Procedure

Procedure in the House of Keys is controlled by the Speaker in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House of Keys, his or her interpretation of which is authoritative.

The House of Keys normally sits alone each Tuesday from the fourth Tuesday in October to the last Tuesday in June, except for the third Tuesday in the month, when it sits as part of Tynwald Court.[1] All Members must attend sittings unless leave of absence has been granted by the Speaker.[2]

Sittings take place from 10.00am until business is concluded, usually no later than 5.30pm.[3] Additional sittings may occur under certain circumstances: because of the level of business; when specially convened due to a matter of urgent importance; on adjournment during a sitting of Tynwald Court, when the House may retire to its own chamber; or after a sitting of Tynwald Court.[4]

Before each sitting, Members take their places and stand for the arrival of the Speaker. He or she enters preceded by a Messenger, the Chaplain, and the Secretary of the House of Keys. All may be seated after Prayers, which are said at the beginning of each sitting and usually led by the Chaplain.[5] Members are allowed to remain outside the Chamber until the conclusion of Prayers.

During the sitting the Speaker controls proceedings, calling upon Members to speak.[6] They stand to do so, and address their remarks to the Speaker. 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.

At the end of a debate the Speaker puts the motion to the House.[7] The Members say firmly together either ‘Aye’ or ‘No’, and the Speaker 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, the House of Keys has used an electronic voting system whereby Members vote simultaneously by pressing a button for either ‘For’ or ‘Against’.[9] The results are displayed on screens in the Chamber and are recorded in the Official Report.

The House has the right to to sit in private when all persons except the Members and Secretary must leave the Chamber,[10] but this right has not been exercised in recent years. 

Business of the Branch

The business to be dealt with is set out on an Order Paper.[11] These are made available from midday on the previous Thursday at the Welcome Area and on the Tynwald website, and on the sitting day from the entrance lobby to the Chambers.

The sitting begins with up to an hour of Questions, which appear on the Order Paper, having been tabled in advance by Members. The Speaker may allow supplementary Questions and Answers at his or her discretion. The time allotted for Questions is one hour. Any Questions which have not been answered orally are answered in writing or deferred to a subsequent sitting, unless the House resolves to suspend Standing Orders to finish any remaining Questions.[12]

Question Time is broadcast by Manx Radio on 1368MW and via its website.[13] The entire sitting is streamed live on the Tynwald website, and an audio recording is published shortly after the sitting.

Much of the time of the House of Keys is occupied with consideration of primary legislation. Bills may originate in the House of Keys or the Legislative Council but the former is more usual. Bills are considered in four stages: First Reading, Second Reading, Consideration of Clauses stage and Third Reading, each of which usually takes place at a different sitting. During debates on Bills, apart from the mover of Bills and amendments who may start the debate and reply at the end, no Member may speak more than once.[14]

An optional stage to send a Bill to a Select Committee may be invoked;[15] the House does not have Standing Committees to which Bills are automatically referred.  The House may also resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House to hear oral evidence at any point after the first reading during the passage of a Bill.[16]

Records

The Secretary keeps a record of the business transacted during the sitting, including motions and any amendments moved, and whether these are 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 Clerk of Tynwald’s Office.

Since 2014, the proceedings have been livestreamed via the Tynwald website; the audio files are published on the website shortly after the sitting. 

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[1] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 1.1(1)-(2).

[2] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.1.

[3] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 1.2.

[4] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 1.1(3)–(5), 3.21.

[5] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.2.

[6] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.23, 3.24(1).

[7] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.17.

[8] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.18.

[9] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 11.5A.

[10] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.37(2), 3.38.

[11] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 2.1.

[12] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.8.

[13] Since 2017 Manx Radio have also been able to broadcast other parts of the sitting, if they so choose. 

[14] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.27(1).

[15] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 4.10(1)-(2).

[16] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 4.4A.

This section outlines the roles associated with the House of Keys. Details of current and former postholders may be found here.

Speaker of the House of Keys

The Speaker is the principal officer of the House, elected by the Members from amongst their number at the first sitting of the House after a General Election.

