Acts of the imperial parliament do not affect the island except it be specially named in them. The lieutenant-governor (the representative of the sovereign) presides in the Council, in the Tynwald court. He is the supreme executive authority, and he has certain powers of veto. It has been the practice for him to act as chancellor of the exchequer.
The Council consists of the lieutenant-governor, lord-bishop of the diocese, clerk of the rolls, the two deemsters, attorney general, two members appointed by the lieutenant-governor and four members appointed by the House of Keys. The House of Keys (for origin of the name see KEY) is one of the most ancient legislative assemblies in the world. It consists of twenty-four members, elected by male and female voters, there being manhood and womanhood suffrage for all above 21 years of age. Each of four sheadings elects three members and the other two sheadings, two members each ; the towns of Castletown, Peel and Ramsey one each, and Douglas five. The House sits for five years unless previously dissolved by the lieutenant-governor.
Law.—The High Court of Justice, of which the lieutenant governor is president, contains three divisions : viz. the Chancery division, the Common Law division, and an Appeal court. The jurisdiction of the Chancery and Common Law division is in the main similar to that of the corresponding divisions in the English courts. Appellate jurisdiction is exercised by the Appeal court consisting of the High Court judge and an appeal judge, the latter being an eminent barrister approved by the crown, and acts only when required. The Common Law courts (southern division) are held at Douglas and Castletown alternately and for the northern division at Ramsey, once in three months. Actions are heard by a deemster and a special or common jury. The Chancery court sits once a fortnight at Douglas. Deemsters' courts for minor cases are held weekly, alternately at Douglas and Castletown and alternately at Ramsey and Peel. Criminal cases are heard by the magistrates or a high-bailiff and are sent on by them for trial by a deemster and a jury of six, which discharge the func tions of the Grand Jury in England. The Court of General Gaol Delivery is the supreme criminal court and is presided over by the clerk of the rolls and the deemsters. The High Bailiffs (compar able to a stipendiary magistrate) hold weekly courts in the four towns and magistrates (J.P.$) also hold regular courts. There is a coroner in each of the six sheadings.
The Manx Bar is distinct from that of England. Its members, called "Advocates," combine the functions of barrister and so licitor. The laws relating to real property still retain much of
their ancient peculiarity, but other branches of law have been made practically identical with English law. As regards real property the general tenure is a customary freehold devolving from each possesser to his next heir-at-law.