Tynwald Court

Tynwald Business

Recent order papers, question papers, votes and proceedings and Hansard for Tynwald Court can be accessed directly from the lists below. 

Tynwald Presiding Officers

The President of Tynwald is the presiding officer at the sittings of Tynwald in Douglas and is elected by the members of Tynwald from amongst their number.

The presiding officer remains impartial but has, in the case of a tied vote in the Legislative Council on a division, a casting vote. The President authorises the Order Paper for sittings, is responsible for controlling the procedure of Tynwald Court and for the authoritativ​e interpretation of its Standing Orders.

The current President is The Hon Juan Paul Watterson BA FCA CMgr FCMI MLC, who was elected in July 2026.

The first elected President, Sir Charles Kerruish OBE LLD CP, was elected in 1990 and held office until his retirement in 2000. Noel Quayle Cringle OBE was Tynwald's second President f​rom 2000 until his retirement in 2011. Clare Margaret Christian OBE BSc was elected President in July 2011 and held office for five years until her retirement in 2016. Stephen Charles Rodan OBE BSc(Hons) MRPharmS was elected President in July 2016 and held office for five years until his retirement in 2021. Laurence David Skelly OBE, was elected in July 2021and held office for five years until his retirement in 2026.

The Deputy President of Tynwald exercises most of the functions of the President of Tynwald when he or she is absent or unable to act. The office of Deputy President of Tynwald is currently vacant.

The President of Tynwald

The President of Tynwald is the Presiding Officer of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council. The main role of the President is chairing sittings of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council.  Along with the Speaker, the President signs all resolutions of Tynwald, certificates of Royal Assent for the Acts, and certificates of promulgation of the acts on Tynwald Day.

Election of the President

The President is elected by and from amongst the Members of Tynwald, usually at the last sitting of Tynwald before a General Election.  Candidates are proposed and seconded by Members. If there is more than one candidate, there is a combined vote of the Keys and the Council. The candidate with the most votes is elected.

Chairing sittings of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council

The President of Tynwald chairs sittings of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council. As presiding officer, the President's role is to ensure that business is conducted in an orderly and unbiased manner. In order to do this, the President interprets the rules and conventions of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council. Many of these rules are described in Standing Orders, the President's interpretation of which is authoritative. The President is assisted in this task by the Clerk of Tynwald and the Clerk of the Legislative Council. The President's role is to be impartial. He has a casting vote in the event of a tie on a division, which by convention is exercised either to remain with the status quo or to allow debate to continue. If there is a tied vote in the Council when sitting in Tynwald Court, the President exercises the casting vote to make the Council decision agree with that of the Keys.

Chairing Standing Committees

The President is the ex officio Chair of a number of Standing Committees.

The President's robes

The President's formal robes were designed especially for the role by the first elected President, Sir Charles Kerruish OBE. They are usually only worn on ceremonial occasions, such as Tynwald Day. The robes are light blue with extensive embroidery depicting various elements of Manx history and culture: Odin's ravens, the crosh vushta, ragwort or cushag, the Three Legs of Man, and a Viking longboat. 

History of the role

The President of Tynwald is a relatively recently established role in the long history of Tynwald. The Lieutenant Governor presided over sittings of the Legislative Council until 1980, when the role was replaced by that of the President of the Legislative Council. The Lieutenant Governor continued to preside in Tynwald Court until 1990, when the role of the President of Tynwald was created. The Lieutenant Governor now only presides over the open air sitting of Tynwald at St John's.

Tynwald Chamber

The present Tynwald Chamber was built between 1891 and 1894 to designs prepared by the architect Mr James Cowle, of Douglas. It was first used on 20th December 1894 and replaced the Chamber in Douglas Court House which had been used regularly since 1866 when legislative business was effectively transferred from Castle Rushen in Castletown.

The Legislative Council sit at a raised bench with the Keys sitting in the well of the Court. The Sword of State, which represents the authority of the Court, rests on the table in the centre of the Chamber when Tynwald Court is sitting.

The impressive carpet was manufactured by Quayles of Kidderminster, a family firm with Manx connections. The colour, royal blue, was chosen in 1979 after consultation with HM Queen Elizabeth II as to her preferred colour.