The Speaker authorises the Order Paper for sittings,[1] and is responsible for controlling the procedure of the House and for the authoritative interpretation of its Standing Orders.[2]

The Speaker may determine the start time of sittings,[3] adjournments,[4] and, subject to certain conditions, the Speaker may summon the House of Keys to sit at any time or place.[5]

The Speaker is entitled to vote as a Member in divisions although, unlike the other Members present, may abstain.[6] In the case of a tied vote on a division he or she has a casting vote.[7]

In Tynwald Court, where the Speaker is not the presiding officer, he or she is free to speak and vote in the same way as any other Member of the House of Keys.

The Speaker, along with the President, signs Resolutions of Tynwald,[8] certificates that Royal Assent has been announced,[9] and certificates of promulgation of the Acts on Tynwald Day.[10]

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker is elected by the Members from amongst their number and serves as the presiding officer in the absence of the Speaker.[11]

Members

Members of the House of Keys (‘MHKs’) carry out the work of the House. They ask and answer questions and debate legislation before voting to determine the outcome.

MHKs are elected to represent their constituents. They are able to help them with issues for which Tynwald or central government has a responsibility. In order to do this, Members may contact the relevant Department directly or via the Minister, or they may highlight issues in the Keys or Tynwald by tabling Questions or motions, or by presenting petitions.[12]

MHKs may have one or more roles within the Isle of Man Government. An outline of the responsibilities and rules which must be followed by a Minister or member of a Government department is set out in Parts 2 and 3 of The Government Code.

MHKs also serve on Committees of the House of Keys or Tynwald when elected to do so.

MHKs are responsible for electing Members of the Legislative Council and for nominating the Chief Minister.

The Chaplain

The Chaplain of the House leads the Members in prayers at the beginning of each sitting.

The Chaplain is elected following nominations to and a subsequent recommendation from the Management and Members’ Standards Committee.[13]

Secretary of the House

The Secretary of the House is appointed by the House;[14] the appointments are held concurrently with the appointment of Clerk of Tynwald. Since 1884 there has been a full-time appointment of an officer as the Secretary of the House. Prior to this, a Member of the House acted as its Secretary. Since 1987 the appointee has also been required to act as Counsel to the Speaker.

The Secretary of the House is responsible for advising the Speaker and other Members on the business of the House and on the interpretation of its Standing Orders. He or she is also responsible for the provision of services to Members and, as Counsel to the Speaker, for advising Members on Bills which are before the House.

The Deputy Secretary of the House of Keys

The Speaker appoints a Deputy Secretary of the House to act as Secretary of the House whenever the Secretary is absent.[15] This role is usually carried out by the Deputy Clerk of Tynwald. 

Messengers

The Messengers, appointed by the Speaker acting with the Tynwald Management Committee, carry out the duties prescribed by the Speaker.[16]  Their routine duties include conveying written and oral messages between the Members and the officers of the House. They also provide security during the sittings. 

Seating Plan

Members occupy the seats allocated to the constituency that they represent. One seat is allocated on the front and back row for each constituency. The Member who won the most votes in a particular constituency sits on the front row, and the Member who won the second most votes sits on the back row. 

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[1] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 2.1 (1)–(2).

[2] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.31.

[3] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 1.2(1).

[4] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 1.1(3) and 1.4.

[5] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 1.1(4)-(5).

[6] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.18(1).

[7] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.18(5).

[8] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 10.8.

[9] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 10.7.

[10] Standing Orders of Tynwald, 2.1(5).

[11] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 9.2.

[12] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 7.1-7.6.

[13] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 9.4.1.

[14] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 9.3.1-9.3.2.

[15] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 9.3.4.

[16] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 3.39 and 9.5.1.

Elections for the twenty-four Members of the House of Keys are held every five years as provided in statute.[1] The Isle of Man Government facilitates the elections.

Candidates for election to the House of Keys must be aged 18 or over and have been resident in the Island for at least five years.[2] Those wishing to stand must submit a completed nomination form, including the signatures of a proposer, a seconder, and no fewer than 20 additional electors who support their nomination.[3]

Once the nomination date has passed, if the number of candidates in a constituency is no greater than the number of seats, those nominated are elected.[4] Where there are more candidates than the number of seats, a poll is necessary.

Constituencies

Since 2016, there have been 12 constituencies with two MHKs for each:[5]

• Arbory, Castletown and Malew
• Ayre and Michael                            
• Douglas Central                               
• Douglas East     
• Douglas North                 
• Douglas South
• Garff              
• Glenfaba and Peel  
• Middle           
• Onchan                     
• Ramsey                                  
• Rushen

Previously the number of MHKs representing each constituency could vary between one and three MHKs for each constituency.

