The States Assembly PodcastBrought to you by the States Greffe, the States Assembly Podcast is a way to access information and insights on how Jersey's political system works and how to make it work for you.
You'll find out more about the history of the States Assembly, as well as insights on the present day set-up. There'll be interviews with key individuals who keep the wheels of Island democracy turning, and lots of background information and explanations to help demystify some of the more complicated aspects of Jersey politics.
Questions are one of the tools that Jersey's States Members have available to them to understand why and how the Government is doing what it's doing.
Questions come in different forms and, depending on who you are and where you're asking them - the answers can come in different forms too.
In this episode we have Deputy Greffier Will Millow and Assistant Greffier Yan Fillieul serving up the essentials of political questions. We cover the various types of questions that can be asked at a States Meeting and branch out into how questions are used by Scrutiny Panels, as well as other situations where the Island's politicians might ask - or be asked - a question.
Who are the people who make our laws, set our taxes, decide how Jersey should be run? And what do they all do?
Jersey politics features a whole host of different roles that could be unfamiliar to you. There are: Constables (a.k.a. Connétables); Deputies; the Bailiff; the Greffier of the States; the Attorney General and Solicitor General; and more!
In this episode Lisa Hart and Will Millow help to unpack all the details about the people that work together to keep the wheels of Jersey's democracy turning. Listen to this episode and you will find out answers to the following questions:
Following on from our previous episode 'Jersey Scrutiny 101', we finish off the interview with Andy and Will and cover how Jersey isn't on its own in doing parliamentary scrutiny, what it takes to be an effective scrutineer and discover what it is that makes the Island's Public Accounts Committee the envy of other jurisdictions.
If you follow the news or have any interest at all in how taxpayers' money - your money - is spent in Jersey, then you must surely have heard references to 'Scrutiny'.
As mentioned in our 'Jersey Politics 101' podcast episode, Scrutiny is how politicians make sure that the government is held to account by checking and challenging policies, laws and the spending of public money.
What really is Scrutiny, though? How does it work, who are the scrutineers and what do they do to get the best outcomes for Islanders?
Jersey was occupied by German forces during the Second World War. The Occupation had a huge impact on the daily lives of Islanders, with many aspects of 'normal' life' restricted or affected in some way by the new rules and regulations that were imposed.
Large crowds gathered in the Royal Square in St. Helier to celebrate when Jersey was liberated on 9 May 1945. Liberation Day is now a public holiday in Jersey. Each year on 9 May, Islanders reflect on this important anniversary in the Island's history and come together to celebrate their enduring freedom.
In this episode we discuss the past, present and future including:
People who live in Jersey have the power to start a petition to call on the States Assembly - Jersey's elected parliament - for action or change.
What exactly is a petition? What power do they have? Do they really work to make change and improvement? How can you go about starting a petition, and what is the secret to success?
If you want to start an e-petition, click here: Start a petition - Petitions (gov.je), or for more information on how e-petitions work: How petitions work (gov.je)
If you think a hard copy petition is the best option for your cause, find out more about what you need to do here: Presenting a petition to the States
Jersey's States Members are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and it's the job of the Commissioner for Standards to determine whether or not they have, when faced with a complaint.
Dr Melissa McCullough is the Pan-Island Commissioner for Standards. As Commissioner, she deals with complaints (and potential complaints) from States Members and Islanders.
In this interview Dr McCullough describes the background and experience that led to her appointment as Pan-Island Commissioner. She also talks about the importance of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and the Seven Principles of Public Life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership).
Dr McCullough explains who can complain, how to make a complaint and what happens once a complaint is in motion.
Did you know that Jersey's politicians are allowed to speak any of 3 languages in States meetings? That means you could hear English, French or Jèrriais during the course of a meeting.
These days most of the States Assembly's business is conducted in English, but this wasn't always the case. The original language of Jersey's parliament was French, and it wasn't so long ago that it became possible for English to be used. Perhaps unexpectedly, the 'newest' language allowed in the Chamber is Jèrriais.
