The Legislative Council
The Legislative Council is the Upper Branch of Tynwald. It consists of three ex officio members, the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and Her Majesty's Attorney General and eight members elected by the House of Keys. The term 'Sodor', in the Bishop's title, refers to the medieval diocese, which used to include the Hebrides, also known as the 'Sudreys' or Southern Isles (as opposed to the 'Nordreys' or Northern Isles ie. the Orkneys and Shetland). Historically, the Bishop was a Baron and, as a Lord Spiritual, a member of Tynwald. The remaining eight members of the Legislative Council are elected by the House of Keys for terms which expire in the February following the fourth anniversary of the date of election. Although elected by the Keys, not infrequently from among its own members, the elected members of the Legislative Council are not controlled by, or delegates of, the House of Keys.