Malcolm Rivera
Jordan is an Arab country with a constitutional monarchy. The current king, Abdullah II, has wide-ranging executive and legislative powers, including the ability to appoint and dismiss judges, approve constitutional amendments, declare war, and act as the supreme leader of the armed forces. The king may also dissolve parliament and dismiss the government. Jordan is considered one of the safest Arab countries in the Middle East and has a long history of accepting refugees, with an estimated 2.1 million Palestinians and 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing there.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Monarchy | Constitutional monarchy |
| Country Name | Jordan |
| Current King | Abdullah II |
| Current Prime Minister | Not found |
| King's Powers | Appoints and dismisses judges, approves amendments to the constitution, declares war, dissolves parliament, dismisses the government, acts as the supreme leader of the armed forces |
| Safety Status | One of the safest countries in the Middle East |
| Refugee Status | Accepted refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts since 1948, with 2.1 million Palestinians and 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing in the country |
| International Relations | A key ally of the United States and the United Kingdom, one of two Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with Israel |
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What You'll Learn
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy
Jordan's constitution, promulgated on 8 January 1952, outlines a parliamentary monarchy with a multi-party system. The king exercises his power through the government he appoints, which is responsible to the Parliament. The prime minister of Jordan is the head of government and is appointed by the king, who also chooses the cabinet. The cabinet coordinates the work of the different departments and establishes general policy.
Jordan's central government is headed by a prime minister, Jafar Hassan, who has been in office since 15 September 2024. The prime minister was formerly appointed by the king, but following the 2011 Jordanian protests, King Abdullah agreed to a prime minister selected by and responsible to the Chamber of Deputies on matters of general policy. The Chamber of Deputies, or Majlis al-Nuwaab, has 138 members elected for a four-year term, with 15 seats reserved for women, nine for Christians, and three for Chechens/Circassians. The Assembly of Senators, or Majlis al-Aayan, has 65 members appointed by the king for a four-year term and is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies.
Jordan is one of only two Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with its direct neighbour, Israel. It is also known for its hospitality, having accepted refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts as early as 1948, with an estimated 2.1 million Palestinians and 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing in the country. Jordan is a key ally of the United States and the United Kingdom.
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Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the Saud dynasty, a family whose status was established by its close ties with and support for the Wahhabi religious establishment. The kingdom has never had a written constitution, although in 1992 the king issued a document known as the Basic Law of Government, which provides guidelines for how the government is run and sets forth the rights and responsibilities of citizens. According to the Basic Law, the king must comply with Sharia (Islamic law) and the Quran, while the Quran and the Sunnah (the traditions of Muhammad) are declared to be the country's constitution.
In an absolute monarchy, the ruler has supreme authority that is not restricted by any written laws, legislature, or customs. These are often, but not always, hereditary monarchies. In Saudi Arabia, the king combines legislative, executive, and judicial functions, and is the final court of appeal and the dispenser of pardon. The country's Basic Law bans the formation of political parties and does not allow for national elections. As such, critics regard the Saudi government as a totalitarian dictatorship.
In practice, major policy decisions are made outside of formal governmental structures and are not solely decided by the king. Decisions are made by establishing a consensus within the royal family and considering the views of important members of Saudi society, including religious scholars, leading tribal sheiks, and heads of prominent commercial families. The personality and capabilities of the reigning monarch influence the politics and national policies of the country. For example, King Saud, who ruled from 1953 to 1964, was considered incompetent and extravagant, leading to an economic and political crisis that resulted in his forced abdication.
Saudi Arabia has enjoyed friendly relations with the West, particularly the United States, due to its position as the world's largest producer and exporter of oil, as well as its mutual defense agreements with the US. However, the relationship has faced pressure since 2013 due to the US's withdrawal from the Syrian Civil War and improving relations with Iran.
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The King of Jordan has wide executive and legislative powers
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a king, Abdullah II, and a prime minister, Jafar Hassan. The king of Jordan holds wide executive and legislative powers. He appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution after passing by both parliaments, and acts as the supreme leader of the armed forces. The king may also dissolve parliament and dismiss the government at his discretion. The king is the commander-in-chief of the Jordanian Armed Forces and appoints the prime minister and the directors of security agencies. He also appoints the members of the upper house, the Senate, as well as the members of the Constitutional Court.
