Politics of Guernsey

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Politics of Guernsey take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic British Crown dependency.

Offices

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
Lieutenant Governor Peter Walker 15 April 2011
Bailiff Richard Collas 2012
Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq 2014[1]

The Lieutenant Governor is the representative of "the Crown in right of the république of the Bailiwick of Guernsey".[2] The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor is Government House, Queens Road, St Peter Port. Since 15 April 2011, the incumbent is Peter Walker.

The Bailiff is the first civil officer in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, serving as president of the legislature and the Royal Court. The Bailiff is appointed by the Crown, and generally holds office until retirement age (65). He presides at the Royal Court, and takes the opinions of the Jurats, elected lay judges; he also presides over the States, and represents the Crown in all civil matters.

The States of Deliberation

The States of Guernsey, officially called the [States of Deliberation], consists of 45 People's Deputies, elected from multi-member districts every four years. There are also two representatives from Alderney, a self-governing dependency of the Bailiwick, but Sark sends no representative. There are also two non-voting members - HM Procureur and HM Comptroller, appointed by the Crown.

Laws made by the States are known as Projet(s) de Loi before they are passed and Loi or Law(s) afterwards (e.g. The Human Rights (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2000.

A Project de Loi is the equivalent of an English Bill, and a Law is the equivalent of an English Act of Parliament. Laws have no effect until promulgated as Orders-in-Council of the Crown. They are given the Royal Sanction at regular meetings of the Privy Council in London after, which they are returned to the Islands for formal registration at the Royal Court.

The States also make delegated legislation known as Ordinances (Ordonnances) and Orders (Ordres) which do not require Royal Assent. Commencement orders are usually in the form of Ordinances.

Political parties and elections

Main article: Elections in Guernsey

Guernsey has no political parties with all representatives being elected as non-partisans.

 Summary of the 21 April 2004 States of Guernsey election results
Candidates Seats
Elected non-partisans 45
Representatives of the parish authorities 0
Representatives of the States of Alderney 2
Total 47

Judicial branch

The legal system is derived from Norman French and English common law, justice being administered through a combination of Magistrates Court and the Royal Court. The Royal Court is presided over by the Bailiff and 12 Jurats (a permanent elected jury), the ultimate court of appeal being the Privy Council.

Administrative divisions

Each parish is administered by a Douzaine. Douzeniers are elected for a six year mandate, two Douzeniers being elected by parishioners at a Parish Meeting in November each year. The senior Douzenier is known as the Doyen. Two elected Constables carry out the decisions of the Douzaine, serving for between one and three years. The longest serving Constable is known as the Senior Constable and his or her colleague as the Junior Constable.

Following the machinery of government changes in 2004, Guernsey has the following electoral districts, loosely based on the parish system:

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-26545350
  2. ↑ http://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20administration/R%20Guernsey%20LOs%20Submission%2020100330%20HR%20v1.pdf

See also