Wikipedia:Today's featured article/September 13, 2005

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tynwald Day is the national holiday of the Isle of Man, usually occurring on July 5. On this day, Tynwald, the Isle's legislature, meets in St John's, rather than its usual meeting place, Douglas. The session is held both in the chapel of St John the Baptist and in open air, on Tynwald Hill (an artificially-constructed mound). The meeting, the first recorded instance of which dates to 1417, is known as "Midsummer Court." It is attended by members of the two branches of Tynwald, the House of Keys and the Legislative Council. The Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, the representative of Lord of Mann (the British sovereign), presides, except on the rare occasions when the British monarch or a member of the British royal family is in attendance. All bills that have received the royal assent are promulgated on Tynwald Day; any Act of Tynwald which is not promulgated within 18 months of passage ceases to have effect. Other proceedings include the presentation of petitions and the swearing-in of certain public officials.

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