STATES Members are to debate what order their names are called out in during the Assembly’s roll call…
Much like schoolchildren, at the start of every States meeting, politicians are required to indicate if they are ‘présent(e)’.
Their attendance (or lack thereof) is then made a matter of public record.
The Privileges and Procedures Committee – a group of politicians responsible for the running of States Assembly meetings and business – is now seeking to make a change to the order.
They would like Members’ names to be called in order of length of service, with Constables going first, and Deputies second.
If two or more elected members have served for the same length of time, then the order would be determined by the order of their surnames.
In a report providing background to the suggested change, PPC say they held a meeting with 21 Members in September on the proposals and that it was agreed that, complementing the roll call change, seats in the States Chamber should also be “allocated on the basis of seniority” – with an exception for political parties.
The matter is on the agenda to be voted on at the first States sitting of 2024, on 16 January.
If approved, the change will take effect from after the 2026 election.
