Council of Ministers (Jersey)

Jersey
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Jersey

The Council of Ministers is the collective institution of executive government in Jersey. The council co-ordinates policies and administration, especially policy affecting two or more ministers, prioritises executive and legislative proposals, and presents a "Strategic Plan for Jersey" for approval by the States of Jersey.

The council does not represent a parliamentary majority as ministers may be elected on a variety of manifestos. The executive is prevented from constituting a majority of the 51 elected members by the States of Jersey Law 2005, which places a legal cap of 22 on the number of states' members who may hold office as chief minister, minister and assistant ministers.[1]

The first Council of Ministers was established in December 2005.

Constitution

The election for Chief Minister takes place as a majority vote in the States Assembly. The chief minister-elect then nominates nine people for the position of minister. Other candidates may be nominated from among the states members and a vote is taken for each ministerial post on a majority basis by the full membership of the States of Jersey.

Operation

The Chief Minister acts as president of the council and matters may be brought for discussion by any minister.

Legally ultimate responsibility for the policy decisions of a department rest solely with the minister, however in practice matters are decided by a unanimous or majority vote of the ten ministers.[2]

Current council

Council of Ministers of Jersey
Portfolio Minister Term
Council members
Chief Minister of Jersey Ian Gorst Senator 2015–
Treasury and Resources Minister Alan Maclean Senator 2015–
Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Minister Lyndon Farnham Senator 2015–
External Relations Minister Sir Philip Bailhache Senator 2015–
Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore Deputy 2015–
Health and Social Services Minister
Deputy Chief Minister		 Andrew Green Senator 2015–
Education Minister Roderick Bryans Deputy 2015–
Environment Minister Stephen Luce Deputy 2015–
Housing Minister Anne Pryke Deputy 2015–
Social Security Minister Susan Pinel Deputy 2015–
Infrastructure Minister Edward Noel Deputy 2015–

Previous councils

2011-2014

Senator Ian Gorst the Chief Minister of Jersey

Elections for ministerial posts were held on 17 and 18 November 2011. The chief minister's nominations were all contested; two of his nominations were defeated, and five ministerial posts were decided by margins of between 1 and 3 votes. The chief minister's nomination of Senator Ian Le Marquand to the Treasury was defeated, and so the chief minister amended his nomination for Home Affairs to retain Senator Le Marquand on the council, by withdrawing his nomination of Senator Lyndon Farnham. The chief minister's nomination of Connétable John Refault to Transport and Technical Services was defeated, with Deputy Kevin Lewis, a former Assistant Minister for Transport and Technical Services, being elected.[3]

2008-2011

Former Senator Terry Le Sueur was Chief Minister of Jersey

Elections for ministerial posts were held on 11 and 12 December 2008.[4] The nominees of the Chief Minister were successful with the exception of Senator Routier, proposed successively for Health and Social Services and Education, Sport and Culture. Three ministers subsequently resigned as ministers (but remained as States members) in the face of criticisms of their personal conduct: Senator Jim Perchard (2009), Deputy Terry Le Main (2010) and Deputy Sean Power (2011), triggering further elections. One minister, Senator Freddie Cohen, exchanged the role of Planning and Environment Minister for that of "foreign minister" in 2011.

2005-2008

In 2005, only one of the ten ministers nominated by the Chief Minister failed to achieve election: Senator Len Norman, whose position was filled by Deputy Guy de Faye.

References

  1. ↑ "States of Jersey Law 2005, Article 25" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  2. ↑ Senator Philip Ozouf, BBC Radio Jersey Talkback June 24th 2007
  3. ↑ "Deputy Anne Pryke wins a four-way battle for Health". Jersey Evening Post. 19 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Anon (2011). "Inside the States - Council of Ministers election". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  5. ↑ Editorial (2011). "A minister falls on his sword". thisisjersey.com. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Anon (2011). "New Environment Minister elected". thisisjersey.com. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  7. ↑ Anon (2011). "New Housing Minister elected". thisisjersey.com. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Anon (2011). "Minister resigns over email data breach". thisisjersey.com. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  9. ↑ Quérée, Ben (2011). "Minister resigns". thisisjersey.com. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
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