About Jersey

The Island of Jersey is part of the Channel Islands, which includes Guernsey, Sark, Herm and Alderney. The Channel Islands are situated in the Bay of Mont St Michel and Jersey is just 14 miles (22.5km) from the coast of France and 100 miles (161km) south of mainland Britain.

 

Jersey is the largest and most southerly of the Channel Islands. It is 45 square miles (116 square kilometres), 9 x 5 miles (14.5 x 8 kilometres), with over 500 miles (805km) of roadway. The population recorded in the March 2001 census was 87,186 and this figure is known to double in the tourist season. In the summer, Jersey is usually the warmest place in the British Isles with temperatures averaging 20°C (68°F).

The currency in Jersey is Sterling, although the Island has its own coins and notes. UK Sterling is readily accepted, as are UK cheques supported by a bankers card and most credit cards.

Jersey is a parliamentary democracy which is a dependency of the British Crown. It is a British Island, but is not part of the United Kingdom, nor is it a colony. The Island's link with the United Kingdom and the rest of the Commonwealth is through Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who as the Sovereign is the Head of State. The Sovereign is represented in the Island by the Lieutenant Governor, through whom official communications with the Lord Chancellor on behalf of Her Majesty's government in the United Kingdom are directed. The Island's parliament is the States of Jersey which consists of 53 elected members from a mix of Island wide and parochial constituencies. Executive government is currently managed by committees of the States, but in September 2001, the States resolved to move to a ministerial system of government; arrangements for which are in the course of being developed.

Acts of the Westminster Parliament do not apply routinely to the Island. For convenience, however, United Kingdom legislation does from time to time include the Island directly or by extension by order of Her Majesty in Council, with such amendments as may be required; but in each case only with consent given that the Island sends no representatives to Westminster. By convention the United Kingdom has assumed responsibility for the Island's foreign affairs, but even in those matters, the United Kingdom only acts with the consent of the States of Jersey. Accordingly, the States can, and frequently does, legislate independently to implement international agreements. The administration is in effect parallel with that of the United Kingdom rather than subordinate to it.

The Island has a special relationship with the European Union by virtue of Protocol 3 to the United Kingdom's Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community.

Please visit the Jersey Tourism website for more information about the Island of Jersey.