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STATES OF JERSEY
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DEPUTIES: EXTENSION OF TERM OF OFFICE TO 4 YEARS
Lodged au Greffe on 27th July 2007 by Deputy P.N. Troy of St. Brelade
STATES GREFFE
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
(a ) to agree that the term of office for all Deputies should be extended from 3 years to 4 years with
effect from the Deputies' elections in the autumn of 2008; and
(b ) to request the Privileges and Procedures Committee to bring forward for approval the necessary
legislation to give effect to the proposal.
DEPUTY P.N. TROY OF ST. BRELADE
REPORT
With the approval of the proposition of the Comité des Connétable s (Composition and Election of the States Assembly: election dates for Connétable s (P.54/2007)) the Connétable s will in future be elected for a term of 4 years. This would mean that the States of Jersey would consist of Deputies on a 3 year term, Connétable s on 4 year term and Senators on a 6 year term.
It seems appropriate to amend the term of office for Deputies to the same period as for Connétable s. This would be more equitable than 3 different terms of membership. It has been recognised that reform is necessary and that the period of office for all members should perhaps be set at 4 years, and it is the lead taken by the Connétable s that will bring forward such reform. With my proposition both Deputies and Connétable s will be on a term of office of 4 years from 2008 and it then remains only for the Privileges and Procedures Committee to consult with Senators on future change.
Some have expressed concerns that the office of Senator may become unattractive to established members of the Assembly if reduced to a 4 year term, but I personally believe that to be incorrect, as there are members who would, after serving as Deputy for an extended period, seek an Island-wide mandate. Consequently, I have purposefully left the term of office for Senator unchanged at 6 years so that, should Privileges and Procedures Committee wish to review their term of office, then it may do so this autumn after consultation with current Senators.
Financial and manpower implications
There are no financial or manpower implications for the States arising from this proposal.