Bailiwick of Jersey Bailliage de Jersey
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "God Save the Queen" (official) "Ma Normandie" ("My Normandy") (official for occasions when distinguishing anthem required) "Island Home" (proposed new official anthem as of May 2008)
Location of  Jersey  (Dark Green)
Capital (and largest city)		Saint Helier 49°11.401′N 2°06.600′W / 49.190017°N 2.11°W / 49.190017; -2.11
Official languages		English, French
Recognised regional languages		Jèrriais[1]
Ethnic groups		51.1% Jersey, 34.8% Britons, 6.4% Portuguese, 2.6% Irish, 1.7% French, 2.3% other white, 1.1% other[2]
Government		Parliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Kingdom, Crown dependency
-	Chief of state	Elizabeth II, Duke of Normandy
-	Lt. Governor	Lt. Gen. Andrew Ridgway
-	Bailiff	Sir Philip Bailhache
-	Chief Minister	Senator Terry Le Sueur
Status		British Crown dependency
-	Separation from mainland Normandy	1204
-	Liberation from German occupation	9 May 1945
Area
-	Total	116 km2 (219th) 45 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	July 2008 estimate	91,533[3] (190th)
-	Density	789/km2 (12th²) 2,034/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2003 estimate
-	Total	£3.6 billion (167th)
-	Per capita	£40,000 (2003 estimate) (6th)
HDI (n/a)		n/a (n/a) (n/a)
Currency		Pound sterling³ (GBP)
Time zone		GMT4
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC+1)
Drives on the		left
Internet TLD		.je
Calling code		+44 spec. 44-1534 (landline) +44-7797      (Jersey Telecom mobile) +44-7700      (Sure mobile) +44-7829      (Airtel-Vodafone mobile)
Patron saint		St. Helier
1	Jersey’s Resident Population 2007
2	Rank based on population density of Channel Islands including Guernsey.
3	The States of Jersey issue their own sterling notes and coins (see Jersey pound).
4	In a referendum on October 16, 2008, voters rejected a proposal to adopt Central European Time, by 72.4%.[4]

The Bailiwick of Jersey (pronounced /ˈdʒɜːzi/; Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency^[5] off the coast of Normandy, France.^[6] As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes the nearly uninhabited islands of the Minquiers, Écréhous, the Pierres de Lecq^[7] and other rocks and reefs. Together with the bailiwick of Guernsey it forms the grouping known as the Channel Islands. The defence of all these islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. However, Jersey is part of neither the UK nor the European Union; rather, like the Isle of Man, it is a separate possession of the Crown. Jersey belongs to the Common Travel Area.

[ History

Jersey history is influenced by its strategic location between the northern coast of France and the southern coast of England; the island's recorded history extends over a thousand years.

Evidence of bronze-age and early iron-age settlements can be found in many locations around the island. While archaeological evidence of Roman influence has been found, in particular the coastal headland site at Le Pinacle, Les Landes, where remains of a primitive structure are attributed to Roman temple worship (fanum),^[8] evidence for regular Roman occupation has yet to be established.

Formerly under the control of Brittany and named Angia (also spelled Agna ^[9]), Jersey became subject to Viking influence in the ninth century, one of the "Norman Islands". The name for Jersey itself is sourced from a Viking heritage: the Norse suffix -ey for island can be found in many places around the northern European coasts. However, the significance of the first part of the island's toponym is unclear. Among theories are that it derives from jarth (Old Norse: "earth") or jarl, or perhaps a personal name, Geirr, to give "Geirr's Island".^[10] Alternatively support for a Celtic origin can be made with reference to the Gaulish gar- (oak), ceton (forest). It is also said to be a corruption of the Latin Caesarea, the Roman name for the island, influenced by Old English suffix -ey for "island";^[11][12] this is plausible if, in the regional pronunciation of Latin, Caesarea was not IPA: [kaisarea] but [tʃeːsarea].

