ISLE OF MAN GOVERNMENT
Government and Constitution

The Isle of Man’s economic and social achievements would not have been possible without the stability which its constitution and institutions provide. Her Majesty the Queen as Lord of Mann is Head of State. Her personal representative on the Island is His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the Crown for a five year term. The Island is a Crown Dependency which, through its ancient parliament, Tynwald, enjoys a high degree of domestic legislative and political autonomy. The United Kingdom Government is, by convention, responsible for the conduct of the external relations and defence of the Island.
The Isle of Man has a restricted relationship with the European Union by virtue of Protocol 3 of the Act of Accession of the UK. This extends the European Union legal regime to the Island for limited purposes, principally customs and the movement of goods. The Island neither makes nor receives any financial contribution from European Union funds.

Dating back to Viking origins over one thousand years ago, Tynwald is the oldest legislature in the world in continuous existence. It has two branches: the House of Keys and the Legislative Council. The majority of Members sit as independents, and the virtual absence of party politics encourages a high degree of consensus. This has contributed to the remarkable stability of the Manx system.

External issues such as foreign representation and defence are administered on the Island's behalf by the UK Government. Dating back a thousand years to Viking origins, Tynwald is the oldest continuous legislature in the world. It comprises two branches - the democratically elected House of Keys and the Legislative Council.

The 24 members of the House of Keys (MHKs) are elected every five years. The majority of MHKs are independents, and the virtual absence of party politics demands a high degree of consensus. This has contributed to the remarkable stability of the Manx political system.

The 24 members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) generally act as a chamber which revises Bills initiated in the Keys. The royal assent to Tynwald Bills is given by the Queen or, now more commonly, by his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor on the Isle of Man.

In recent years, the Island has introduced a ministerial system of government. The political head of the Manx Government is the Chief Minister, who is chosen by Tynwald from within its own ranks after each general election. The Chief Minister selects his ministers who have responsibility for the major government departments and, with the Chief Minister, form the Council of Ministers (the Manx Cabinet).

The Isle of Man, although not a member of the European Union, has a special relationship with the European Community by virtue of Protocol 3 of the UK,s Act of Accession. This enables the Island to trade with Europe for the limited purposes of customs and the free movement of goods, but the Island contributes nothing to and receives nothing from EU funds.

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Government and Constitution

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