The Legislature makes laws for the peace, order and good government of St Helena. The Legislature of St Helena consists of His Majesty the King, represented in St Helena by the Governor and the Legislature Council (Sec: 47 of the Constitution).
The Legislative Council consists of:
- A Speaker
- A Deputy Speaker
- 12 Elected Members, and
- One (non-voting) Ex-Officio Member who is the Attorney General.
Elections are held every four years to select the Elected Members of the Council.
Section 61 of the Constitution provides for meetings of the Legislative Council. Further details regarding the regulation and conduct of meetings for Legislative Council Members and Ministers are set out in the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council made in accordance with Section 68 of the Constitution and the Select Committees Establishment Order. The St Helena Legislative Council endeavours to meet at least four times per year.
Sessional Papers are reports and papers which have been tabled ‘in the House’ (i.e. in Formal Legislative Council) and deposited with the Clerk of Councils. These papers include Bills for Ordinances, annual financial reports of St Helena Government and various other entities (e.g. the Saint Helena National Trust, St Helena Fisheries Corporation, etc), the Estimates, reports of the Public Accounts Committee, St Helena Audit Reports, etc. Once tabled, Sessional Papers become public documents.
You may also be interested in viewing Hansards, Order Papers or Election information.