Guernsey operates a system of government by committees and consensus. There are no political parties and the executive functions of government are under the control not of a central cabinet but of ten policy-specific departments, each run by boards or committees of five political members, all of whom have equal voting power. Politicians are elected as independents to the States of Deliberation and effectively serve as part of the executive and legislature.

Despite having explicitly rejected a proposal to adopt an executive/ministerial system of government in 2002, the heads of each department are known as ministers. They are in effect presidents or chairmen of their boards.

The Policy Council consists of the ministers/presidents of each of the ten departments plus the chief minister, who chairs Policy Council and speaks for the island externally in political matters. The Policy Council's main functions are policy co-ordination and responsibility for external relations. The chief minister and all department heads are elected by all members of the States of Deliberation. There also exists the post of Deputy Chief Minister, which is held by one of the department heads and is also elected by all members of the States of Deliberation.

As of 7 April 2009, the Policy Council of Guernsey consists of the following members:

• Chief Minister: Lyndon S. Trott
• Deputy Chief Minister: Bernard M. Flouquet
• Minister, Department of Treasury & Resources: Charles N. K. Parkinson
• Minister, Home Department: Geoffrey H. Mahy
• Minister, Department of Health & Social Services: A. Hunter Adam
• Minister, Department of Education: Carol A. Steere
• Minister, Department of Commerce & Employment: Carla S. McNulty Bauer
• Minister, Department of Culture & Leisure: Michael G. O'Hara
• Minister, Department of Public Services: Bernard M. Flouquet
• Minister, Department of Environmnent: Peter R. Sirett
• Minister, Department of Social Security: Mark H. Dorey
• Minister, Department of Housing: Dave Jones
  David Jones (Guernsey politician)
  Dave Jones is a member of the States of Guernsey and is the current Housing Minister and a member of the Policy Council of Guernsey....
  
  

Policy Council (May 2004 – March 2007)

Portfolio	Minister
Chief Minister	Deputy Laurie Morgan
Deputy Chief Minister Minister, Department of Environmnent	Deputy Bernard Flouquet
Minister, Department of Treasury & Resources	Deputy Lyndon Trott
Minister, Home Department	Deputy Mike Torode
Minister, Department of Health & Social Services	Deputy Peter Roffey
Minister, Department of Education	Deputy Martin Ozanne
Minister, Department of Commerce & Employment	Deputy Stuart Falla
Minister, Department of Culture & Leisure	Deputy Peter Sirett
Minister, Department of Public Services	Deputy Bill Bell
Minister, Department of Social Security	Deputy Mary Lowe
Minister, Department of Housing	Deputy Dave Jones

Policy Council (March 2007 – May 2008)

Portfolio	Minister
Chief Minister	Deputy Mike Torode
Deputy Chief Minister Department of Commerce & Employment	Deputy Stuart Falla
Minister, Department of Treasury & Resources	Deputy Lyndon Trott
Minister, Home Department	Deputy Geoff Mahy
Minister, Department of Health & Social Services	Deputy Peter Roffey
Minister, Department of Education	Deputy Martin Ozanne
Minister, Department of Environmnent	Deputy David De Lisle
Minister, Department of Culture & Leisure	Deputy Peter Sirett
Minister, Department of Public Services	Deputy Bill Bell
Minister, Department of Social Security	Deputy Diane Lewis
Minister, Department of Housing	Deputy Dave Jones

See also

• Council of Ministers of the Isle of Man
  Council of Ministers of the Isle of Man
  The Council of Ministers ) is the principal executive organ of the Isle of Man Government. Its role is similar to, though not identical with, that of the Cabinet in the United Kingdom...
  
  
• Council of Ministers of Jersey
  Council of Ministers of Jersey
  The Council of Ministers is the collective institution of executive government in Jersey. The Council co-ordinates policies and administration, especially policy affecting two or more ministers, prioritises executive and legislative proposals, and presents a "Strategic Plan for Jersey" for approval...