The Work of Tynwald Court

Updated August 2023

Procedure

Procedure in Tynwald is controlled by the President of Tynwald in accordance with the Standing Orders of Tynwald, of which his or her interpretation is authoritative.[1]

Tynwald Court, comprising the House of Keys and the Legislative Council sitting together, sits on the third Tuesday of each month during the parliamentary year.[2] The sitting begins on Tuesday and continues for up to three days or until the business is completed. All Members must attend unless leave of absence has been granted by the President.[3]

Sittings begin at 10am and continue each day until 6.30pm, although the Court may vote to suspend Standing Orders and continue later.[4] The amount of business determines the number of days required. Additional sittings may occur if summoned by the President or by request of a quorum of either Branch.[5]

At the beginning of a sitting, Members of the House of Keys take their places and stand for the arrival of the Speaker, who enters preceded by a messenger, the Chaplain, and the Clerk of Tynwald. When the Speaker has taken his or her place, the Members of the Legislative Council enter the chamber. The President of Tynwald is announced and all persons in the Chamber stand. All persons remain standing while the Sword of State is placed on the table,[6]  and the Lord Bishop leads prayers.

During the sitting the President controls proceedings, calling on Members to speak. Those who wish to speak rise in their place or catch the President’s eye to indicate they wish to do so. Members stand to speak and address their remarks to the President. Members refer to each other by reference to the constituency that they represent and by name, or by the position they hold, sometimes in Manx.

Members are usually only allowed to speak once during a debate, though the mover of a motion may reply.[7] The same does not apply during Question Time, which is the first scheduled business of the first day.

At the end of a debate the President puts the motion to the Court. The Members say firmly together either ‘Aye’ or ‘No’, and the President announces the result on the basis of the oral response. Any Member may then call for a division and a count which records the way each Member has voted occurs.[8] Since 2006 Tynwald Court has used an electronic voting system. Members vote simultaneously by pressing a button for either ‘For’ or ‘Against’.[9] The results are shown on screens in the Chamber and are recorded in the Official Report.  Before February 2018, there were some instances in which a secret ballot was held using ballot papers, for instance the election of Members to Committees.[10]

A motion is carried if a majority of both the House of Keys and the Legislative Council, counted separately, are in favour.[11] Where there is an equality of votes in the Legislative Council, the President has a casting vote, but will only vote to ensure the Legislative Council vote is the same as that of the House of Keys.[12] If both Branches are tied, and there is an equality of votes in the House of Keys, the motion is considered lost and so the President’s casting vote is used against the motion, which then fails.[13] When a majority in each of the Branches have voted differently, in favour or not, a motion is thereby lost.[14] However, if lost in Council, the mover of the motion can use a procedure for a joint vote of all Members at a following sitting.[15] In a joint vote, the motion carries if no fewer than 17 votes are in favour.[16]

When the work of the Court, as set out in the Order Paper, is completed the President and the Legislative Council withdraw. The House of Keys may continue if it has any business to consider, though this is unusual. Tynwald stands adjourned until its next monthly sitting.

Business of the Court

The business to be dealt with is set out on an Order Paper and Question Paper.[17] The Order Paper is routinely available to the public from midday on the Thursday, twelve days before the sitting, and the Question Paper from midday on the Thursday five days before the sitting. Both are available from the Welcome Area and the Tynwald website, and on the sitting day from the Chambers entrance lobby.

On completion of the prayers, the Clerk formally lays the Papers listed on the Order Paper and then follow Oral Questions, for which the time allotted is two and a half hours on the first day of the sitting.[18] Questions are listed in a Question. Members, at the discretion of the President, may ask supplementary Questions relating to the original Question and the Answer received. If there is insufficient time to go through all the Oral Questions they must be answered in writing within 48 hours.[19]

In addition to Oral Questions, a wide variety of business comes before Tynwald. Some of the more significant categories of business are:[20]

• signing of Bills and announcement of Royal Assent;
• financial motions;
• reports of Government Departments and Tynwald Committees;
• secondary legislation for approval; and
• motions and general debates.

Register of Business

Since September 2021, most items of business for Tynwald must be lodged with the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office at least four weeks before the sitting.  The papers and motions are published online on the Register of Business, giving Members time to consider the documents and discuss items with their constituents and other stakeholders.  The items are then transferred to an Order Paper, which is published twelve days before the sitting. 

Records

Tynwald Court is assisted by the Clerk of Tynwald, who sits in the body of the Court with the House of Keys. The Deputy Clerk of Tynwald is also present and sits with the Members of the Legislative Council. The Clerks keep a record of the motions and any amendments moved, and whether these have been approved or not. This information is issued as Votes and Proceedings.

An ‘essentially verbatim’ record of the proceedings, known as Hansard is produced by staff in the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald. As soon as sufficient text is checked and passed for publication – often within hours of the start of the sitting – it is made available on the Tynwald website.

