The Island Council is the

legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...

of the Pitcairn Islands.

Structure

The Council has ten members, seven (five Councillors, the

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

, and the Deputy Mayor) of whom are elected by popular vote and are the only members that are allowed to vote during any Council meeting. The other three are ''

ex-officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

'' members: the Administrator (who serves as both the head of government and the representative of the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands), the

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

, and the Deputy Governor. The Councillors and the Deputy Mayor all serve two year terms. The Mayor is elected for three years and is eligible to serve a second term in office, whilst the Administrator is appointed by the Governor for an indefinite term.

History

The presiding officer of the council was traditionally the ''Magistrate'', who held executive, legislative, and judicial authority. Following a constitutional review in 1998, this office was divided and replaced by the ''Mayor'' and the ''council chairman,'' effective from 1999. Until 2011 the Governor appointed a second member of the Council. However, this position was scrapped in favour of introducing the fifth elected seat.

Council membership

As of 9 August 2022, the composition of the Island Council was: Voting members: *

: Charlene Warren-Peu *Deputy Mayor: Shawn Christian *Councillors: Michele Christian, Heather Menzies, Simon Young, Torika Christian, and Leslie Jaques Non-voting (ex-officio) Members: * Administrator : Tim Moody (temporary until 9 October 2022). *

: Iona Thomas *Deputy Governor: Alasdair Hamilton

References

Government of the Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn The Pitcairn Islands (; Pitkern: '), officially the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, is a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the sole British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean. The four is ...

Politics of the Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands law British Overseas Territories courts Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands Organisations based in the Pitcairn Islands {{Pitcairn-stub