Simone Lawson
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The country's constitution, which was promulgated on January 8, 1952, declares Jordan to be a constitutional, hereditary monarchy. The king is the head of state and is immune from all liability and responsibility. He exercises his power through the government he appoints, which is responsible before the Parliament. The king has significant influence over the affairs of the country and can override a veto by the parliament with a two-thirds vote of both houses. The king also appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution, and declares war.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Monarchy | Constitutional, Hereditary |
| Type of Government | Parliamentary monarchy |
| Official Religion | Islam |
| Ultimate Authority | The King |
| Power Over | Executive, Legislative, Judicial branches |
| Head of Government | Prime Minister |
| Multi-Party System | Yes |
| National Assembly | Bicameral |
| Senate | Majlis al-Ayan |
| House of Representatives | Majlis al-Nuwaab |
| Number of Senators | 65 |
| Number of Representatives | 138 |
| Voting Age | 18 |
| Courts | Civil, Religious, Special |
| Corruption Ranking | 47th out of 180 nations |
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What You'll Learn
Jordan's king has extensive powers
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary form of government. The country's king, Abdullah II, has extensive powers and is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Jordanian Armed Forces. The king exercises his power through the government he appoints, which is responsible to the Parliament. The king can also dismiss the government.
The Jordanian king has the power to appoint and dismiss officials, including the prime minister, the heads of the military and intelligence agencies, and the directors of security agencies. The king also appoints the cabinet, although the prime minister is free to choose his cabinet as well. The king's powers include signing and executing or vetoing all laws, as well as suspending or dissolving parliament and shortening or lengthening the term of the session. The king also approves amendments to the constitution and declares war.
In addition to these powers, the king of Jordan has the authority to appoint and dismiss the Chief Justice, the head of the Sharia Judicial Council, the Grand Mufti, the Chief of the Royal Court, the Minister of the Court, and the king's advisors. The king also serves as the supreme leader of the armed forces. The Jordanian king has more executive and legislative authority than is typical for a constitutional monarch.
The Parliament of Jordan consists of two chambers: the appointed Senate and the elected House of Representatives. The Senate is appointed by the king, while the House of Representatives is directly elected. The Jordanian constitution provides for a bicameral National Assembly, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. The National Assembly holds legislative power and can override a royal veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.
While Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, the monarchy is not merely ceremonial. The king has significant influence over the country's affairs and is the ultimate authority in Jordan. The king's extensive powers have been a source of debate and controversy, with some analysts arguing that Jordan should move towards a true parliamentary monarchy.
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The Jordanian constitution
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on 8 January 1952. The country's politics take place within a framework of a parliamentary monarchy, with the Prime Minister of Jordan as the head of government and a multi-party system. The Jordanian constitution has been amended several times since its adoption and defines the country as a hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system of representation.
The constitution guarantees the right to form political parties, join trade unions, and freedom of association. It also ensures the secrecy of postal, telegraphic, and telephonic communications, which cannot be censored or confiscated except by a judicial order. The judiciary is independent of the other branches of the government, and the constitution provides for three categories of courts: civil (regular), religious, and special.
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The Jordanian parliament
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The Jordanian parliament, also known as the Parliament of Jordan or the Jordanian National Assembly, is a bicameral legislature established by the 1952 Constitution. It consists of two houses: the Senate (Arabic: Majlis Al-Aayan) and the House of Representatives (Arabic: Majlis Al-Nuwaab).
The Senate, or upper chamber, has 65-69 members, all of whom are directly appointed by the King for a four-year term. The House of Representatives, or lower chamber, has 138 elected members serving four-year terms, with nine seats reserved for Christians, three for Chechen and Circassian minorities, and fifteen for women. The Chamber of Deputies is known for brawls between its members, including acts of violence and the use of weapons.
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Jordan's judiciary
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary form of government. The king is the country's ultimate authority and wields power over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The judiciary in Jordan is one of three independent branches of the government. The constitution provides for three categories of courts: civil (or "regular"), religious, and special.
Civil courts, also known as regular courts, consist of both civil and criminal varieties. There are four levels of civil courts: Magistrate's Courts, First Instance Courts, Appeals Courts, and the Cassation Court. Magistrate's Courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanours and minor crimes with a sentence of two years or less. They also hear civil cases where the amount involved does not exceed JD 750, as well as eviction cases and lawsuits involving trespass on land. Courts of First Instance have jurisdiction over criminal matters outside the jurisdiction of Magistrate's Courts and not covered by other special courts. They also hear civil cases not heard in Magistrate's Courts, including matters where alleged damages exceed JD 750. The Courts of First Instance also hear appeals for criminal cases where the sentence is one week or less, or the fine does not exceed JD 10. Two judges hear criminal matters, while one judge adjudicates civil matters.
The second level of civil courts is the Appeals Court, also known as the Appellete Court. This court hears all cases of appeal from the Courts of First Instance and Magistrate's Courts that are not heard by the Courts of First Instance. The Appeals Court may reconsider determinations of facts as well as laws and may decide to rehear a case. The highest judicial authority in the kingdom is the Cassation Court, which hears appeals from the Major Felonies Court. The Major Felonies Court has jurisdiction over a specific set of serious criminal offences with a possible sentence of greater than three years, including manslaughter, murder, rape, and other sexual offences.
There are two types of religious courts in Jordan: Sharia courts and tribunals for other religious communities officially recognised in the country. Sharia courts enforce the provisions of Islamic law and civil status, while the other religious courts exercise jurisdiction over matters of personal status for non-Muslims. The third category of courts is special courts, such as land, government, property, municipal, tax, and customs courts.
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Jordan's political parties
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The country's politics take place within a framework of a multi-party system. The king is the country's ultimate authority and wields power over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The king exercises his power through the government he appoints, which is responsible before the Parliament. The king can also override a veto by a two-thirds vote of both houses of parliament at his discretion.
- Ahd Party
- Arab Ba'ath Progressive Party
- Civil Alliance Party
- Eradah Party
- Islamic Action Front
- Islamic Centre Party
- Jordanian Arab Party
- Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
- Jordanian Communist Party
- Jordanian Democratic People's Party
- Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party
- Jordanian Progressive Party
- Ma'an List
- National Charter Party
- National Current Party
- National Union Movement (Al-Resalah Party)
- Rescue and Partnership Party
- Zamzam Party
These parties represent different ideological affiliations, including democratic Marxist/Socialist, mainstream liberal, moderate-pragmatic, mainstream conservative, and extreme conservative factions.
It is important to note that political parties in Jordan were banned before the 1963 elections. Between 1971 and 1976, the Arab National Union (previously known as the Jordanian National Union) was the only permitted political organization. In 1992, political parties were finally legalized, on the condition that they acknowledged the legitimacy of the monarchy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Jordan is a constitutional monarchy. The constitution, last amended in 2016, establishes a parliamentary system of government with a hereditary monarchy. The king is the head of state and has extensive powers, including the ability to execute or veto laws, suspend or dissolve parliament, and appoint and dismiss judges.
The king of Jordan has significant influence over the affairs of the country. He exercises executive power through his ministers and royal decrees and has authority over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The king can also decide on extensive issues with final authority without needing to follow the advice of the government.
Jordan has a parliamentary form of government with a prime minister and a bicameral National Assembly, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The National Assembly is responsible for approving, rejecting, or amending legislation, while the king appoints the prime minister and cabinet, subject to parliamentary approval.