The island was eventually annexed to the Duchy of Normandy by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy in 933; his descendant, William the Conqueror, conquered England in 1066, which led to the Duchy of Normandy and the kingdom of England being governed under one monarch.^[13] The Dukes of Normandy owned considerable estates on the island, and Norman families living on their estates founded many of the historical Norman-French Jersey family names. King John lost all his territories in mainland Normandy in 1204 to King Philip II Augustus, but retained possession of Jersey, along with Guernsey and the other Channel Islands; the islands have been internally self-governing since.^[14]

Islanders became involved with the Newfoundland fisheries in the late sixteenth century.^[15] In recognition for all the help given to him during his exile in Jersey in the 1640s, Charles II gave George Carteret, bailiff and governor, a large grant of land in the American colonies, which he promptly named New Jersey, now part of the United States of America.^[16][17]

Trade laid the foundations of prosperity, aided by neutrality between England and France.^[18] The Jersey way of life involved agriculture, milling, fishing, shipbuilding, and production of woollen goods until nineteenth-century improvements in transport links brought tourism to the Island.

Jersey was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1 July 1940, until 9 May 1945.^[19]

[ Politics

The States building in St Helier.

Jersey's legislature is the States of Jersey. It includes fifty-three elected members: twelve senators (elected for six-year terms), twelve connétables (heads of parishes elected for three-year terms), twenty-nine deputies (elected for three-year terms); the Bailiff and the Deputy Bailiff (appointed to preside over the assembly and having a casting vote in favour of the status quo when presiding); and three non-voting members (the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General) appointed by the Crown. Government departments are run by a Cabinet government under a Chief Minister. The civil head of the Island, and its judiciary is the Bailiff.

Senators are elected on an Island-wide mandate and Deputies are elected by local constituencies. Formally constituted political parties are unfashionable, although groups of "like-minded members" act in concert.

Elizabeth II's traditional title as head of state is that of Duke of Normandy, but she does not hold that title formally. She reigns by her position as Queen over a crown dependency. Her representative in the island is the Lieutenant Governor, who has but a token involvement in island politics. Since 2006, the incumbent Lieutenant Governor has been Lieutenant General Andrew Ridgway.

The legal system is based on Norman customary law (including the Clameur de Haro), statute and English law; justice is administered by the Royal Court. Appeals are heard by the Jersey Court of Appeal and, ultimately, by the Privy Council. Statutes were enacted solely in French until 1929; some legislation continues to be made in French, especially amendments to existing legislation. The influence of French language legislation in Jersey is now limited and principally concerns administrative and real property matters, wills and succession and some aspects of criminal procedure. Company legislation, regulatory statutes, material bankruptcy procedures, security over shares and all other relevant matters are, to the extent addressed by existing legislation, governed by statutes enacted in English and, in many cases, are largely based on English law principles or practices.

[ Parishes

Map of the parishes of Jersey

Administratively, Jersey is divided into twelve parishes. All have access to the sea and are named after the saints to whom their ancient parish churches are dedicated:

• Grouville (historically Saint Martin de Grouville; incorporating Les Minquiers)
• Saint Brélade
• Saint Clement
• Saint Helier
• Saint John
• Saint Lawrence
• Saint Martin (historically Saint Martin le Vieux; incorporating Les Écréhous)
• Saint Mary
• Saint Ouen
• Saint Peter
• Saint Saviour
• Trinity

The parishes of Jersey are further divided into vingtaines (or, in St. Ouen, cueillettes), divisions which are historic and nowadays mostly used for purposes of local administration and electoral constituency.

