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Lodged au Greffe on 11th September 2001 by Deputy R.C. Duhamel of St. Saviour
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STATES OF JERSEY
STATES GREFFE
180 2 0 0 1 P . 1 2 2 Am d .( 4 )
Price code: A
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Insert after paragraph (vii) -
( v iii ) a ny proposition brought before the States by the Chief Minister or any other Minister on behalf of the
Executive shall only be adopted if approved, not only by a majority of all members present, but also by a majority of those members present who are not involved in the Executive;
Renumber remaining paragraphs accordingly. DEPUTY R.C. DUHAMEL OF ST. SAVIOUR
Report
P.122/2001 refers to the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers (paragraph 6.7 and Appendix 5). This is concept new to Jersey politics. The existing Committee system seeks to persuade Committee members to agree but accepts minority viewpoints with equanimity. A proposition brought to the States by a particular Committee may not be supported by all members of that Committee and within the bounds of common courtesy, Committee members may vote against.
The collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers will restrict the freedom of individual Ministerial members. Once agreed by the Council, a policy must be supported by all executive members. Thus a block vote will be created in the States Chamber. Any proposition submitted by a Minister will already have been voted upon and approved in a closed forum. Ministers will not be able to express their reservations on the floor of the House as they will be required to support the collective decision of their Council. Assistant Ministers will also be expected to follow the example of their Ministers.
In the interest of open and democratic government, my amendment requires a majority of non-executive members to approve any proposition brought before the House.
Proposition 122/2001 as it stands could lead to a situation in which all but one of the non-executive members oppose a given policy but with the support of a single non-executive member, the executive members would carry the motion.
My amendment seeks to ensure that a majority of non-executive members are persuaded by the merit of a proposition in open debate on the floor of the House with the public able to see and hear the proceedings.
This amendment has no implications for the financial and manpower resources of the States.