States Assembly

This article is about the parliament of Jersey, Channel Islands. For other uses, see State Assembly (disambiguation). In particular, for the lower legislative house of the US state of New Jersey, see New Jersey General Assembly.

States Assembly Assemblée des États (French) Êtats d'Jèrri (Jèrriais)
Logo of the States Assembly
Type
Type	Unicameral
Sovereign	Monarch of the United Kingdom
History
Founded	c. 1497 (1497)
Preceded by	Royal Court
Leadership
Bailiff	Robert MacRae since 24 October 2025
Deputy Bailiff	Mark Temple since 20 January 2026
Chief Minister	Lyndon Farnham, Independent since 19 June 2026
Deputy Chief Minister	Tom Binet, Independent since 2 February 2024
Chief Scrutineer	Karen Wilson, Independent since 14 July 2026
Structure
Seats	54 members in law 49 elected voting members 5 statutory non-voting members
Political groups	Elected members (49)   Independents (42)   Reform Jersey (7) Non-voting members (5)   Bailiff (1)   Lieutenant-Governor (1)   Dean (1)   Attorney General (1)   Solicitor General (1)
Length of term	Four years
Salary	£59,874.72 per year (from 1 October 2025)
Elections
Voting system	Plurality block voting (Senators) First-past-the-post (Connétables) Plurality block voting (Deputies)
Last election	7 June 2026
Next election	2030
Meeting place
The States Chamber in the States Building
States Building, St Helier
Website
statesassembly.je
Constitution
States of Jersey Law 2005
Rules
Standing Orders of the States of Jersey

The States Assembly (French: Assemblée des États; Jèrriais: Êtats d'Jèrri) is the parliament of Jersey. Under the States of Jersey Law 2005, the Assembly has 54 members, of whom 49 are elected and entitled to vote. Since the 2026 general election, the elected members have comprised nine senators elected island-wide, 28 deputies elected from nine constituencies, and the connétable of each of the twelve parishes. The remaining five members hold statutory non-voting constitutional or Crown offices.

The origins of the legislature of Jersey lie in the system of self-government according to Norman law guaranteed to the Channel Islands by John, King of England, following the division of Normandy in 1204. The States Assembly has exercised uncontested legislative powers since 1771, when the concurrent law-making power of the Royal Court of Jersey was abolished.

The Assembly passes and amends laws and regulations; approves the annual budget and taxation; appoints the chief minister, ministers and members of various committees and panels; debates matters proposed by the Council of Ministers, by individual States Members or by one of the committees or panels. Members ask questions to discover information and to hold ministers to account.

Executive powers are exercised by the Government of Jersey, led by the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. Under the States of Jersey Law 2005, the Council consists of the Chief Minister and at least seven other ministers, all selected by the Assembly from among its elected members. Ministers are accountable to the Assembly for the exercise of their functions.