States of Guernsey

The States of Guernsey (French: "États de Guernesey") is the parliament of the Island of Guernsey. Some laws and ordinances approved by the States of Guernsey apply to Alderney and Sark (the other component parts of the Bailiwick of Guernsey) as 'Bailiwick-wide legislation' with the consent of the governments of those Islands.

When constituted as a legislature, 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 Deliberation consists of 45 People's Deputies, elected from multi- or single-member districts every four years. There are also two non-voting members being the Law Officers of the Crown - the Procureur(Attorney General) and the Comptroller (Solicitor General) both appointed by the monarch. The Bailiff presides over the States. Two Deputies are appointed by the States of Alderney 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.

Legislation passed by the States is known as 'Laws' (Loi) and take effect in the Island by Order-in-Council. Minor and secondary legislation does not require the assent of the Queen-in-Council and are known as 'Ordinances' (Ordonnances).

The legislature derives its name from the "estates" (French: "états") of the Crown, the Church and the people from whom the assembly was originally summoned. The Jurats, representing the Crown, and the representatives of the Church of England were replaced in the constitutional reforms following the Second World War, when the office of Conseiller was introduced.

Until the General Election of 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 has now been abolished. The 10 Douzaine representatives (representing parish authorities) were removed from the States in the 2004 constitutional reform.

Latest election

ee also

*States of Jersey
*The States
*List of Laws of Guernsey

External links

* [http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/about-guernsey/parliamentary-system/ States of Guernsey Parliamentary System]