Isle of Man Government
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The Isle of Man Government, are the various Public and Civil Servants with responsibility for the good governance of the island and its people through election, appointment and employment.
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National Government
Tynwald
- See main article: Tynwald
Tynwald is the collective name given to the bicameral legislature, comprising the House of Keys and the Legislative Council.
Tynwald sits in Douglas on the third Tuesday each month from October to June and on the Tuesday following July's Tynwald Day. The sittings are for up to three consecutive days, depending on the volume of business, and commence each day at 10.30 am.
House of Keys
- See main article: House of Keys
The House of Keys is the lower branch of Tynwald made up of 24 members directly elected by universal suffrage.
Legislative Council
- See main article: Legislative Council
The Legislative Council is the upper Branch of Tynwald and its eleven members consist of indirectly elected and ex-officio members.
Council of Ministers
- See main article: Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers is the executive branch of government headed by the Chief Minister and comprising nine selected members of Tynwald. Each of these Ministers becomes head of Government Departments.
External Relations
The Isle of Man is a British island and a Crown Dependency. The Island is not part of the United Kingdom or Europe. There are however treaties and agreements in place with the UK Crown and Government relating to its external affairs and defence.
Vice-regal functions on behalf of the Lord of Mann are performed by the Lieutenant Governor.
The Island retains independent authority to self legislate. Laws pertaining to the island are generated, debated and passed in the Court of Tynwald then passed to the UK Crown. Although the crown can prevent changes to Island Legislation, this is very rare.
Local Government
Local government in the Isle of Man is based around the concept of ancient parishes. There are two types of local authorities: a municipal corporation for the borough of Douglas, and bodies of 'commissioners' for the town districts of Castletown, Peel and Ramsey, the village districts of Michael, Laxey, Onchan, Port Erin and Port St Mary, and the 15 'parish districts' (those parishes or parts of parishes which do not fall within the districts previously mentioned).
Local authorities are under the supervision of the Department of Local Government and the Environnment (DOLGE).
Political Parties
National and Local politics consists of mainly independents rather than as representatives of political parties.
The largest political party is the recently established Liberal Vannin Party, which promotes greater Manx independence and more accountability in Government.
There is also a Manx Labour Party which has no affiliation to the UK Labour Party.
A nationalist pressure group Mec Vannin advocates the establishment of a sovereign republic however are morally unable to seek public office as this would require the swearing of alligience to the Crown. Mec Vannin shares many pricipals of the Celtic League.
Further Reading
- Protocol 3
- Act of Accession
- UK Monarchy website: Crown Dependencies
See Also
- House of Keys
- Legislative Council
- Tynwald
- Council of Ministers
- Government Departments
- Local Governement
External Links
Categories: History | Culture | Politics | Constitution
