The Lieutenant Governor is Her Majesty’s personal representative and official channel of communication between the Crown and the UK Government and Bailiwick.

The other key offices held under the Crown are those of the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff, who preside over the States of Deliberation and the Royal Court, and HM Procureur (Attorney General) and HM Comptroller (Solicitor General), who are the legal advisers to the Crown and the States.

The Bailiwick is not represented in the UK Parliament.  Acts of Parliament do not apply in the Bailiwick unless extended by Order in Council.  The UK Government is responsible for the Bailiwick’s international representation.

Special terms were negotiated for the Channel Islands on the UK’s accession to the EEC.  These are contained in Protocol 3 to the Treaty of Accession.  The effect of the protocol is that the Bailiwick is within the Common Customs Area and the Common External Tariff (i.e. it enjoys access to EEC countries of physical exports without tariff barriers).  Other Community rules do not apply to the Bailiwick.