States of Alderney
States of Alderney | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Sir Norman Browse since 2002 | |
| Elections | |
Last election | 6 December 2008 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Website | |
| www.alderney.gov.gg/ | |
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The States of Alderney (French: États d'Aurigny) is the parliament/council and the legislature of Alderney, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The origin of the States is unknown, but has operated from the mediaeval period. The States of Alderney comprises ten Members, and a President of the States of Alderney, currently Sir Norman Browse since 2002.
Structure
The States of Alderney includes ten members, half of whom have to stand for election every two years so that the entire parliament is changed over a period of four years. There is also a president who must stand for election every four years, although there is no constitutional limit on the number of terms they may serve. Routine government is performed by three committees, Policy and Finance, General Services, and Building and Development Control, each of which works under a different mandate and has a separate budget. Extra committees are usually formed in order to deal with specific areas of policy, such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Management Committee. In addition, two members of the States are nominated as representatives to the Guernsey States of Deliberation.
Legal Status
Although the island is in many respects self-governing and has traditionally had a great deal of informal independence, it is currently part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Certain services such as policing are provided by Guernsey. Defence and Foreign Policy are dealt with by the United Kingdom, through the Privy Council. According to custom, the British Crown does not involve itself in Alderney politics, although theoretically it has the ability to.
Current members
The most recently-elected group of members of the States of Alderney are:
- Peter Allen, John Beaman, Boyd Kelly, Geoffrey Sargent and Bill Walden. They hold mandates until December 2013.
The five members from the previous elections are:
- Liz Bennett, Richard Cox, Ian Tugby, Colin Williams and Richard Willmott.
Elections
The President of the States of Alderney is directly elected every four years. Half of the ten States Members are elected every two years for a four year mandate, which means that every four years the composition of the parliament changes completely. The last election was held on 6 December 2008, and the turnout of over 700 people produced a frequency of 65.6%. The whole island is a single constituency.
History
Although the origins of the states of Alderney are unknown, it has functioned since the middle ages, making it one of the world’s older parliaments.
Until the reform of 1948, the States of Alderney consisted of:
- Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey
- the Judge (appointed by the Crown, equivalent of the Bailiff in Guernsey and Jersey)
- 6 Jurats (elected by the voters)
- the officers of the Court of Alderney
- 4 Douzainiers (elected annually by the ratepayers)
- a Douzainier-Delegate (appointed by the Douzaine)
- 3 People's Deputies (elected by the voters for a 3 year mandate)