The Channel Islands consist of two separate “Bailiwicks”, being the old term for an area of jurisdiction under a bailie or bailiff: one comprising Jersey, the other Guernsey and a number of her dependent Islands.

The Bailiwick of Jersey lies 16 miles due west of the Cherbourg peninsula of France and 120 miles south of England. It has a total surface area of some 45 square miles and a population of approximately 87,000. It owes allegiance to the English Crown dating from the 11th Century when the Crowns of England and France (including the Duchy of Normandy of which the Channel Islands formed part) were united. Successive English monarchs and governments have granted rights and privileges to the Island which result in Jersey having a right to govern itself on all internal domestic matters. To this end, the Island has a single chamber legislative body known as the States of Jersey which passes all domestic legislation subject, in the case of primary legislation, to the approval of Her Majesty in Council.

The Island is part of the British Isles, with an overwhelming majority of English speaking inhabitants, but is not a part of the United Kingdom. Jersey is, further, neither a separate member state nor an associate member of the European Union, but nevertheless enjoys the benefit of certain rights conferred by paragraph 227(5)(c)of the Treaty of Rome 1957.