The Boundary Review Committee established in 2010 under the Representation of the People Act 1995 recommended that from the elections of September 2016 the constituencies should be altered in order to tackle discrepancies in the number of voters per MHK.[6] The number of constituencies was reduced from 15 to 12 and each was assigned two Members, rather than the previous mixture of one-, two- and three-seat constituencies. Each MHK now represents approximately 3,500 voters. The names of the new constituencies were decided after a public consultation in September 2015. [7]

Amendments to constituency boundaries proposed by an Electoral Commission were rejected by Tynwald in March 2024.[8]

Voting in General Elections

Each voter has two votes.

Voting is by the Multiple Non-Transferable Vote system, by which the two candidates with the most votes are elected to the available seats.[9]

The Single Transferable Vote (STV) method was used in the 1986 and 1991 General Elections.

New Members of the House of Keys

No Member of the Keys is permitted to sit and vote in the Keys until he or she has taken and subscribed to the oaths required by law.[10] At the first gathering of the new House of Keys following a General Election, the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls and the Second Deemster administer the oaths to each Member.

The oaths are:

I, (full name), do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors.

So help me God.

His Majesty’s counsel, your fellows, and your own, you shall not reveal; you shall use your best endeavours to maintain the ancient laws and customs of this Isle.

 You shall justly and truly deliver your opinion and do right in all matters which shall be put unto you, without favour or affection, affinity or consanguinity, love or fear, reward or gain, or for any hope thereof;  but in all things you shall deal uprightly and justly and do wrong to no man.

So help you God, and by the contents of this Book.

The oaths may also be taken in Manx:

Ta mish ......... loo liorish Jee Ooilley-niartal dy bee’m firrinagh as dy feer ammyssagh da e Ooashley Reeoil y trass ree Charles, Chiarn Vannin.

As ayns shoh dy gooin Jee lhiam.

Coyrle y Ree, coyrle dty Cho-olteynyn, as dty choyrle hene cha jean oo y hoilshaghey. Gys rere dty phooar nee oo cummal seose Shenn Leighyn as Cliaghtaghyn yn Ellan shoh.

Nee oo dy cairagh as dy firrinagh dty vriwnys y livrey, as cairys y yannoo ayns dy chooilley nhee hed er soiaghey kiongoyrt rhyt, gyn foayr ny kenjallys, gyn cleunys ny mooinjerys, gyn graih ny aggle, gyn leagh ny cosney ny jerkal erbee rish lheid y red shen, agh ayns dy chooilley nhee nee oo dellal dy ynrick as dy cairagh, gyn aggair y yannoo da dooinney erbee.

Ayns shoh dy gooin Jee lhiat as ny ta scruit ayns y lioar shoh.

The Chief Registrar attends the swearing-in ceremony, bringing the ‘Liber Juramentorum’, or Book of Oaths, which each Member signs. The Deemsters also sign to attest that the oaths have been administered and the signatures added to the Book.

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[1] Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020, s.6.

[2] Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020, s. 4(1).

[3] Elections (Keys) Regulations 2021, paras. 9-10.

[4] Elections (Keys) Regulations 2021, para. 18.

[5] Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020, s. 60.

[6] ‘Boundary Review Committee 2010-2013’, gov.im, https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/cabinet-office/information-archive/boundary-review-committee-2010-13/

[7] Constituency maps can be found on https://www.gov.im/categories/home-and-neighbourhood/elections-and-voting/constituency-map/

[8] Tynwald Votes and Proceedings, Item 5, https://tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/vp/VP/2024-PP-0046.pdf

[9] Also known as plurality-at-large voting or the bloc vote, this system is similar to First-Past-The-Post but applies specifically to multiple member constituencies. For more information, see: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/voting-systems/types-of-voting-system/first-past-the-post/block-vote/

[10] Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020, s. 13.

After the General Election, once all Members have been sworn in, the first business of the new House is to elect a Member to be Speaker of the House of Keys.

Either immediately following the swearing-in, or as soon as practicable, the House is convened, and the longest serving Member who is neither a Minister nor a declared candidate for the office of Speaker presides over the process of electing the Speaker.[1]

The acting Speaker calls for nominations and candidates are proposed and seconded. If there is only one candidate, then that Member is escorted, without the question being put, to the Speaker’s chair. If more than one Member is nominated, then the acting Speaker proceeds to take the votes of Members by ballot. The Member with the most votes is declared elected. In the event of a tie, the process of nominations and voting is repeated until it is successful in electing a Member to the position.[2] The successful Member is escorted to the Speaker’s chair, who then conducts such other business as is usual for the first sitting of the House of Keys.

