Tynwald Festival July 5th

The session is held partly in the Chapel Royal of St John the Baptist and partly outdoors on the adjacent Tynwald Hill (a small artificial mound). The meeting, which dates back to the 10th century, is known as Midsummer Court. It is attended by members of both branches of Tynwald: the House of Keys and the Legislative Council. The Lieutenant Governor, the Lord of Mann's representative, presides except when the Lord of Mann or another member of the British Royal Family is present.

All bills that have received Royal Assent are enacted on Tynwald Day; any Tynwald Act that is not so enacted within 18 months of its passing ceases to have effect. Other procedures include the presentation of petitions and the swearing-in of certain officials.

The main ceremonies of the day take place on Tynwald Hill, known in the manx as Cronk-y-Keeillown, or John's Church Hill, in the village of St John's. This mound is said to comprise soil from all 17 parishes on the island. The mound, about 3.7 metres high, comprises four circular platforms, which are successively decreasing in size, thus giving Tynwald Hill a somewhat conical shape.

The ceremony of proclamation of laws on Tynwald Hill dates back to the practice Nordic to make public proclamations from mounds: Iceland, for example, once used the Lögberg (Law-Rock or Law-Hill) for the same purpose. The origins of the artificial hill of Tynwald are unclear, but it existed by the end of the 14th century. It was used in 1393 for the inauguration of Sir William le Scrope, and again in 1408 for the inauguration of Sir John Stanley, as Lords of Mann. Its first recorded use for the enactment of laws was in the 24th century. June 1417, when Sir John Stanley presided.

The Lieutenant Governor, with the Sword Bearer and the officers and members of the Legislative Council, occupy the highest level of the Hill; the officers and members of the House of Keys occupy the next level. Other officials are housed on the lower levels and at the foot of the mound. A tent covers the upper platform. The flag of the Isle of Man flies from the mast except when the British Sovereign presides, when the Royal Standard flies.

After the Royal Anthem had been sung, the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls, on the instructions of the Lieutenant Governor, ordered the Coroner of Glenfaba to "close the Court". The Coroner accomplished his task by stating: 

"I close this Court of Tynwald in the name of our most gracious Sovereign Lord the King. I require that no one quarrel, fight or make trouble and that all persons answer to their names when I charge this audience to witness that this Court is closed. I charge this audience to witness that this Court is closed. I charge all this audience to witness that this Court is now closed. Yn Lhaihder (the reader) then repeats the same words in Manx.

After the Court is closed, the coroners appointed for the coming year are sworn in. The coroners of the six sheadings proceed up the hill in order of precedence (there are now four such coroners) starting with the coroner for Glenfaba and Michael, followed (clockwise around the island) by the coroner for Ayre and Garff, the coroner for Middle and the coroner for Rushen. The First Deemster administers the oath to the kneeling coroners: 

" Because book and by its sacred contents and by the wonderful works which God hath miraculously wrought in heaven above and on earth beneath in six days and seven nights, you, without respect of favour or friendship, love or gain, consanguinity or affinity, envy or malice, do indeed execute the office of coroner for every sheading to which you have been appointed for the coming year. So help you God. The phrase "the wonderful works which God hath miraculously wrought... in six days and seven nights" refers to the Book of Genesis. Coroners are then presented with ceremonial batons by the Lieutenant Governor.

After the coroners had taken the oath, the Lieutenant Governor said: "Dear Judges, I exhort you to proclaim to the people in an ancient form the laws which have been enacted during the past year and which have received the Royal Assent. 

Each Act is enacted by the First Deemster in English and the Second Deemster in Manx. The deemsters state the title and a brief description of the effect of each Act. For example, on Tynwald Day in 2003, an Act was enacted with the words "Deemsters' Functions Transfer Act 2003, which transfers certain functions of the deemsters to the Treasury". If a Tynwald Act is not enacted within 18 months of receiving Royal Assent, it ceases to be valid.

Once the deemsters have enacted the laws, individuals can present petitions for redress of grievances. The petitions are presented at the foot of Tynwald Hill to the Clerk of Tynwald, who forwards them to the Lieutenant Governor. The petitions are then referred to a Tynwald Committee. Subsequently, after the singing of the first verse of the national anthem, the Deputy Chief Constable of the Isle of Man Constabulary calls the participants individually off the hill and they proceed to the chapel.

Tynwald then reconvened in the chapel. While Tynwald was conducting important business in Douglas, he only participated in the subtitling ceremony in St John's. During the ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys used quill pens to sign certificates documenting the enactment of the laws.

Once the captioning of the acts is completed, the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Council retire, leaving the members of the House of Keys for a session of their house. If there are any bills that have not completed their full stages in the House of Keys, a member moves "That all bills and other business before the House remaining uncompleted at this date be suspended and continued at the same stage at the first sitting of the House in the next legislative year." 

This pro forma motion is approved by voice vote; the House of Keys then adjourns. Although there is no unfinished business before it, the House of Keys still meets, but no motion is presented and the adjournment is immediate.

After Tynwald Day, Tynwald Court returns to Douglas for three further sittings, normally held on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following Tynwald Day. If, however, Tynwald Day falls on a Monday, sittings are not held until the following week. Following these sittings, Tynwald adjourns for the summer, not meeting again until October.