There are several times in States meetings where French is still traditionally used, for example during prayers and roll call. We talk about the history behind the evolution of the languages of Jersey politics, the practicalities of when Members choose to speak in French or Jèrriais, and we take a quick dip into the moments where the rules are broken and things veer into unparliamentary language!
Jersey's States Assembly was meeting and debating long before the States Chamber was built. Queen Victoria had been on the throne for 50 years when the 'new' building was first opened and used for a States Meeting in 1887.
In this episode the States Greffe's Dominic Butler shares some historical stories and background to the building and its design. Who designed it? How has it changed over the years? And what's it like to actually be in the Chamber?
Some of this episode is recorded on location in the States Chamber, where we talk about the experience of sitting in the Public Gallery; take a look at the view from the Bailiff's chair; and test the microphones and voting buttons as used by States Members during meetings.
Jersey's States Assembly has 49 elected members who can be appointed to different roles. How this happens is guided by the rules of the States Assembly - the 'Standing Orders'.
After a general election deciding appointments is the first job of the newly-elected Assembly. The very first appointment made is for Chief Minister. Members can become government Ministers (part of the 'executive') or be made chair or member of a panel or committee (also called 'non-executive'). The Assembly votes on who gets which role.
During the four year term between elections, there can be 'casual' vacancies. These are often due to resignations, or may be as a result of a vote of no confidence. We discuss this and more with the Greffier and Deputy Greffier of the States.
Find out more about the process here: Procedural Explanations
When the States Assembly has to debate a vote of no confidence it's a big deal. It is normal for a vote of no confidence - or 'VONC' - to hit the news headlines and get people talking. Sometimes this can create a bit of confusion. What is a VONC? Who can VONC whom? And how does the whole thing actually work?
The Greffier and Deputy Greffier of the States answer these questions and more in this episode. They give a politically impartial breakdown of several VONC scenarios and bust some myths about what can and cannot be done with a VONC.
Read more about VONCs here: Procedural Explanations
Every year the States Assembly debates the 'Government Plan'. This is Jersey's budget. It's a key moment in the year where States Members - Jersey's elected representatives - can influence how public money is spent. This episode looks at the process behind the plan: how does the Island's budget go from the initial draft through to the final version which is amended and approved by our 49 politicians? We discuss the key ways in which the States Assembly considers, scrutinises, and amends the Government Plan. We get into a fair amount of detail in this episode, from unpicking amendments to amendments (and even amendments to amendments to amendments!), to explaining the 'trick' the States Assembly has up its sleeve in getting taxation legislation passed in time for the new financial year.
This is the explainer you need - where we take on the challenge of demystifying Jersey's political system in less than 20 minutes. Find out:
This episode is an interview with Jennifer Long, who was appointed as independent States Members' Remuneration Reviewer in February 2023. During the interview Jennifer explains that, as elected representatives in Jersey's States Assembly, States Members have a significant impact on the lives of Islanders. It's important that they are paid fairly for the work they do, while also being fair to taxpayers and constituents. Jennifer's role as independent reviewer is to ensure that happens. We asked Jennifer about how her previous experience in parliamentary and regulatory settings makes her suited to reviewing Jersey's politicians' pay. The conversation delves into some of the details of the review, such as how you decide on a fair wage for a role that has no formal job description, and whether States Members themselves have a say over what they get paid.
In this first episode we discuss how a small island in the English Channel came to have its own parliament - the States Assembly, and take a tour of some of the milestone moments in Jersey's democratic history that lead us to the present day. We also hear from a selection of current States Members about what got them into politics, how they go about representing Islanders in the States Assembly, and why democracy really matters. This episode is being launched during Jersey's 4th annual Democracy Week, which is all about reminding people how and why it's important to engage with the Island's political system.
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