Actes Des Etats

The States Assembly originated in the fifteenth century as a way for the Royal Court to take advice on legislative matters from representatives of the Island’s population.  The Assembly gradually evolved an existence independent of the Court.  Its first recorded Act was in 1524 but it was not until 1771 that the Royal Court ceased its own legislative rôle.

The Actes des Etats, published in full by the Société Jersiaise between 1897 and 1917, cover the period 1524-1800 thus showing the development of the Assembly into the Island’s government.  From its early days the Assembly took an interest in all aspects of Island life and the acts contain much of interest to social as well as political, military and religious historians.