This process is repeated whenever a vacancy in the office occurs. If this happened when a Deputy Speaker were in office then no Acting Speaker would be required.[3]

The Speaker’s first duty, once elected, is to call Members to receive a copy of the Standing Orders of the House of Keys from the Secretary of the House, have the Members sign the Standing Orders Book, and have the Members sign the Tynwald Members’ Required Standards of Conduct and Code of Conduct.[4]

Election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Keys

At the sitting following that at which the Speaker is elected, the House of Keys elects a Deputy Speaker to substitute in the event of any absence of the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker is elected under the same procedure as for the Speaker.[5]

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[1] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 9.1.1 (2)-(3).

[2] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 6.3.

[3] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 9.1.1(1).

[4] Tynwald Votes and Proceedings (20 Jun 2017), Item 6, https://tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/vp/VP/2017-PP-0110.pdf

[5] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 9.2.

The Chief Minister is nominated by the House of Keys at a sitting no fewer than 17 and no more than 21 days after the General Election.[1]

A proposal for the nomination of a Member as Chief Minister is made in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the House no fewer than seven days before the sitting.[2] Each Member proposed for nomination must submit a written statement setting out his or her intended policies, which is circulated to all Members and laid before the House.[3]

The Speaker must arrange for a hustings to take place no sooner than the day after proposals and policy statements have been circulated and no later than the day before the deadline for submission of Questions.[4]

Questions must be submitted by 12 noon on the day before the election sitting.  Although Members may submit as many Questions as they like, the Question Paper may contain no more than one Question from each Member.  Members who submit more than one Question are therefore asked to rank their Questions. The Question Paper is compiled by drawing each Member’s name at random and adding the Member’s top ranking Question (unless it is similar to a Question which has already been added to the Question Paper, in which case their second ranking Question is added, and so on). The Question Paper is circulated to Members by 5pm on the day before the sitting.[5]

During the election sitting, the Secretary reads out the names of candidates along with the names of their proposers and seconders. Candidates may make an opening speech of up to 10 minutes.  Questions are then put to the candidates, with no supplementary questions permitted.[6]

If there is more than one candidate, there is a ballot to identify the preferred nominee.  This is done using the same procedures used to elect Members to a Committee[7] If the Speaker considers that is unlikely that a candidate will receive at least 13 votes, or if there is no prospect of reaching agreement, the House may be adjourned and the Speaker may call for fresh nominations.[8]

Once a preferred candidate has been identified in the ballot, the Speaker puts to the House the motion that the Member who was successful in that election be nominated as Chief Minister.[9] If fewer than 13 Members support the motion, the Speaker calls for fresh nominations and the sitting is adjourned.[10] All voting results, including which candidate each Member has voted for and the number of spoilt ballots, are made public.[11] 

The Chief Minister is formally appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the House of Keys.[12] The warrant of appointment is enrolled in the Public Record Office.[13] He or she holds office until the next General Election or until the House of Keys resolves that it has no confidence in the Council of Ministers.[14]

Before the law was changed in 2018, the Chief Minister was elected by and from amongst the Members of Tynwald.  The last Chief Minister to be elected by Tynwald was Hon. Howard Quayle MHK in October 2016. 

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[1] Standing Orders of the House of Keys,12.1(2) .

[2] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.2(1); Council of Ministers Act 1990, s.2(2A).

[3] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.2(1)-12.2(4); Council of Ministers Act 1990, s.2(2B).

[4] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.2(A)(1)-(5).  These procedures were introduced in July 2024 and have yet to be used.

[5] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.2B(1)-(6).  These procedures were introduced in July 2024 and have yet to be used.

[6] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.2(C)(1)-(4). These procedures were introduced in July 2024 and have yet to be used.

[7] Standing Orders of the House of Keys,12.3(1).  

[8] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.5(1)-(4).

[9] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.6(1).

[10] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 12.6(3); Council of Ministers Act 1990, s.2(2).

[11] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 6.3(12)-(13)

[12] Council of Ministers Act 1990, s.2(1). 

