Overview

Please read our States Assembly Social Media Community Rules before commenting: https://statesassembly.gov.je/about/Pages/States-Assembly-Social-Media-Community-Rules-.aspx The States Assembly is the parliament of Jersey and is responsible for: • making new laws and regulations • approving the amount of public money to be spent by the States of Jersey every year • approving the amount of tax to be raised • holding Ministers to account Our vision is of a transparent, robust and representative democracy which serves, shapes and responds to the evolving needs of Jersey and its people. Jersey is not part of the UK, but is a dependency of the British Crown and has been for many centuries. This means that Jersey is self-governing, with its own laws, self-government on domestic matters and an increasing role in representing the Island overseas. The Crown oversees Jersey’s governance, can sign treaties on behalf of the Island, and is responsible for Jersey’s defence. The States Assembly elects the head of Jersey’s government, known as the Chief Minister, as well as Ministers, and chairmen and members of scrutiny panels and of other committees. A wide variety of policy matters are debated by the States Assembly and these can be brought forward for debate by the Council of Ministers, individual Ministers or by backbenchers. Members are also able to ask questions to find out information and to hold Ministers to account. Anyone over the age of 16 who has been in Jersey for at least 2 years (or who has lived here for at least 5 years in the past and been back for at least 6 months) is entitled to vote in elections to select the members of the States. To stand for elections, candidates must be at least 18 years old and be British citizens who are entitled to be registered to vote. This page is managed by the States Greffe.