The Constable (Connétable) is the head of each parish, elected at a public election for a three year term to run the parish and to represent the municipality in the States. The Procureur du Bien Public (two in each parish) is the legal and financial representative of the parish (elected at a public election since 2003 in accordance with the Public Elections (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2003; formerly an Assembly of Electors of each parish elected the Procureurs in accordance with the Loi (1804) au sujet des assemblées paroissiales). A Procureur du Bien Public is elected for a mandate of three years as a public trustee for the funds and property of the parish and to be empowered to pass contract on behalf of the parish if so authorised by a Parish Assembly. The Parish Assembly is the decision-making body of local government in each parish; it consists of all entitled voters of the parish.

Each parish elects its own force of Honorary Police consisting of Centeniers, Vingteniers and Constable's Officers. Centeniers are elected at a public election within each parish for a term of three years to undertake policing within the parish. The Centenier is the only officer authorised to charge and bail offenders. Formerly, the senior Centenier of each parish (entitled the Chef de Police) deputised for the Constable in the States of Jersey when the Constable was unable to attend a sitting of the States. This function has now been abolished.

[ International relations

Jersey Airport greets travellers with "Welcome to Jersey" in Jèrriais.

Although diplomatic representation is reserved to the Crown, Jersey has been developing its own international identity over recent years and negotiates directly with foreign governments on matters within the competence of the States of Jersey. Jersey maintains a permanent non-diplomatic representation in Caen, the Bureau de Jersey, with a branch office in Rennes. A similar office, the Maison de Normandie, in St. Helier represents the Conseil général of Manche and the Conseil régional of Basse-Normandie and hosts the Consulate of France.

Jersey is a member of the British-Irish Council, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. Jersey is aiming to become a full member of the Commonwealth in its own right.^[20]

Dicey and Morris (p26)^[21] list the separate States comprising the British Islands: "England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, [Herm] and Sark. . . is a separate country in the sense of the conflict of laws, though not one of them is a State known to public international law."

In 2007, the Chief Minister and the UK Lord Chancellor signed an agreement^[22] which established a framework for the development of the international identity of Jersey. The agreement stated that:

• the UK has no democratic accountability in and for Jersey;
• the UK will not act internationally on behalf of Jersey without prior consultation;
• Jersey has an international identity which is different from that of the UK;
• the UK recognises that the interests of Jersey may differ from those of the UK, and the UK will seek to represent any differing interests when acting in an international capacity;
• the UK and Jersey will work together to resolve or clarify any differences which may arise between their respective interests.

In a survey of 700 people carried out by Channel Television in the summer of 2000, 68% supported independence from the United Kingdom.^[23] Senator (now Deputy) Paul le Claire lodged a projet calling for Jersey's independence shortly thereafter. Subsequently, the Jersey Law Review published an editorial^[24] and articles touching on the possibility of full independence.^[25] In 2007 the Chief Minister was reported^[26] as saying that Jersey had contingency plans in case independence were to be forced upon the Island or if Jersey wanted to move towards independence at a later date. In June 2008 an interim report was presented to the Council of Ministers evaluating "the potential advantages and disadvantages for Jersey in seeking independence from the United Kingdom or other incremental change in the constitutional relationship, while retaining the Queen as Head of State."^[27]. The Bailiff, who chaired the group that produced the report, said on 15 September 2008 that "sovereignty would cause no major problems for Jersey".^[28]

The Island has a special relationship with the EU provided by Protocol 3 to the UK’s Treaty of Accession in 1973. This relationship cannot be changed without the unanimous agreement of all Member States and Island Authorities. Under Protocol 3, the Island is part of the customs territory of the European Community. The common customs tariff, levies and other agricultural import measures therefore apply to trade between the Island and non-Member States. There is free movement of goods and trade between the Island and Member States. Jersey is not, however, part of the single market in financial services and as a result, is not required to implement EU Directives on such matters as movement of capital, company law or money laundering. However, Jersey will emulate such measures where appropriate having particular regard to the Island's commitment to meeting international standards of financial regulation and countering money laundering and terrorist financing.

