About the States of Jersey

Who are the States?

The States of Jersey are one of the oldest legislatures in the English speaking world.

The elected members of the States Assembly are Senators, Deputies and Connétables, and Islanders turned out to vote for all 3 in the elections on 19th October 2011.

The main responsibilities of the States of Jersey are to:

• pass laws and regulations
• approve annual estimates of public expenditure
• appoint a Council of Ministers to be responsible for public business
• appoint a Public Accounts Committee and scrutiny panels to hold the executive to account
• determine policy
• debate and decide issues of public importance
• consider petitions
• represent the people of Jersey

What do our elected members do?

The work of elected members is divided into a number of roles –

1. All members have constituency work where they work directly with members of their electoral district, to help them resolve any problems they might have. This work is very varied, and involves participation in parish meetings, Roads Committees, or other parish business. It will certainly involve assisting constituents directly, for example helping someone to obtain the correct social security benefits, resolve planning disputes, or perhaps prepare a case for the Complaints Board on behalf of a constituent where a Minister or department has made a decision which adversely affects them, to mention just a few of the matters the member could handle. Members will receive many phone calls or emails from constituents on a daily basis.

2. The States Assembly meets fortnightly on average, with breaks at Christmas, Easter and during the summer. The States do not generally meet during school half term, and meetings conclude each day before 6.00pm in the vast majority of cases. Each States meetings lasts for as long as it takes to finish the debates on ‘public business’, and this can take up to 4 days, but usually meetings last about 2 days. Members need to read and research promptly around the main issues to be debated, so that they can bring amendments if their constituents would be disadvantaged by any proposals, or where their constituents have expressed strong views. As the system of political parties is not well established, almost all members are independent. As such they receive no research support from a party, and of course, no direction from a party as to how they should vote. Therefore each member must conduct his or her own research, consult constituents, and listen carefully to arguments put during the debate, before reaching their own conclusion as to how to vote. All members increasingly work on Island wide issues whether or not their own role is centred on the Parish in which they are elected.

3. Many members are appointed to a particular role, either Minister, Assistant Minister, or Chairman/member of the Public Accounts Committee, Planning Applications Panel, Scrutiny Committee, Privileges and Procedures Committee or of a Shadow ministerial board to name a few. This involves, amongst other things, participation in meetings, making decisions on policy, scrutinising policy and improving procedure, depending on the workload of the role concerned.

States members’ telephone numbers are found in the front of the telephone directory, and full contact details are listed on www.statesassembly.gov.je on the ‘Members and Officers’ page. The public can contact the Deputy or Connetable of their Parish, or any Senator for assistance or to comment on proposals in which they have a direct interest.

How do I become a States member?

You can find out about what it is like to be a States member by approaching an existing member or your Parish Hall for a discussion about what the job involves.

Information can be found at –

www.statesassembly.gov.je about States meetings

www.scrutiny.gov.je about Scrutiny, and

www.gov.je/Government about the work of the Executive.

Download guidance notes and nomination form >

Manifesto for publication by PPC

The first thing to do straight after you have been nominated is to prepare a 600 word 'manifesto' document and send it electronically, with a good quality digital photo, to the States Greffe. The photo should be a head and shoulders profile shot with you looking at the camera. Please ensure your photograph is in focus, well lit and has no background distractions. For the manifesto text, 600 words is the absolute maximum, and the text will be cut off at the 600th word! This will be circulated in a booklet to all householders in the Island in advance of election day.

States members' induction programme 

The States Greffe will be offering a States members' induction programme commencing on 21st October 2011 so that new members will be ready to participate fully in the work of the States Assembly as soon as they are sworn in. Following the decision of the States to meet on 1st to 4th November and  continue 8th to 10th November, the dates for the remainder of the programme are as follows - 31st October, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 11th November 2011.  We are trying to leave the school half term week free in case the Members-elect have made arrangements that week, but please check with the States Greffe for final details. Newly elected States members have commented on how interesting and valuable the induction programme is.

Remuneration

As at 1st January 2011, the annual salary claimable by a States member is £41,182 and the annual expenses allowance is £3,650, making a total of £44,832. This is updated by an independent body the States Members Remuneration Review Body (SMRRB) and it has recommended that for 2012 the salary should remain unchanged, but the expenses allowance should increase to £4,000. States members are classed as ‘self-employed’ under social security legislation and the States will meet the cost of a sum equivalent to the employer’s contribution for those who are liable to pay Class 2 Social Security contributions (members who are not liable to make social security payments, for example those who are retired, are not entitled to receive this sum).There is currently no pension provision for States members.

There are no centrally-funded research or secretarial support facilities within the States system available to individual States members. However, a laptop computer is provided on loan and a broadband internet connection is funded centrally for all States members who wish to avail themselves of this service. A small number of computers linked to both the internet and the States IT network are available for shared use 24 hours a day in the members’ rooms in the States Building. Members may use the internal mail system for distribution of letters to States departments, and stationery is available free of charge.

States members are able to park free of charge when on States business in dedicated spaces in Sand Street, Pier Road and Snow Hill car parks. This benefit is estimated to be worth some £1,315 per year at current season ticket values.