[13] Council of Ministers Act 1990, s.2(4).

[14] Council of Ministers Act 1990, s.2(3)(a)-(b). 

Whenever a vacancy occurs in any seat, a by-election is held. A Member elected at a by-election is sworn in as below. At the next sitting of the House of Keys, or a specially convened sitting, a new Member is presented to the Speaker by two current Members, known as ‘sponsors’.

Whenever a vacancy arises in the Legislative Council, whether through retirement or another reason, the Speaker of the House of Keys must launch an election process.[1]

The election procedure is laid down in the Standing Orders of the House of Keys.[2] A candidate must be a resident of the Island, over the age of 18, and not subject to any legal incapacity.[3] This may include persons who have just completed a term of office or are currently serving as Members of the House of Keys.  It is not possible to serve simultaneously as a Member of the Legislative Council and a member of a local authority.[4]

Candidates must submit a completed application form and a curriculum vitae to the Secretary of the House of Keys before the application deadline, which must be at least a month after the launch of the election process.[5]

All applicants who have submitted a valid application are invited to attend an Applicants’ Conference, which must take place after the application deadline but before the proposal deadline.[6] The purpose of the meeting is to give applicants the opportunity to meet Members of the House of Keys. Only Members of the House of Keys, officers of the House and applicants may attend the conference,[7] though an applicant is not required to attend the conference as part of the process.[8]

In order for an application to proceed to the next stage, a Member of the House of Keys must propose the applicant by submitting a proposal to the Secretary of the House of Keys before the deadline for proposals, which must be at least one month after the application deadline.[9] The proposal must be seconded by a Member of the House of Keys and also be supported by at least two other MHKs.[10] No Member may support (whether as proposer, seconder or other supporter) more candidates than there are vacancies.[11] On receipt of a proposal, the Secretary of the House will check its validity and circulate valid proposals to all Members of Tynwald.[12] All valid proposals are also published on the Tynwald website shortly after the deadline for proposals has passed.[13]

Candidates who have been proposed are invited to take part in a hustings, which takes place after the proposal deadline but before the election sitting.[14] Hustings are attended by Members of the House of Keys and candidates. The Speaker may determine whether any other person may attend for recording or broadcasting purposes.[15] Candidates have the opportunity of making an opening statement on their reasons for standing and any other comments they may wish to make, and MHKs have the opportunity to ask questions of the applicants.

The election sitting takes place at least two weeks after the proposal deadline.[16] The Order Paper for the sitting must include the names of the candidates and their proposers, seconders and other supports, along with their application papers.[17]  If there are more candidates than there are vacancies, there is a vote.[18] Each Member may vote for or against each candidate.[19]  A successful candidate requires a majority of the votes of Members present and voting.[20]  Since 2017, voting has been done by public ballot.[21]

Voting continues until all vacancies have been filled.[22] Where a vacancy cannot be filled, the Speaker calls for fresh nominations and the application procedure will start again.[23]

No person is deemed to be an elected Member of the Legislative Council unless he or she has:

• within fourteen days of election, signified in writing to the Speaker of the House of Keys his/her willingness to accept such office, and
• within the said fourteen days, given to the Speaker an address to which all communications may be sent, and
• received from the Speaker a formal warrant certifying his/her election as a Member of the Legislative Council.[24]

It is the duty of the Speaker, on receiving the acceptance and address of the successful nominee, to have the formal warrant delivered to the person elected and the acceptance delivered to the President of Tynwald.[25]

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[1] Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 8.1(1)-(3); Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919, s.8 and s. 22.

[2] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.1-8.5

[3] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.6(4)

[4] Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919, s. 17A; Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.6(4).

[5] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.1(4)(a).

[6] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.1(4)(b).

[7] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(3).

[8] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(4).

[9] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.1(4)(c).

[10] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(5).

[11] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(7).

[12] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(8).

[13] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(10).

[14] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.1(4)(d).

[15] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(11). In 2025 the hustings were recorded and made available on the Tynwald YouTube channel.

[16] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.1(4)(d).

[17] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.2(12).

[18] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.3 (2)

[19] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.3 (5)

[20] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.3 (7)

[21] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.3 (13)

[22] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.3 (9)-(10).

[23] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.3 (11).

[24] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.5(2); Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919, s.21.

[25] Standing Orders of the House of Keys 8.5 (2); Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919, s.21.