Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands

Local legislative assembly of the Falkland Islands

For the former legislature of the Falkland Islands, see Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands.

Legislative Assembly of the
Falkland Islands

The office of the Legislative Assembly (Gilbert House)

Type
Type|

Unicameral

Term limits

| 4 years
History
Founded| 1 January 2009 (2009-01-01)
Preceded by| Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands
Leadership

Speaker

Keith Biles (Non-affiliated)

Structure
Seats| 12 (8 elected, 3 non-voting ex officio members, 1 speaker)

Political groups

Nonpartisan: 11 seats

Elections

Voting system

| Block voting

Last election

| 4 November 2021

Next election

| 2025
Meeting place
Stanley Town Hall, Stanley, Falkland Islands
Website
https://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/

Politics of the Falkland Islands

Constitution

* Constitution of the Falkland Islands

The Crown

* Monarch
* King Charles III

Government

* Governor
* Colin Martin-Reynolds
* Executive Council
* Chief Executive
* Andy Keeling
* Financial secretary
* Pat Clunie
* Attorney General
* Simon Young

Legislature

* Speaker
* Keith Biles
* Constituencies
* Legislative Council

Judiciary

* Supreme Court
* Court of Appeal of the Falkland Islands
* Advisory Committee on the
Prerogative of Mercy
* Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Elections

* Elections in the Falkland Islands

* 1949
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960

1964
* 1968
* 1971
* 1976

1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989

1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005

2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

Next

* Referendums in the Falkland Islands

* 1986
* 2001
* 2011
* 2013

2020

* By-elections
* Politicians

Other

* Sovereignty dispute
* Outline
* History

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands is the unicameral legislature of the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The Legislative Assembly replaced the Legislative Council (which had existed since 1845) when the new Constitution of the Falklands came into force in 2009 and laid out the composition, powers and procedures of the islands' legislature.

The Legislative Assembly consists of eight elected members, three ex officio members (the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance and the Attorney General), and the Speaker. Although they take part in proceedings, the ex officio members do not have the right to vote in the Legislative Assembly. The Commander British Forces also has the right to take part in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, though again they may not vote.

## Powers and role

[edit]

Meetings of the Legislative Assembly are normally held in the Court and Assembly Chamber in Stanley Town Hall and begin at a time appointed by the Governor. The constitution states there must be at least one meeting of the Legislative Assembly every year, although the Assembly normally meets every two to three months. Meetings of the Legislative Assembly are broadcast live on the local radio station, the Falkland Islands Radio Service.

The members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have office facilities at Gilbert House, Stanley.

The constitution gives the Legislative Assembly legislative powers for "the peace, order and good government of the Falkland Islands." Any MLA may introduce a bill or propose any motion for debate. However, the Legislative Assembly is not permitted to propose a bill which makes alterations to the taxes or finances on the Islands, unless given permission to do so by the Governor, as this is the remit of the Director of Finance and the Public Accounts Committee who are elected by the Legislative Assembly and whose proposals are voted on by the Legislative Assembly. Most motions in the Assembly, including bills, are passed by a simple majority of the elected members with the presiding officer having the casting vote.

The presiding officer of the Assembly is the Speaker (or the Deputy Speaker in the Speaker's absence) who is elected by the MLAs. Unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly does not need to be a member of the Assembly. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are elected for the life of the Legislative Assembly though can be removed via a motion of no confidence voted for by six or more MLAs. During the Speaker election, the Attorney General acts as presiding officer.

The Assembly is governed by a number of standing orders which lay out the regulations for proceedings during Assembly meetings. Also, MLAs are granted parliamentary privilege in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly. There is also a Clerk of the Legislative Assembly who has a similar role to that of the Clerk of the House of Commons.

Since the 2013 general election MLAs have been paid a salary, rather than just expenses, and are expected to work full-time, giving up whatever jobs or business interests they may have previously held.[1]

## Elections

[edit]

There must be a general election on the Falklands at least once every four years, although there can be an election at any time. As in most Westminster systems, the election campaign officially begins with the dissolution of the legislature. In the Falklands the Governor dissolves the Legislative Assembly by proclamation at the request of the Executive Council. There must be an election within 70 days of the dissolution and the Governor retains the power to recall a dissolved Legislative Assembly before the election, though only in the event of an emergency.

