Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Guernsey

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Guernsey.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: NA
Administrative Divisions: none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson, Vale, Castel, Saint Saviour, Saint Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Forest, Saint Martin, Saint Andrew
Legal System: English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: See United Kingdom
Executive Branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022), represented by Lieutenant Governor Vice Admiral Sir Ian CORDER (since 15 February 2020) head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 5 May 2023) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by the States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister by the States of Deliberation following the 2023 general election
Legislative Branch: unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for 4 years); note - Alderney and Sark have their own parliaments elections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2008) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial Branch: Royal Court
Political Parties: none; all independents
Head of State: Queen ELIZABETH II
Head of Government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT
Cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
Elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation
Election Results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National Holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
International Organization Participation: none
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: none (British crown dependency)
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: none (British crown dependency)

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Saint Peter Port
Location: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: Saint Peter Port is the name of the town and its surrounding parish; the "port" distinguishes this parish from that of Saint Peter on the other side of the island

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross
Date of Adoption: 30 April 1985

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics: Sarnia Cherie Sarnia, chière patrie, bijou d'la maïr, Ile plloinne dé biautai, dans d'iaoue si cllaire Ta vouaix m'appeule terjous, mon tcheur plloin d'envie, Et mon âme té crie en poine, mes iars voudraient t'veis. Quaend j'saonge, j'té vaie derchier, mesme comme t'étais d'vànt, Tes côtis si vaerts et ton sabllaon si bllànc, Tes bànques et tes rotchets. Ah! Dé toutes la pus belle. Mon réfuge et mon r'pos, chière île qu'est si belle. Sarnia Chérie, ma chière patrie, D'l'île dé ma nèissance, mon tcheur a envie Ta vouaix m'appeule terjours, Et j'pense à té chaque jour. Ile plloinne dé biautai, Sarnia Chérie. Sàns saver ta valeur, j'm'en fus en colère, Je v'yagis si llian, à l'aute but dé la terre. I m'dirent dé biaux pays, et j'm'en fus brâment Oueque la terre baillait à haut d'l'or et dé l'argent. Nous 'tait tous amis et i fit bal chaque jeur, Mais ta vouaix m'applait terjours, a m'déteurtait l'tcheur. Ch'est pourtchi qué j'm'en vians. Ah! té veis, la millaeure. Ma chière île dé répos, dé chenna j'sis saeure. Sarnia Chérie, ma chière patrie, D'l'île dé ma nèissance, mon tcheur a envie Ta vouaix m'appeule terjours, Et j'pense à té chaque jour. Ile plloinne dé biautai, Sarnia Chérie.
Anthem Lyrics (English): Sarnia; dear Homeland, Gem of the sea. Island of beauty, my heart longs for thee. Thy voice calls me ever, in waking, or sleep, Till my soul cries with anguish, my eyes ache to weep. In fancy I see thee, again as of yore, Thy verdure clad hills and thy wave beaten shore. Thy rock sheltered bays, ah; of all thou art best, I'm returning to greet thee, dear island of rest. CHORUS Sarnia Cherie. Gem of the sea. Home of my childhood, my heart longs for thee. Thy voice calls me ever, forget thee I'll never, Island of beauty. Sarnia Cherie. I left thee in anger, I knew not thy worth. Journeyed afar, to the ends of the earth. Was told of far countries, the heav'n of the bold, Where the soil gave up diamonds, silver and gold. The sun always shone, and "race" took no part, But thy cry always reached me, its pain wrenched my heart. So I'm coming home, thou of all art the best. Returning to greet thee, dear island of rest. CHORUS
Anthem History: Sarnia Cherie is used as the anthem of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. 'Sarnia' is a traditional Latin name for the island, hence, the title translates as "Guernsey Dear". George Deighton wrote "Guernsey Dear" in 1911, with Domencio Santangelo subsequently composing the tune later that year.

Other National Symbols

National Flower
Guernsey lily

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