property assessors who are autonomous. The only involvement which the Connétable has with them is in relation to the "Rates (Jersey) Law 2005", not the administration of it. That the role of the Connétable has


remained more or less unchanged for the last five centuries or so is a tribute to the respect in which the post is held by the public. Even today where the make-up of our island is very much more diverse, with so many foreign nationals making up our population, the Connétable continues to


dated 1462; but it is more than possible that the office had come into being long before that date. The first Connétable to be elected to


post was in 1531. The election was voted on by the principeaux of the parish - landowners and people of wealth and standing in the community. The system of election by principeaux was to continue until the mid-19th century when the franchise was widened. Not until 1950 were all registered electors able to get involved. Parish assemblies today are still


Connétables) eventually became acknowledged by Act of 27th October, 1497.


Since that date the 12 Connétables


have remained as Members of the States Assembly of the island. They continue by virtue of their office, as parish Connétable, to retain their seats, and are representatives of their parish, not elected delegates. The system of lodging a proposition,


prior to debate, was to enable the Connétable to refer the matter to the


The parish hall in St Brelade.


carry the support of the majority of the public. The origins of the title of Connétable


(colloquially, Constable) is somewhat clouded in the mists of history. Connétable was a military officer in the armies of Emperor Charlemagne circa 800 A.D. The word Connétable means "Supreme Commander of the French Army". One only needs to look to Normandy in particular, where Connétables were responsible for the castles and therefore the keeping of the peace, to see how the name came to have its origins in Jersey. Many of the island's landowners had


origins in Normandy and became Seigneurs of Jersey's ecclesiastical parishes. It is believed that the first Connétables were nominated by these Seigneurs and so the title would have fitted in well with the functions and status of head of what was later to become the civil parish. The first known reference to a Connétable in the records of the island is


called for the attention of "principals and electors". That the parochial system evolved from the ecclesiastical parishes meant that the rector was closely involved. Today, the rector continues to be involved in civil parish matters, sitting with the Connétable at parish assemblies, and being an ex-officio member of the Parish Roads Committee. The parochial system continues to be the backbone of island life. The public remain closer to their parish where they can have more influence over and closer contact with their elected administration.


Representing their parishes The Assembly of the States of Jersey grew out of the need for the Bailiff and Jurats to consult with the rectors and Connétables of the 12 parishes. By the 15th century, these meetings had become an established custom until the States (The Three Estates, the Legislature represented by the Jurats, the church by the rectors and the public by the


20 The Parliamentarian 2008/Issue One - Jersey


parishioners. Although not often used today, this facility is still available. Their position in the States


periodically comes under review. In 2000, the review chaired by Sir Cecil Clothier, KCB, QC, sought to have the Connétables elected to the States separately from their parochial post. When consulted, the public, seeing this as a threat to their Connétable's position, rejected this proposal and subsequent States debates have supported this position. The role of Connétable is a dual role.


First, as the parish leader and equally as States Member. The role in the parish does not end with chairing innumerable committee meetings. The Connétable is the equivalent of a French mayor, a man of woman of the people, who sees and must be seen by his or her parishioners. The Connétable's door must always be open, their telephone line always available for people to discuss their problems and seek advice on any matters, be they


Father Of The Parish


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