The entire proceedings of the Court are broadcast by Manx Radio (1368MW) and via its website, www.manxradio.com. Since 2014, the proceedings have also been livestreamed via the Tynwald website; the audio files are made available soon after the sitting.

[1] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 9.1 (2)–(3)

[2] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 1.1

[3] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.1

[4] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 1.2 (1)-(3). Before May 2023, sittings began at 10.30am and continued until 8pm. 

[5] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 1.1 (2)–(4)

[6] The sword signifies the duty of the Sovereign, acting through Tynwald, to protect and defend the people from the incursions of their enemies, in peace and in war.

[7] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.25

[8] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.18

[9] Standing Orders of Tynwald, Electronic Voting Practice Direction by the President of Tynwald under Standing Orders 3.18(12) & 9.1(3)

[10] This was abolished by the addition of new Standing Order 5.3(14)

[11] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.18 (7) – (9)

[12] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.18 (11)

[13] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.18 (10)

[14] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.18 (9)

[15] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.19

[16] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.19 (5)

[17] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 2.2-2.3

[18] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.3–3.10

[19] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.8

[20] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 2.2(4)

Members and Officers

The Lieutenant Governor

 The Lieutenant Governor has no official role in the proceedings of Tynwald Court, but he or she may attend a sitting whenever he or she chooses.  The Lieutenant Governor has a seat in a special section of the Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery. 

The President

The President of Tynwald is the presiding officer at the sittings of Tynwald in Douglas and is elected by the Members of Tynwald from amongst their number.[1] The term is five years.[2]

The President authorises the Order Paper for sittings,[3] and is responsible for controlling the procedure of Tynwald Court, as well as for the authoritative interpretation of its Standing Orders.[4]

The President may determine the start time of sittings,[5] adjournments,[6] and, subject to certain conditions, the President may also summon Tynwald to sit at any time or place.[7]

As presiding officer the President remains impartial but has, in the case of a tied vote in the Legislative Council on a division, a casting vote.  This is exercised to make the Legislative Council decision agree with that of the House of Keys.[8]

The President, along with the Speaker, signs all Resolutions of Tynwald,[9] certificates of Royal Assent for the Acts,[10] and certificates of promulgation of the Acts on Tynwald Day.[11]

The Deputy President of Tynwald

The Deputy President of Tynwald is appointed in the same manner as the President. He or she carries out the same functions as the President of Tynwald in Tynwald Court whenever the President is absent or unable to act.[12]

Members

Members of Tynwald carry out the work of the Court. They ask and answer questions and debate matters of policy and finance, before voting to determine the outcome. Members of the House of Keys represent their constituents, although those who are Ministers are bound by the Ministerial Code when doing this.[13]

Members can also be elected to serve on Committees of Tynwald. They may also assist members of the public with presenting Petitions and Memorials, including picking up Petitions for Redress presented on Tynwald Day.[14]

The Clerk of Tynwald

The Clerk of Tynwald, appointed by Tynwald Court,[15] advises the presiding officer, and other Members, on procedure and on the interpretation of Standing Orders. The Clerk is also responsible for the provision of services to Members.

The Deputy Clerk of Tynwald

The Deputy Clerk of Tynwald, appointed by Tynwald Court,[16] acts in the absence of the Clerk of Tynwald.[17]

Messengers

The Messengerscarry out the duties prescribed by the President of Tynwald.[18] In practice they prepare the Court before a sitting and during the sitting they assist Members, for instance by passing notes between them and providing refreshments. The Messengers are also responsible for providing security during sittings. 

[1] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 9.1(1)

[2] Constitution Act 1990,  section 3(1)

[3] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 2.2(1)

[4] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 9.1(3)

[5] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 1.2

[6] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 1.3

[7] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 1.1(2)-(3)

[8] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.18(11)

[9] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 10.8

[10] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 10.7

[11] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 2.1(5)

[12] In the event of the President’s absence from a meeting of the Legislative Council, the Council appoints one of its Members to preside.

[13] Council of Ministers, The Government Code (February 2017), 2.10-2.14, https://www.gov.im/media/1359547/the-government-code-february-2017.pdf

[14] Standing Orders of Tynwald, VI

[15] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 9.2(1)

[16] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 9.3(1)

[17] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 9.3(3)

[18] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 3.36

Electing a President of Tynwald

The President is elected in accordance with the Constitution Act 1990 and Standing Order 5.3.

A President is elected whenever the officeholder resigns,[1] reaches the fifth anniversary of his or her tenure,[2] or whenever Tynwald resolves that he or she should cease to hold the office.[3] The President is elected from amongst the elected Members of Tynwald.