The Falkland Islands are divided into two constituencies, Camp and Stanley. Camp returns three elected members and Stanley returns five elected members using block voting. The Stanley constituency consists of the area within 3.5 mi (5.6 km) of the spire of Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley, while the Camp constituency consists of the rest of the Territory.[2] The Constitution allows for the constituencies and their boundaries to be amended, but such an amendment must be agreed to by two-thirds of the vote in a referendum of the islanders.

Anyone aged eighteen years or over on the date of the election and registered to vote in the Falklands qualifies to be elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly in the constituency where they are registered. The Legislative Assembly is elected through universal suffrage, which means that a person can vote if they are eighteen years or over on the date of the election, have Falkland Islands status, are a British citizen and are a resident in the Falkland Islands on the date of the election.

Someone can lose their right to vote if they have been certified insane or of unsound mind under any law, if they are serving a sentence of imprisonment for a term of at least twelve months, if they have been convicted of an offence relating to elections, or if they have any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state. Regular members of His Majesty's Armed Forces are also not allowed to vote.

If there is any dispute over the election of the Assembly, or the validity of anyone to vote or stand for election, the Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands has the jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.

### By-elections

[edit]

See also: List of Falkland Islands by-elections

If an elected member of the Legislative Assembly vacates his or her seat for any reason other than a dissolution of the Assembly, there is a by-election to fill the empty seat. The by-election must be held within 70 days the vacancy occurring, unless the Assembly is due to be dissolved within 126 days.

## Current composition

[edit]

See also: 2021 Falkland Islands general election

Members of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly and Mark Lancaster TD MP in November 2016.

The last election took place on 4 November 2021 and the next election is due to take place in 2025. As no political parties are active on the Islands, non-partisans were elected at the most recent election.

### Elected members

[edit]

See also: Category:Falkland Islands MLAs 2021–2025 and 2021 Falkland Islands general election

Member | Constituency | Votes

|
|

Leona Vidal Roberts | Stanley | 839
Roger Spink | Stanley | 691
Pete Biggs | Stanley | 570
Mark Pollard | Stanley | 550
Gavin Short | Stanley | 486
Teslyn Barkman | Camp | 184
Ian Hansen | Camp | 126
John Birmingham | Camp | 122

### Officials

[edit]

Icon of St. Nicholas at Gilbert House. He is a protector of fishermen and by extension of the Falklands fisheries.

The Directorates are paid employees, members of the Corporate Management Team, the principal civil servants of the Assembly.

Member | Office

|

Andrea Clausen | Chief Executive
James Wilson | Director of Finance
Keith Biles | Speaker
Simon Young | Attorney General

## Oath or affirmation

[edit]

Under section 42 of the constitution, before entering upon the functions of his or her office, the MLAs must take the oath of allegiance and the oath of office. The wording for the oath of office is specified in Annex B to the Constitution:

> "I, name, do swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will well and truly serve His Majesty King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors, and the people of the Falkland Islands, and will uphold the Constitution and other laws in force in the Falkland Islands, as a member of the Legislative Assembly. So help me God."

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Falklands lawmakers: 'The full time problem'". MercoPress. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
2. ^ Section 6, Electoral Ordinance 1988 (Ordinance No. 21 of 1988), read with the Elections (Boundaries of Constituencies) Regulations 1989 (S.R. & O. No. 11 of 1989).

* "Falkland Islands Government Legislative Assembly Website". falklands.gov.fk. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
* "The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008" (PDF). falklands.gov.fk. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Articles related to the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands

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Falkland Islands

Capital: Port Stanley

History|

* 1770 Falklands crisis
* 1833 British Reassertion
* Hope Place
* Port Egmont
* Puerto Soledad
* 1982 invasion
* Falklands War

