This is a
translation of the
Loi (1804) au sujet des assemblées
paroissiales
(Chapter 16.100)
as in force on 20
January 2022
This is not an
authoritative translation of the Law. Whilst it is believed to be correct, no
warranty is given that it is free of errors or omissions or that it is an
accurate translation of the French text. Accordingly, no liability is accepted
for any loss arising from its use.
LAW (1804) ON THE SUBJECT OF PARISH
ASSEMBLIES
WHEREAS
the Regulation passed by the States on 26th October last, concerning
Parish Assemblies, has not yet received Royal Assent, the States, after mature
consideration of the subject, are of the opinion that in deleting the sixth and
eighth Articles thereof, the said Regulation will better achieve its intended
goal: consequently the States have agreed to repeal the said Regulation in its
entirety, and to substitute therefor the following Regulation, subject to the
sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council; and they humbly pray that
His Majesty grant His Royal Assent thereto, in order that the same may have
force of law in this Island, and be observed therein in the future. And Sir
John Dumaresq, Knight, President of the States, was requested to inform their
Most Honorable Lords of His Majesty’s Privy Council of the said repeal, and at
the same time to transmit to them the present Regulation, to the effect above
mentioned.
Article
1
The
Bailiff and Jurats, and the Officers of the Royal Court, namely: the Attorney
General, the Viscount, the Solicitor General and the Greffier; the Rectors (or
the Vicar duly appointed in Ordinary and in the absence of the Rector from the
Island or whilst he or she is ill); and the Connétables and Centeniers shall
have the right to attend and to vote, as Principals, in Parish Assemblies.
Article
2
The
Procureurs du Bien Public, Churchwardens, Vingteniers, Constable’s Officers,
Roads Inspectors and Collectors of Alms shall have the right to attend and to
vote in the Parish Assembly during their term of office in the relevant Parish.
Article
3
Deputies
of the States shall have the right to attend, but not to vote, in the Assembly
of each Parish that they represent or in which a constituency that they
represent is situated, as the case may be.
Article
5
Article
6
Article
8
Ecclesiastical
business consists of the following: the choice of Church Officers, and the
examination and approval of their accounts; the distribution extraordinaire
(quarterly distribution to the poor); the repair of the Church, the Cemetery, and
the Presbytery, the disposition of Church pews, and of property attaching to
the Rectorate; the sale of Rentes of church property (‘Trésor’),
for the poor (‘Charité’) and other property belonging to the Trésor or
la Charité, and the choice of Reader (Lecteur), of Grave-digger
(Fossoyeur), and of the School Minister, for presentation to the Dean.
Article
9
The President of a Parish Assembly shall be
required to convene an Assembly within a fortnight after being requested to do
so by 10 or more principals of the Parish, provided that the request is made to
him or her in writing, is dated, and mentions the subject for which the
convening of the Assembly is sought.
Article
10
On
each occasion that a President of a Parish Assembly causes an Assembly of
Principals and Officers of the Parish to be convened, he or she shall mention
in the convening notice the subject for which the said Assembly is being
convened; and no other subject can be dealt with, unless it relates to a matter
of public safety, or to the care of the poor.
Article
11
No
Parish Assembly shall be held on the same day as the convening
notice is published or on the following day save in relation to matters of
public safety.
Article
12
At
any Parish Assembly, duly convened and held, the President shall be required to put for debate
each motion proposed by a member and seconded by another member of the
Assembly, and to elicit opinions on the subject concerned.
Article
12A
Each
President shall be required to produce to the Assembly the convening notice, duly
authenticated, and shall be required also to follow, in putting each separate
item for debate, the order laid down in the said convening notice.
Article
13
Every
Vingtenier, within the limits of the relevant vingtaine, and in the absence of
the Centeniers, shall have the power, and shall be under a duty at all times as
and when necessary to enforce and cause to be kept the peace; and shall
likewise be empowered to assist Constable’s Officers, and required to apprehend
all who disturb the public peace, and all law-breakers, and to bring the same,
without delay, to the Chef de Police of the Parish.
Article
14
The
present Regulation is without prejudice to the right possessed by the Seigneur
of the fief of St. Ouen, the Seigneur of the fief of Rozel, the Seigneur of the
fief of Samarès, and the Seigneur of the fief of Trinity, to vote in Parish
Assemblies through the medium of their Tuteurs or Procureurs, as
in the past.