The President is elected in much the same way as Members are elected to a Committee of Tynwald: both types of elections are governed by the same Standing Order.[4] Candidates must be proposed and seconded,[5] and they are voted on by the Keys and Council together.[6] Until February 2018, the vote was done by secret ballot.[7] The candidate who has the majority of the votes of the Members present and voting is elected.[8]

The Deputy President is elected according to the same procedure.

[1] Constitution Act 1990, Section 3(1)(a)

[2] Constitution Act 1990, Section 3(1)(b). In the event that the officeholder has filled a vacancy, whenever the person in whose place he or she was elected would have gone out of office (Constitution Act 1990, Section 3(1)(c))

[3] Constitution Act 1990, Section 3(1)(d)

[4] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 5.3

[5] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 5.3(3)

[6] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 5.3(5)

[7] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 5.3(14)

[8] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 5.3(8)

Tynwald at St. John’s

The Tynwald Day ceremony takes place on 5^th July each year (except when 5^th July falls on a Saturday or Sunday, in which case the ceremony is held on the following Monday). The modern ceremony is a continuation of an ancient tradition thought to have been in existence for over one thousand years. Tynwald Court convenes at St. John’s primarily for the purpose of promulgating and captioning Acts which have been given Royal Assent.

The ceremonial occasion begins with a procession comprising the Guard of Honour, Military Band and Standard Bearers, along with representatives from local schools, units, branches, and organisations. They take up their positions along the Processional Way and on the Tynwald Green for the arrival of the Lieutenant Governor.

On arrival, the Lieutenant Governor inspects the military and lays a wreath at the War Memorial, after which there is a one minute silence. The Lieutenant Governor and his or her party then proceeds to the Royal Chapel to join the Members of Tynwald, along with other dignitaries and invited guests, for a church service.[1]

After the service in the Royal Chapel, the Members of Tynwald, together with other participants in the Ceremony, proceed to Tynwald Hill along the Processional Way. On arriving at the Hill they take their seats: the Legislative Council sits on the top tier with the Lieutenant Governor and officers in attendance; the next tier accommodates Members of the House of Keys; the third tier has public officials, civic dignitaries, and religious representatives; and the fourth tier has members of the Church of England clergy and two lecterns for the Deemsters.

Once all are present the Lieutenant Governor instructs the First Deemster to direct the fencing of the Court. The First Deemster directs the Coroner of Glenfaba and Yn Lhaihder (The Reader) to fence the Court. The Coroner of Glenfaba says in English:

I fence this Court in the name of our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady The Queen. I charge that no person do quarrel, brawl or make any disturbance and that all persons do answer their names when called. I charge this audience to witness this Court is fenced. I charge this audience to witness this Court is fenced. I charge this whole audience to bear witness this Court is now fenced.

Yn Lhaihder then says the same in Manx:

Ta mee cur yn Whaiyl shoh fo harey ayns ennym Chiarn Vannin, nagh jean peiagh erbee troiddey, baghyrt ny jannoo boiranys erbee, as dy jean dy chooilley pheiagh freggyrt tra vees eh er ny eam. Ta mee cur recortys er yn eanish shoh dy vel yn Whaiyl shoh fo harey. Ta mee cur recortys er yn eanish shoh dy vel yn Whaiyl shoh fo harey. Ta mee cur recortys er y clane eanish shoh dy vel yn Whaiyl shoh nishtagh fo harey.

The four Coroners then proceed up the Hill to take an oath, administered by the First Deemster, in front of the Lieutenant Governor from whom they receive their staves of office. The Lieutenant Governor then calls for the laws to be promulgated, saying:

Learned Deemsters, I exhort you to proclaim to the people in ancient form such laws as have been enacted during the past year and which have received the Royal Assent.

The Laws are then read out first in English by the First Deemster and then in Manx by the Second Deemster (or, in the absence of the First or Second Deemster, Yn Lhaihder). All Acts of Tynwald that have received Royal Assent must be read out. If they are not promulgated within eighteen months of receiving Royal Assent they cease have effect.[2]

Following this the Lieutenant Governor invites anyone with a Petition for Redress to present it. Petitioners bring their petitions to the bottom of the Hill where they are collected by the Clerk of Tynwald, who then presents them to the Lieutenant Governor.

After the proceedings on the Hill, a formal sitting of Tynwald is held in the Chapel. This is when the Captioning of the Acts takes place. The President of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys sign certificates of promulgation for the Acts read out by the Deemsters, followed by any other business which the Court may choose to conduct.

[1] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 2.1

[2] Legislation Act 2015, Section 12