A number of tax information exchange agreements^[29] have been signed directly by the Island with foreign countries. Jersey’s Chief Minister signed a TIEA with the United States of America on 4 November 2002 and with the Kingdom of the Netherlands^[30] on 20 June 2007. This was reported^[31] as the bailiwick's first tax treaty with a European state as a state in its own right (and the second after the similar agreement with the United States in 2002). Both TIEAs have been ratified by the States of Jersey and are in force. However, The Federal Court of Justice of Germany ruled on 1 July 2002 (case: II ZR 380/00), that under German law, for the purposes of § 110 of the German Civil Procedures Act (ZPO), Jersey is to be deemed to be part of the United Kingdom and of the European Union as well.

Jersey’s Chief Minister also signed a TIEA with the Federal Republic of Germany on 4 July 2008 and TIEAs with Denmark, the Faroes, the Republic of Finland, Greenland, Iceland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the Kingdom of Norway on 28 October 2008 (ratified March 2009)^[32]. On 10 March 2009, a TIEA was signed between Jersey and the UK.^[33] Also in March 2009, TIEAs were signed with France^[34] and Ireland.^[35] These agreements will not come into force until they are ratified by the States, the relevant Regulations have been adopted and the other party has completed its own domestic procedures.

[ Geography

Satellite view of Jersey.

Coastline of Bonne Nuit

Map of islands of Bailiwick of Jersey

Jersey is an island measuring 118.2 square kilometres^[5] (65,569 vergée / 46 sq mi), including reclaimed land and intertidal zone. It lies in the English Channel, approximately 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France, and approximately 87 nautical miles (161 km; 100 mi) south of Great Britain.^[36] It is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands.

The climate is temperate with mild winters and cool summers.^[37] The average annual temperature, 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) is similar to the South Coast of England while the mean annual total sunshine of 1918 hours^[38] is higher than anywhere in the United Kingdom.^[39] The terrain consists of a plateau sloping from long sandy bays in the south to rugged cliffs in the north. The plateau is cut by valleys running generally north-south.

[ Economy

Thanks to specialisation in a few high return sectors, at purchasing power parity Jersey has very high economic output per capita, substantially ahead of all of the world's large developed economies. The CIA World Factbook estimate of Jersey's GDP per capita for 2005 is US$57,000, which was beaten only by two other small states with similar economic characteristics, Bermuda and Luxembourg. Jersey's economy is based on financial services, tourism, electronic commerce and agriculture; financial services contribute approximately sixty percent of the Island's economy,^[37] and the Island is recognised as one of the leading offshore financial centres.

In June 2005 the States introduced the Competition (Jersey) Law 2005 ^[40] in order to regulate competition and stimulate economic growth. This competition law was based on that of other jurisdictions.

Aside from its banking and finance underpinnings (and the finance industries supporting industries) Jersey also depends on tourism. In 2006 there were 729,000 visitors (down 3% on the previous year) but total visitor spending rose 1% to £222m.^[41] Duty-free goods are available for purchase on travel to and from the Island.

Major agricultural products are potatoes and dairy produce. The source of milk is Jersey cattle, a small breed of cow that has also been acknowledged (though not widely so) for the quality of its meat.^[42][43] Small-scale organic beef production has been reintroduced in an effort to diversify the industry.

Farmers and growers often sell surplus food and flowers in boxes on the roadside, relying on the honesty of those who pass to drop the correct change into the money box and take what they want. In the 21st century, diversification of agriculture and amendments in planning strategy have led to farmshops replacing many of the roadside stalls.

On February 18, 2005, Jersey was granted Fairtrade Island status.^[44]

[ Taxation

Until the twentieth century, the States relied on indirect taxation to finance the administration of Jersey. The levying of impôts (duties) was in the hands of the Assembly of Governor, Bailiff and Jurats until 1921 when that body's tax raising powers were transferred to the Assembly of the States, leaving the Assembly of Governor, Bailiff and Jurats to serve simply as licensing bench for the sale of alcohol (this fiscal reform also stripped the Lieutenant-Governor of most of his effective remaining administrative functions). The Income Tax Law of 1928 introducing income tax was the first law drafted entirely in English. Income tax has been levied at a flat rate of 20% for decades.

