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 outcome...
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 Is...
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 t...
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 Comm...
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 Jèr...
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 lo...
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 vot...
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 ab...
What happens to the money that you pay in taxes? And who decides how that money is spent?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?...
Calling all people who are:Not sure what the States Assembly is?New to Jersey?A bit confused when you hear people talking about deputies, constables, propositions, scrutiny...?This is the explainer you need! This is Jersey Politics 101 - where we take on the challenge of demystifying Jersey's political system in less than 20 minutes. Find out:What the States Assembly isWhat States Members are, and how they are electedWhat happens in States MeetingsHow Jersey laws are madeThe difference betwee...
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 ...
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 Democrac...