The States of Guernsey (french: États de Guernesey), sometimes referred to as the Government of Guernsey, is the
parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
and
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
of the
British Crown dependency of
Guernsey
Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency.
It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...
. Some laws and ordinances approved by the States of Guernsey also apply to
Alderney
Alderney (; french: Aurigny ; Auregnais: ) is the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is long and wide.
The island's area is , making it the third-largest ...
and
Sark
Sark (french: link=no, Sercq, ; Sercquiais: or ) is a part of the Channel Islands in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. It is a royal fief, which forms part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of l ...
(the other component parts of the
Bailiwick of Guernsey
The Bailiwick of Guernsey (french: Bailliage de Guernesey; Guernésiais: ''Bailliage dé Guernési'') is an island country off the coast of France as one of the three Crown Dependencies.
Separated from the Duchy of Normandy by and under the t ...
) as "Bailiwick-wide legislation" with the consent of the governments of those islands. All enactments of the States of Guernsey apply to
Herm
Herm (Guernésiais: , ultimately from Old Norse 'arm', due to the shape of the island, or Old French 'hermit') is one of the Channel Islands and part of the Parish of St Peter Port in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. It is located in the English ...
as well as Guernsey, since Herm is directly administered by the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
When constituted as a
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 ...
, it is officially called the States of Deliberation.
When constituted as an
electoral college, it is officially called the ''
States of Election
The States of Election has only one purpose, to elect a new Jurat to the Courts in Guernsey.
The first record of a Jurat in Guernsey was in 1179, and a roll of honour listing Jurats since 1299 is in the Royal Court.
A Royal Commission of 1607 id ...
''.
The executive functions of the States are carried out using a committee system, formed of one Senior Committee, six Principal Committees and several other Committees Boards, Authorities and Commissions.
Legislation passed by the States is termed ''Laws'' (''Loi''), which take effect in the island by
Order-in-Council
An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council (''Kin ...
. Minor and secondary legislation does not require the assent of the King-in-Council and are known as ''Ordinances'' (''Ordonnances'').
History
The legislature derives its name from the ''
estates'' (French: ''états'') of
the Crown
The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has different ...
, the Church and the people from whom the assembly was originally summoned. The
Jurat
The ''jurats'' () are lay people in Guernsey and Jersey who act as judges of fact rather than law, though they preside over land conveyances and liquor licensing. In Alderney, however, the jurats are judges of both fact and law (assisted by thei ...
s, representing the Crown, and the representatives of the
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
were replaced in the constitutional reforms following the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, when the office of Conseiller was introduced.
Until 2000, there were 33 Deputies elected with three year mandates, and 12 Conseillers representing the Bailiwick, serving terms of six years, with half being elected every three. The Conseillers were not originally directly elected by the people (although latterly directly elected by Bailiwick-wide vote), and the office was abolished before the General Election held that year. The 10 Douzaine representatives (representing parish authorities) were removed from the States in the 2004 constitutional reform and the total of elected deputies rose to the 45 total. In 2016 the number of deputies was reduced to 38.
A 2018 referendum means the whole island will form a single 38-member district for
the 2020 election.
Composition
The States of Deliberation consists of 38 People's Deputies, elected every four years from a single island-wide constituency by
plurality-at-large voting
Plurality block voting, also known as plurality-at-large voting, block vote or block voting (BV) is a non- proportional voting system for electing representatives in multi-winner elections. Each voter may cast as many votes as the number of sea ...
, each voter being allowed to cast up to 38 votes. Before the 2020 election, the electoral system was multi-member districts by
plurality block voting
Plurality block voting, also known as plurality-at-large voting, block vote or block voting (BV) is a non- proportional voting system for electing representatives in multi-winner elections. Each voter may cast as many votes as the number of sea ...
, in which each voter can vote for as many candidates as there are seats in the district. Two Alderney Deputies are appointed by the
States of Alderney
The States of Alderney (French: ''États d'Aurigny'') is the parliament/council and the legislature of Alderney, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The origin of the States is unknown, but has operated from the medieval period. The States of A ...
to represent Alderney's interest in matters delegated by Alderney to Guernsey under the 1948 Agreement. The Alderney Representatives are full members of the States of Deliberation but are unpaid, and are chosen from the 10 members of the States of Alderney after an Alderney-wide plebiscite.
There are also two non-voting members being the Law Officers of the Crown - the Procureur (
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
) and the Comptroller (
Solicitor General) both appointed by the monarch. The
Bailiff
A bailiff (from Middle English baillif, Old French ''baillis'', ''bail'' "custody") is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their offi ...
presides over the States.
Committee system
Guernsey's government operates on a committee system. A similar system used to be used in the neighbouring bailiwick, Jersey, however, this was abolished and replaced with a ministerial government in 2005.
The Senior Committee is known as the Policy & Resources Committee. It is the leading body and in charge of co-ordination of policy and other States work. It oversees the functioning of the States and also has responsibilities for external affairs. The President of the Committee is often termed "Chief Minister" by the local media, as they are perceived to represent the island's government, especially abroad. They are elected by States Members. The incumbent President is Deputy Peter Febrache.
The remaining Principal Committees are listed below:
The remaining committees, all chaired by States Members, are the Development and Planning Authority, Transport Licensing Authority, Overseas Aid & Development Commission, States' Trading Supervisory Board, States Assembly & Constitution Committee, Scrutiny Management Committee and the Civil Contingencies Authority.
Elections
The last
general election was on 7 October 2020.
*
2020 results
*
2016 results
*
2012 results
*
2008 results
*
2004 results
Current deputies and representatives
Constitution of the States of Deliberation :
Deputies
Alderney representatives
* Steve Roberts
* Alex Snowdon
See also
*
States of Jersey
The States Assembly (french: Assemblée des États; Jèrriais: ) is the parliament of Jersey, formed of the island's 37 deputies and the Connétable of each of the twelve parishes.
The origins of the legislature of Jersey lie in the system o ...
*
The States
*
List of Laws of Guernsey
This is an ''incomplete'' list of Laws, Ordinances and Orders in Council of the States of Guernsey.
Guernsey passes between 30 and 60 laws a year.
20th century
1935
* Registration of Births and Deaths (Guernsey) Law, 1935
1939
* Matrim ...
References
External links
*
{{Guernsey elections
Politics of Guernsey
Government of Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency.
It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...