Geography|

| Islands|

* Arch
* Bald
* Barclay
* Barren
* Beaver
* Beauchene
* Bird
* Bleaker
* Bobs
* Broken
* Burdwood Bank
* Carcass
* Dunbar
* Dyke
* East Falkland
* Lafonia
* East
* Eddystone Rock
* Elephant Cays
* Fox
* George
* Golding
* Great
* Hog
* Hummock
* Jason
* Keppel
* Kidney
* Lively
* Long
* New
* Passage
* Pebble
* Penn
* Quaker
* Rabbit
* Ruggles
* Sandy Bay
* Saunders
* Sea Dog
* Sea Lion
* Speedwell
* Split
* Staats
* Swan
* Tea
* Tyssen
* Weddell
* West Falkland
* West Point

|

Locations|

* Ajax Bay
* Bay of Harbours
* Bertha's Beach
* Bluff Cove
* Brenton Loch
* Bull Point
* Byron Heights
* Camp
* Cape Bougainville
* Cape Pembroke
* Chartres
* Chatham
* Circum Peak
* Darwin
* Douglas
* Dunnose Head
* Eagle Passage
* Falkland Sound
* Fitzroy
* Fox Bay
* French
* Goose Green
* Grantham Sound
* Green Patch
* Gull
* Hill Cove
* Hope Harbour
* Hornby Mountains
* Horse
* Hoste Inlet
* Johnson's Harbour
* Lafonia
* Loop
* Mount Adam
* Mount Alice
* Mount Maria
* Mount Usborne
* Mount Weddell
* New Haven
* New Year Cove
* North Arm
* Orqueta
* Pebble Island Settlement
* Pillar
* Pleasant Peak
* Port Albemarle
* Port Howard
* Port Louis
* Port Patterson
* Port San Carlos
* Port Stephens
* Quaker Harbour
* Race
* Rincon Grande
* Roy Cove
* Salvador
* San Carlos
* Seal Bay
* Smylie Channel
* Stanley
* Stanley Harbour
* Swan
* Teal Inlet
* Volunteer Point
* Walker Creek
* Weddell Point
* Weddell Settlement

Politics|

* Chief Executive
* Constitution
* Falkland Islands pound (currency)
* Government House
* Governor
* list
* Legislative Assembly
* Representative Office, London
* Sovereignty dispute

Military|

* Falkland Islands Defence Force
* Mare Harbour
* RAF Mount Pleasant
* 1312 Flight
* 1435 Flight
* RRH Mount Kent
* RRH Byron Heights
* RRH Mount Alice

Economy|

* Falkland Islands Company
* Falkland Islands Development Corporation
* Falkland Islands General Employees Union
* Falkland Landholdings Corporation
* Falklands Oil and Gas

Society|

* Education
* Falkland Islands Community School
* Falkland Islanders
* Origins
* Falklands Conservation
* Human rights
* LGBTQ
* Languages
* Falkland Islands English
* Law Enforcement
* Telecommunications
* Internet domain
* Transport
* Falkland Islands Government Air Service
* Mount Pleasant Airport
* Port Stanley Airport

Culture|

* Coat of arms
* Flag
* Motto
* Religion
* Anglican parish
* Christ Church Cathedral
* Roman Catholicism
* Scouting and Guiding

Sport|

* Commonwealth Games
* Cricket team
* Football team
* Rifle Association
* Rugby union

(*) Sixth-formers attend Peter Symonds College in England, and national diploma / NVQ students attend Chichester College in England

* v
* t
* e

Legislatures of the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories

United Kingdom (UK)|

| Sovereign|

* Parliament of the United Kingdom
* House of Commons
* House of Lords

|

Devolved|

* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

Dependent territories|

| Crown Dependencies|

* Bailiwick of Guernsey1
* dependencies: Alderney
* Sark
* Jersey
* Isle of Man
* House of Keys
* Legislative Council

|

Overseas Territories|

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* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Pitcairn Islands
* Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha3
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands2
* Turks and Caicos Islands

Related|

* Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
* Hansard

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2 Territories without legislatures
3 Territories whose councils are purely advisory/consultative rather than legislative.

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* Niue
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* Saint Barthélemy
* Saint Helena
* Saint Martin
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon
* Sint Maarten
* Tobago
* Tokelau
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Wallis and Futuna

Non-UN states|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan
* Transnistria

Historical|

* Artsakh (1991–2023)
* Confederate States (1861–1862)
* Czechoslovakia (1948–1969)
* Irish Republic (1919–1922)
* Norfolk Island
* Orange Free State (1854–1902)
* Philippines (1976-1987)
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* Sicily
* Sikkim (1953–1975)
* South African Republic (1857–1902)

Related|

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