The States of Jersey (French: États de Jersey) is the parliament of Jersey. Until December 2005 it also directly exercised executive powers, which have now been removed to the new Chief Minister of Jersey and his cabinet, elected by the States. The British Houses of Parliament, London, UK A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system derived from that of the United Kingdom. ... The Chief Minister of Jersey (French: Premier Ministre de Jersey) is the head of government of Jersey. ...

Composition

Entrance to the public gallery of the States Chamber

The Queen as head of state appoints the Lieutenant Governor, who serves as the Queen's representative and as commander of the Armed Forces, for such a term as she pleases. The Lieutenant Governor serves a ceremonial role and may attend and address the States Assembly, but usually does so only on taking and leaving office. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1236x767, 564 KB) Public entrance to States Chamber in St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1236x767, 564 KB) Public entrance to States Chamber in St. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is the Queen regnant of the following countries (shown in the order of her accession): 1952: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1962: Jamaica 1966: Barbados 1973: The Bahamas 1974: Grenada 1975... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State in many Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, the Bahamas and many more, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... The Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey The Lieutenant Governor of Jersey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Jersey, a Crown dependency of the United Kingdom. ...

The legislative power of the Bailiwick rests with the Assembly of the States, of which the Bailiff is the President, or presiding officer. However, the Bailiff may cast no vote except for the casting, or tie-breaking, vote. In the absence of the Bailiff, the Deputy Bailiff or an individual chosen by the Assembly presides. In the Channel Islands of Guernsey the Bailiff is the first civil officer, serving as president of the legislature and the Royal Court. ... The Presiding Officer (Oifigear-Riaghlaidh in Scots Gaelic) is the person elected by the Members of the Scottish Parliament to chair their meetings. ...

The Assembly's voting members comprise Senators, Deputies, and Connétables. Twelve Senators are chosen by the whole Bailiwick for six-year terms; terms are staggered so that six senators are chosen every three years. Additionally, twenty-nine Deputies are elected for a three-year term by single- or multi-member electoral districts. Finally, each of the Bailiwick's twelve parishes elects one Connétable. The Connétable is actually the head of the parish who sits ex-officio in the Assembly; he is not directly elected to the Assembly. Connétables also serve three-year terms. Jersey is divided into parishes Saint Helier Saint Saviour Saint Clement Grouville (historically Saint Martin de Grouville) Saint Martin (historically Saint Martin le Vieux) Trinity Saint John Saint Mary Saint Ouen Saint Peter Saint Brelade Saint Lawrence Categories: UK geography stubs | Parishes of Jersey | Parishes ... A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. ...

In addition to voting members, the Assembly also includes three members who may speak but not vote. The Attorney General and Solicitor General are appointed by the Queen as officers of the state and serve in the Assembly ex-officio. They may address the Assembly on matters of legal interpretation. Also, the Dean of Jersey, the senior Jersey clergyman of the Church of England, has a seat in the Assembly ex-officio, and may address the Assembly on any issue. He also acts as chaplain of the States, conducting the opening prayers in French at every sitting. In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... The Solicitor General is a cabinet position in several countries, dealing with legal affairs. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ...

A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. ... In the Channel Islands of Guernsey the Bailiff is the first civil officer, serving as president of the legislature and the Royal Court. ...

Legislation

The Assembly's passage of a law is generally not subject to any veto. However, any law that concerns the "special interest" of the Queen may be vetoed by the Lieutenant Governor. Additionally, if he feels that the Assembly does not have the authority to pass a law, the Bailiff may declare his dissent to that law. The bill is then submitted to the Queen, and has no effect until her consent is obtained.

A 2005 law known as the States of Jersey Law ¹ outlines the constitution of the States and the general procedures of the new ministerial government.

A piece of legislation passed by the States is known in English simply as a 'Law', and in French as a Loi, not as an 'Act' as in the UK. An Act or Acte of the States is an administrative enactment and may be in the nature of secondary legislation.

History

It is requested that this article (or section of this article) be expanded. Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ...

The legislature derives its name from the estates (French: états) of the Crown (represented by the Bailiff and Jurats), the Church (the rectors of the Parishes) and the people (represented by the Connétables) from whom the assembly was originally summoned. In France under the ancien régime, the Estates of the realm were the three divisions of the Estates-General. ... The Crown is a term which is used to separate the government authority and property of the state in a kingdom from any personal influence and private assets held by the current Monarch. ...

As the urban population of St. Helier grew in the 19th century, the States voted on 6 November 1856 to adopt a law to add 14 Deputies to the assembly to counterbalance the mismatch of population and voting power between town and country. The first Deputies were elected 12 January 1857.

The first election by secret ballot was held December 1 1891.

Until the constitutional reforms brought in in the 1940s to separate legislature and judiciary, Jurats were the senior politicians, elected for life by islandwide suffrage, and were the presidents of committees. In 1948 the Jurats were replaced in the legislature by directly-elected Senators, who at first were elected for mandates of 9 years (subsequently reduced to 6 years). // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Jurat (through French from mediaeval Latin juratus, one sworn, Lat. ...

The rectors were also removed from the States in 1948 (with the exception of the Dean as Rector of St. Helier, who remained but lost his vote), and replaced by an increased number of Deputies.

States Chamber

The States Chamber forms the end of the States building in St. Helier

The States sat in the Royal Court until 1887 when the States Chamber was constructed adjacent to the Royal Court. The chamber is in Jacobean style, with the benches arranged in horseshoe form around the twin seats of the Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor. The Bailiff's seat is raised slightly higher than that of the Lieutenant Governor to demonstrate his precedence. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1151x1544, 1126 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Jersey Politics of Jersey States of Jersey ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1151x1544, 1126 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Jersey Politics of Jersey States of Jersey ...

Senators sit to the left of the bailiff, then the Connétables, and then the Deputies filling up the benches to the right.

Broadcasting

It is requested that this article (or section of this article) be expanded. Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ...

BBC Radio Jersey broadcasts the main States sittings live on their medium wave frequency 1026mw in Jersey. This includes Question Time. BBC Radio Jersey logo. ...

See also

• Chief Minister of Jersey
• List of Laws of Jersey
• States of Guernsey

The Chief Minister of Jersey (French: Premier Ministre de Jersey) is the head of government of Jersey. ... This is an incomplete list of Laws and Orders-in-Council of the States of Jersey. ... The States of Guernsey (French: États de Guernesey) is the parliament of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. ...

External links

• Official Assembly site
• States of Jersey government site
• Note 1: Text of States of Jersey Law (2005)