Jersey

Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Jersey is a British Crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the EU. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

agricultural land:

66%;

• arable land 66%;
• permanent crops 0%;
• permanent pasture 0%

forest:

0%

other:

34% (2011 est.)

noun:

Channel Islander(s)

adjective:

Channel Islander

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.74 male(s)/female

total population:

0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

conventional long form:

Bailiwick of Jersey

conventional short form:

Jersey

etymology:

the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Jer(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"

name:

Saint Helier

geographic coordinates:

49 11 N, 2 06 W

time difference:

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

• none (British crown dependency);
• there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes;
• Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John MCCOLL (since 26 September 2011)

head of government:

Chief Minister Ian GORST (since 18 December 2011); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• Council of Ministers including the chief minister indirectly elected by the Assembly of States;
• lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

highest court(s):

• Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges and organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Civil and Criminal Divisions);
• Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners - part-time judges, and NA lay people referred to as jurats)

judge selection and term of office:

• Jersey Court of Appeal bailiffs and judges appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice;
• bailiffs and judges appointed for extent of good behavior;
• Royal Court bailiffs appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice;
• commissioners appointed by the bailiff;
• jurats appointed by the Electoral College;
• bailiffs and commissioners appointed for extent of good behavior;
• jurats appointed until retirement at age 72

subordinate courts:

• Magistrate's Court;
• Youth Court;
• Petty Debts Court;
• Parish Hall Enquires (a process of preliminary investigation into youth and minor adult offenses to determine need for presentation before a court)

• Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support)
• Jersey Hospitality Association [Ian BARNES] (trade association)
• Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights)
• La Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group)
• Progress Jersey [Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights)
• Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle)
• Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through building preservation)

• white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag;
• in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with three lions in yellow;
• according to tradition, the ships of Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from English ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration;
• because this arrangement still resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added

name:

"Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home)

lyrics/music:

Gerard LE FEUVRE

note: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem; as a British Crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

modern system with broadband access

domestic:

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available

international:

country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey, the UK, and France (2015)

• multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey;
• satellite packages available;
• BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)