As VAT has not been levied in the Island, luxury goods have often been cheaper than in the UK or in France, providing an incentive for tourism from neighbouring countries. The absence of VAT has also led to the growth of the fulfilment industry, whereby low-value luxury items, such as videos, lingerie and contact lenses are exported, avoiding VAT on arrival and thus undercutting local prices on the same products. In 2005, the States of Jersey announced limits on licences granted to non-resident companies trading in this way.

Although Jersey does not have VAT, the States of Jersey introduced a goods and services tax (GST) in 2008 which was put at a flat rate of 3%.

[ Currency

Twin cash machines at a bank which dispensed a choice of Bank of England or Jersey banknotes. Since the intervention of the Treasurer of the States in 2005, cash machines generally (with the exception of those at the Airport and Elizabeth Harbour) no longer dispense English notes.

Jersey issues its own Jersey banknotes and coins which circulate with UK coinage, Bank of England notes, Scottish notes and Guernsey currency within the Island. Jersey currency is not legal tender outside Jersey: However, in the United Kingdom it is acceptable tender^[45] and can be surrendered at banks within that country in exchange for Bank of England-issued currency on a like-for-like basis.

[ Coinage

Designs on the reverse of Jersey coins:

•   1p Le Hocq Tower (coastal defence)
•   2p L'Hermitage, site where Saint Helier lived
•   5p Seymour Tower (offshore defence)
• 10p La Pouquelaye de Faldouet (dolmen)
• 20p La Corbière lighthouse
• 50p Grosnez Castle (ruins)

Pound coins are issued, but are much less widely used than pound notes. Designs on the reverse of Jersey pound coins include historic ships built in Jersey and a series of the twelve parishes' crests. The motto round the milled edge of Jersey pound coins is Insula Caesarea (English: Island of Jersey). Two pound coins are issued also, but in very small quantities.

[ Demographics

Mont Orgueil was built in the thirteenth century to protect Jersey from French invasion.

The Island is host to a large number of people born outside Jersey; 47% of the population are not originally from the island.^[46]

Censuses have been undertaken in Jersey since 1821, the most recent being the 2001 Census on March 11.

Thirty percent of the population is concentrated in Saint Helier, the island's only town. Of the roughly 88,000 people in Jersey, around two-fifths are of Jersey/Norman descent and two-fifths of British (English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish) descent. The largest minority groups in the island, after the British, are Portuguese (around 7%, especially Madeiran), Irish and Polish. The French community is also always present. The people of Jersey are often called Islanders, or in individual terms Jerseyman or Jerseywoman. Some Jersey-born people consider themselves British and value the special relationship between the British Crown and the Island, whereas a large number of Jersey people consider themselves more European, leaning towards the French.

Religion in Jersey has a complex history and much diversity. The established church is the Church of England. In the countryside, Methodism found its traditional stronghold. A minority of Roman Catholics can also be found in Jersey, with two Catholic private schools (De La Salle College in Saint Saviour being an all-boys Catholic school, and Beaulieu Convent School down the road in Saint Helier being an all-girls school where the sisters still have a presence in school life).

Jersey has an aging population. The main reason for this change particular to Jersey is the emigration of young people seeking opportunities the Island cannot provide.^{[citation needed]}

[ Immigration

For immigration and nationality purposes the United Kingdom generally treats Jersey as though it were part of the UK. Jersey is constitutionally entitled to restrict immigration[47] by non-Jersey residents, but control of immigration at thee point of entry cannot, at present, be introduced for British, certain Commonwealth and EEA nationals without change to existing international law.^[48] Immigration is therefore cSource: this wikipedia article, under GFDL.
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