Crown dependencies

The Kronbesitzungen (English crown dependencies ) of the British Crown are areas that are directly under the British Crown. They are neither a part of the United Kingdom nor a colony. In this category, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea fall. They are separate entities and do not belong to the European Union.

Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are divided into two separate self-governing bailiwicks (English bailiwick ):

• Bailiwick of Jersey, comprising Jersey and some small uninhabited islands
• Bailiwick of Guernsey, consisting of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm, Sark, and some other islands

Both bailiwicks have a parliament ( États French, English States) and ( bailiff german) by a bailiff represented, the Chairman of the Parliament and also the chief judge is. Within the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney Sark islands have far-reaching autonomy. Sark is a feudal state under the rule of the Seigneur of Sark and has a democratic parliament called the Chief Pleas. Alderney also has a parliament and an elected president. Political parties have little significance because the candidate is usually set as independents for election to the Channel Islands.

Both Jersey and Guernsey give out its own notes and coins. These are available in two bailiwicks in free circulation, in addition to English or British coins Scottish banknotes. How the Scottish banknotes they are in the UK and Northern Ireland are not legal tender, but are usually accepted anyway. Each of the bailiwicks has a Post Office, which issues its own stamps.

Isle of Man

The Parliament of the Isle of Man, Tynwald, is considered the oldest continuously existing parliament in the world and can be traced back to the year 979. It consists of two chambers, the freely elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council ( LegCo ). There are no political parties, all candidates are running as independents to vote. There is a Council of Ministers, which is headed by a Chief Minister.

The Isle of Man issues its own banknotes and coins. These are in addition to English or British coins Scottish banknotes in free circulation. They are not legal tender in the UK and Northern Ireland. You have to change the banknotes in a bank. The Isle of Man has a Post Office, which issues its own stamps.

Relations with the crown

In the year 933 the Channel Islands part of the Duchy of Normandy were. In 1066, William the Conqueror conquered England and became King of England. Over the centuries, all the lands were lost in France, and only channel islands remained in the possession of the Dukes of Normandy.

On the Isle of Man, the British monarch reigns as "Lord of Mann". This title was owned by Norwegian, Scottish and English kings, followed by English nobles. Since 1765 the title is related to the British monarch.

In all Kronbesitztümern the British monarch is represented by a Lieutenant Governor (English lieutenant governor ), but this post is almost exclusively ceremonial in nature.

Relations with the United Kingdom

The British government is only responsible for defense and international relations; for customs and immigration, however, each island itself is responsible. By 2001, the responsibility was on the Kronbesitztümer the Ministry of Interior (Home Office ), but this task was given to the Department by the Lord Chancellor on, today's Justice Department. Any law that is enacted on the islands, requires the approval of the Privy Council ( Privy Council ).

Laws that are enacted by the British Parliament, do not come to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man usually used, except as expressly mentioned ( even this case is very rare). However, it is the Kronbesitztümern free as any other country in the world, also apply a statute enacted in the United Kingdom law.

The inhabitants have British passports of the "British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey ", " British Islands Bailiwick of Jersey" or "British Islands Isle of Man." They are " British Citizens" with unrestricted entry and residence in the United Kingdom. However, the Citizenship of the European Union acquire the islanders only because of close links with the United Kingdom, when the ( grand) parents come from there or they have taken themselves for a period of at least five years of their residence there.