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Acts of Tynwald are legislative enactments of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man.

[edit] Structure

They are structured in a similar format to Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

[edit] Commencement

In older times, each act commenced with a short introduction:

“

At a Tynwald held at Douglas, Isle of Man, the day of [day and month] in the [regnal year] year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord [year in words], before the Council and Keys.

”

In earlier Acts, the wording took a slightly different form:

“

At a Tynwald Court holden at [town], the [day] Day of [month] in the [regnal year] Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord [king], by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and in the Year of our Lord [year in words], before the Most Noble [name of Duke], Duke of Atholl, Governor in Chief, the Council, Deemsters, and Keys of the said Isle.

”

There is now no commencement formula.

[edit] Long title

The next section is the 'long title' of the Act, which summarises the purpose of the statute. One example from a Customs Act would read:

“

"An Act to consolidate with simplifications and amendments certain enactments relating to customs and excise etc.; and for connected purposes".

”

[edit] Enacting formula

The actual text of the law is preceded by the following enacting formula:

“

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Council and Keys in Tynwald assembled, and by authority of the same, as follows:

”

Until 1 Jamuary 2008, a longer form of words was used:

“

We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Council and Keys of the said Isle, do humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the Queen's [King's] Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Council and Keys in Tynwald assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows (that is to say):-

”

In earlier Acts, commencing with the revestment of the island to the British Crown, the following form is found:

“

We, therefore, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Governor, Council, Deemsters, and Keys of the said Isle, do humbly beseech your Majesty, that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the King's [Queen's] Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Governor, Council, Deemsters, and Keys of this Isle, in Tynwald assembled, and by the Authority of the same

”

[edit] Citation

In modern times, Acts of Tynwald have specified a 'short title' which (together with the relevant year of assent) they may be legally cited, such as 'The Isle of Man Constitution Act 1961'. Acts from the 1970s onwards can also be cited by year and chapter number, for example '1990 c.3'.

In UK legislation, Acts of Tynwald are cited by the short title, with the addition of the text '(An Act of Tynwald)'. In a similar fashion, when UK legislation is referenced in Manx law, it is cited with the short title, year of assent, and '(An Act of Parliament)'.

[edit] Secondary legislation

The Isle of Man also has a form of delegated legislation, in the form of rules, orders and regulations made under authority of a particular Act of Tynwald. These can be either in an affirmative form (Tynwald must vote to bring them into effect), or a negative form (they will have effect unless one or more members of Tynwald seeks a vote on the matter)

[edit] Printing

As of 2006^[update], the government printer for Acts of Tynwald is 'The Copy Shop' in Bucks Road, Douglas.

[edit] See also

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