The States Assembly – Jersey’s elected parliament – is the highest decision-making body in the Island, and its impact and influence are felt by Islanders every day.
But how much of its complicated history and workings do most of us really know about? With over 500 years of discussions, debates, and democratic workings, the Assembly is a near-endless source of historical and cultural information.
With that in mind, we wanted to draw out a few interesting, lesser-known facts about the Assembly. Whether you’re new to the Island or watch every States Meeting live via Public-I, here are five things we think you might not know about the States Assembly.
1. Medieval Origins
When telling the story of how the States Assembly came to be, we need to begin in the Middle Ages. All the way back in the year 933, the second Duke of Normandy, William Longsword (or ‘Willâome de lon Espee’ in Norman) gained lordship over the Channel Islands and they became part of the Duchy of Normandy.
133 years later, when the Duke of Normandy defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England, this meant that England, Normandy and the Channel Islands were all brought together under his rule (though Channel Islands were technically still part of Normandy).
Another 150 or so years on, in 1204, King John of England lost mainland Normandy to King Philippe Auguste of France in a battle outside Rouen. However, Jersey remained loyal to the English crown and as such the Island saw judicial and legislative freedoms confirmed by the King. Judicial freedom meant that Jersey citizens had the power to decide the innocence or guilt of any Jersey person accused of committing a crime, whilst legislative freedom allowed us to make our own laws.
12 Islanders were chosen to become 'Jurats' and worked alongside the Bailiff (first known to be appointed in 1235) to form the Royal Court. The King also appointed a Warden, later to be known as the Governor, to handle military duties.
In time, the Royal Court started to speak with the Connétables and Rectors from the 12 Parishes, which led to the creation of a legislative assembly, made up of the Bailiff and the three estates: Jurats, Rectors, and Connétables. The Assembly became known as “Les États de Jersey”: the States of Jersey.
The first minutes of meetings of the States Assembly that are available today start in 1524 - we will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Assembly’s minutes later this year. Various changes to the make-up of the Assembly have taken place since then – including the introduction of Deputies in 1856, the removal of Rectors and Jurats and introduction of Senators in 1948, and the removal of Senators in 2022.
The Channel Islands are the only remaining part of the former Duchy of Normandy to remain under the rule of the British monarch.
2. Official Languages
Given this history, it is hardly surprising that French was initially the only language which could be spoken in the Assembly. It wasn’t until 1900 that it was agreed that English could be introduced as the second official language, and not until 2019 that Jèrriais, the Island’s native language, was introduced as the third. Whilst most States business today takes place in English, States Members are welcome to speak in any of these three languages.
It’s not too often that we’ll hear French or Jèrriais being spoken in the chamber, but States Members do utilise these languages from time to time.
For instance, Deputy Montfort Tadier, President of the Jersey branch of L’Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, has given speeches in French when commemorating occasions like the Mois de la Francophonie (French speaking month) in States Meetings. The Hansard of the Deputy Tadier’s speech in French to mark International Francophonie Day 2023 can be found here.
Deputy Tadier has also spoken in Jèrriais during States Meetings, such as on 25 March 2022 to announce the launch of the Jerriais Language Strategy, when he said the following:
“J’ai étout l’pliaîsi d’annonchi qu’la Stratégie du Jèrriais s’en va êt’ lanchie au mais d’Avri […] I’ faut célébrer nos réchinnes Françaises et l’Jèrriais nos aîgue à èrténîn not’ identité Nouormande.”
(“I also have the pleasure of announcing that the Jèrriais Language Strategy is going to be launched in April […] We must celebrate our French roots and the Jèrriais language helps us to retain our Norman identity.”)
The Hansard for that meeting can be accessed here. In both examples given, translations into English were also provided.
3. Assembly Rules
The Standing Orders are the rules that must be followed in States Meetings. These include detailed instructions on the running of meetings, such as: who can lodge a proposition or present a report; the order of business (from the “formal entry of presiding officer” to “arrangement of public business for future meetings”); and details regarding matters that can be proposed without notice.
The Standing Orders also include the “Rules of Order, Conduct, and Debate in Meeting”, which specify that States Members must:
- enter and leave the Chamber with decorum;
- bow to the presiding officer (the Bailiff or the Deputy Bailiff) when entering or leaving the Chamber;
- sit down and remain silent whenever the presiding officer is speaking.
These rules also specify behaviours that States Members must not engage in, including:
- crossing the floor of the Chamber
- consuming any food or drink in the Chamber except water;
- reading any book, newspaper, or other document in the Chamber unless its content is directly relevant to the business of the States;
- conversing noisily or acting in a way which disturbs proceedings.
During States Meetings, the Bailiff is in charge of ensuring that Standing Orders are followed. Find out more about the Standing Orders here.
4. Sign-Off from the Crown
For draft laws to come into force, Royal Assent is required before they can be registered in the Royal Court.
Once a draft law has been voted on and approved by the States Assembly, a letter with a copy of the law is sent to the UK Privy Council. It is reviewed by the Committee for the Affairs of Jersey and Guernsey, which will decide whether or not to recommend approval. Once the monarch, through the Privy Council, has given their assent, the draft law is sent back to Jersey and goes before Royal Court, at which point it is registered and enters the law books of the Island.
If you’re wondering what would happen if Royal Assent were to be refused, you might look as far back in history as the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14). In 1708, Queen Anne vetoed the Scottish Militia Bill which had been passed by the UK Parliament and would have restored and armed a militia in Scotland. The Bill was passed through parliament and supported by her government, but soon afterwards, news came of a looming invasion from France, and there were fears around the loyalty of the Scottish Militia. In a last-minute response to the news, Royal Assent was revoked.
5. Working Behind the Scenes
Jersey’s Deputies and Connétables will be familiar faces to many Islanders, as will certain non-elected members of the States Assembly. Non-elected members include the Bailiff, the Governor, the Dean, the Attorney-General, and the Greffier of the States Assembly.
Lisa Hart has been the Greffier since April 2022. Her responsibilities during States Meetings include taking the roll call, reading out propositions to be debated, working the voting system and advising the Bailiff and Members on procedure.
The Greffier is also the head of the States Greffe, the department which assists with the smooth running of Assembly proceedings. The States Greffe is situated in Morier House, just across the road from the Assembly building – not to be confused with the Judicial Greffe, which is based in the Royal Court and supports the effective operation of the courts, tribunals, and other judicial matters like wills and land registration.
The States Greffe is comprised of around 60 people, working to support the Assembly in a range of functions. The teams within the Greffe include:
- The Secretariat team, which provides an impartial specialist secretariat service to several States appointed and Government bodies, including the Council of Ministers;
- Members’ Resources, who support States Members with technical aspects of their work like lodging propositions and amendments;
- Scrutiny Officers, who assist each of the Scrutiny Panels in holding Ministers to account;
- Publications, who prepare any documents presented to the Assembly for Members to read, including the Order Paper which sets out what happens in States Meetings;
- The Support Services team, which provides administrative support to the department and is located in the Information Centre on the ground floor of Morier House.
- The Digital and Public Engagement team, which works to raise awareness of the work of the Assembly and of Scrutiny and to increase voter engagement on the Island.
There is also a close relationship with the Legislative Drafting Office, which specialises in the preparation of Laws, Regulations, Orders, and amendments to legislation. The Principal Legislative Drafter reports to the Greffier of the States.
So there you have it – an overview of five facts, features, and functions of the States Assembly that you may not have heard about but which will hopefully enrich your knowledge of Jersey’s elected parliament.