States Reform

It was seven years ago that the first reform proposals were put to the States by the Clothier report. Since then there have been dozens of debates on various aspects of the original plan.

These debates have covered issues including:

• What the term of office should be for each type of member
• Whether there should be different types of member or not
• How many members there should be?
• Whether the Constables should be in the States
• Whether election expenses should be capped or not
• Whether there should be a single election day or rolling elections
• If the existing electoral districts are adequate or not

And a whole host of other variations of those basic discussion points.

So far the only reform we’ve seen is a cap on election expenses and the lowering of the voting age to 16.

The Council of Ministers says it hasn't dragged its feet over bringing about changes to the constitution of Jersey's government.

The States of Jersey are set to debate more aspects of government reform, including proposals to either increase or reduce the term of office of Senators, holding a general election day and how many members need to vote in favour of a reform proposition for it to be passed.

In fact it’s this proposition that will shape the rest of the debate. It could soon take more than half of States members to approve reforms to the political system.

The proposition, submitted by Senator Mike Vibert would mean any reforms will need to be passed by at least 27 members.

Currently, reforms can be passed by a simple majority of members who are in the assembly at the time of the vote - which could be as low as 14.

But Senator Vibert suggests that instead such important changes should have the approval of more than half of ALL States members.

He says it's a safeguard for legislation that will affect the make-up of the States.

However, although all these reforms are set to be debated by the States of Jersey this week the Council of Ministers want to see any decision delayed until 2009.

The Home Affairs Minister, Senator Wendy Kinnard, explained the delay.

She told us that "the public really ought to be given an opportunity to think through those unintended consequences and to have an opportunity to comment upon them.

"One of the problems is that just by cutting the number of Senators because it's a pragmatic way when they're all to be elected at the same time does fundamentally upset the balance of the States"

Over to you

What are your thoughts on States reform? Should the island’s government be changed or would we be better forgetting the whole idea and leave things as they are?

Or should reform of the States of Jersey be taken away from the people that would be most affected by any change? Should a separate body be given control over the makeup and composition of the States?

Do you think there should be a referendum on any proposed reform? Or would that cost too much money to be worth the trouble?