POLITICS IN SARK

Sark, one of the smallest of the Channel Islands, was long regarded as the last feudal state in Europe. For centuries, the island operated under a system established in 1565, when Queen Elizabeth I granted Sark as a fief to Helier de Carteret, dividing it into 40 tenements. The Seigneur of Sark held the island directly from the Crown, with landowners reenfeoffed in turn.

This structure endured until the early 21st century. In 2008, significant reforms were introduced with the modernisation of Sark’s parliament, the Chief Pleas. These changes abolished the island’s remaining feudal elements, introducing a democratic system of elected representatives while preserving Sark’s unique autonomy.

Although part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Sark is fiscally independent and retains its own legislative authority. Chief Pleas approves laws specific to the island and may adopt wider Bailiwick legislation if agreed with Guernsey and Alderney. Criminal law is delegated to the States of Guernsey, while other powers are carefully retained to ensure local control.

Sark’s distinctive status is recognised internationally. It holds its own United Nations statistical code (680), and the ISO has reserved the element CQ to represent Sark in specific contexts, reflecting its unusual constitutional position as a self-governing territory of the Crown.

Today, Sark stands as a fascinating example of a community that has evolved from medieval feudalism into a modern democracy, all while preserving its independence, traditions, and deep connection to the Crown.