Politicians to debate roll call as they go ‘back to school’

Friday 08 December 2023

As islanders go back to work and children return to school in January, Jersey’s politicians will be kickstarting the new year with a heated debate – over the thorny issue of what order their names should go in the roll call.

Much like school, at the start of every States Assembly meeting, States Members are required to indicate if they are ‘présent(e)’.

Their attendance (or lack thereof) is then made a matter of public record.

The Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) – the group of politicians responsible for the running of States Assembly meetings and business – are now seeking to make a change to the order.

They would like States Members’ names to be called in order of length of service, with Constables going first, and Deputies second.

If two or more elected members have served for the same length of time, then the order will be determined by the order of their surnames.

In a report providing background to the suggested change, PPC say they held a meeting with 21 States Members in September on the proposals and that it was agreed that, complementing the roll call change, seats in the States Chamber should also be “allocated on the basis of seniority” – with an exception for political parties.

The matter is on the agenda to be voted on at the first States Assembly sitting of 2024 on 16 January.

If approved, the change will take effect from after the 2026 election.

Translating the roll call…

It is traditional for the roll call to be taken in French, with Members responding that they are ‘présent(e)’.

States Members may be excused from attendance if they are ‘malade’, meaning ill.

Members may also be declared ‘absent de l’île’ if they are away from the island on States-related business.

If a States Member fails to turn up without reason, they are declared ‘en défaut’. If they return on the same day and wish to join in the debate, another States Member must request to ‘raise the défaut’.

States Assembly sessions can only take place if at least half of the island’s politicians are present in the States Chamber.

If they are not, the Bailiff will declare that they are ‘inquorate’ and there will be no activity until there is a sufficient number (this has been known to happen when too many Members are in the tearoom in the middle of a lengthy debate).