the Legislative Council, which are set out below. In 2016 Lord Lisvane was asked to carry out a review of the functioning of Tynwald. Among his recommendations were:
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:
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. It then consisted of the following members:
1919 reform
In 1919, The Archdeacon; the Vicar General; and the Receiver General were removed as ex officio members of the Council by the Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919. The members were thus:
1961 reform
Replaced an appointed member by an elected member.
1965 reform
The Second Deemster lost his seat in the Council. The members were thus:
1969 reform
The Isle of Man Constitution Act 1969 removed the two appointed members of the LegCo. The members were thus:
1975 reform
The First Deemster lost his seat in the Council, by virtue of the Isle of Man Constitution (Amendment) Act 1975. The members were thus:
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. The members were thus:
1990 reform and current composition
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. The members are thus:
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.