The Jordanian monarchy was set up in 1921, with Abdullah I becoming Emir of the Emirate of Transjordan, a post he held from 1921 until Transjordan gained independence in 1946 as the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. In 1948, Jordan captured the West Bank during the Arab-Israeli War, and the name of the state was changed to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1949. Jordan is a founding member of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and is one of two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with Israel.
Jordan is considered to be among the safest of Arab countries in the Middle East and has avoided long-term terrorism and instability. In the midst of surrounding turmoil, Jordan has been greatly hospitable, accepting refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts as early as 1948, with 2.1 million Palestinians and 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing in the country. Jordan is a key ally of the United States and the UK.
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The Jordanian monarchy is called the Jordanian Hashemite monarchy
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, also known as the Jordanian Hashemite Monarchy. It is one of the safest and most hospitable countries in the Middle East, accepting refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts as early as 1948. The country is currently ruled by King Abdullah II, who assumed his constitutional powers as monarch on 7 February 1999. He is a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad and is the 41st generation of the Hashemite family, which reaches back to the Prophet Abraham and his son, Ishmael. The name "Hashemite" is derived from Hashem, a grandson of Qusai and the great-grandfather of the Prophet Mohammad.
Jordan became an independent state officially known as The Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan in 1946. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jordan captured the West Bank, and the name of the state was changed to The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1949. The country is a founding member of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and is one of only two Arab states to have signed peace treaties with Israel.
The Jordanian monarchy holds wide executive and legislative powers. The king appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution after passing by both parliaments, declares war, and acts as the supreme leader of the armed forces. Additionally, the king may dissolve parliament and dismiss the government at his discretion.
Jordan has not been plagued by widespread domestic violence like most of its neighbours. When terrorism does come to Jordan, the nation typically rallies around the monarchy. The country has a relatively benign state compared to its Arab neighbours, and the current king, Abdullah II, has made the welfare of Jordan's people the cornerstone of his policies for national development, regional peace, and global coexistence.
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Jordan is a key ally of the United States and the UK
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a king, Abdullah II, and a prime minister. The king holds wide executive and legislative powers, including the ability to appoint and dismiss judges, approve amendments to the constitution, declare war, and act as the supreme leader of the armed forces. Jordan has long been considered one of the safest and most stable countries in the Middle East, avoiding long-term terrorism and instability. It has also been greatly hospitable, accepting refugees from almost all surrounding conflicts as early as 1948, with 2.1 million Palestinians and 1.4 million Syrian refugees residing in the country.
Jordan has consistently pursued a pro-Western foreign policy and is a key ally of the United States and the United Kingdom. The two countries have had close relations for many years, although these relations were damaged during the first Gulf War due to Jordan's neutrality and its continued relations with Iraq. However, Jordan later restored its relations with the West through its participation in enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq and its involvement in the Southwest Asia peace process. Jordan is also one of only two Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with Israel, its direct neighbour, playing a vital role in mediating conflicts between Israel and Hamas.
The United States designated Jordan as a major non-NATO ally in 1996 and has provided significant economic and military assistance to the country, particularly in light of recent regional unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. In FY 2020 and FY 2021, USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance provided $35 million in supplemental humanitarian assistance to Jordan to address COVID-19 impacts and support monthly food distributions. The US is Jordan's largest provider of bilateral assistance, providing over $1.65 billion in FY 2021. The two countries also have an "open skies" civil aviation agreement, a bilateral investment treaty, and a science and technology cooperation agreement.
Jordan also enjoys "advanced status" with the European Union and is part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which aims to strengthen links between the EU and its neighbours. In addition, Jordan has close relations with the United Kingdom, with which it has a Free Trade Agreement that went into effect in 2010. Jordan is an active member of several international organisations, including the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Health Organization, further strengthening its ties with Western countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy, with a king (currently Abdullah II) and a prime minister.
A constitutional monarchy is a system in which the monarch acts as a non-party political ceremonial head of state under the constitution.
The king of Jordan appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution after they have passed both parliaments, declares war, and acts as the supreme leader of the armed forces. The king may also dissolve parliament and dismiss the government at his discretion.
Jordan became an independent state officially known as The Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan in 1946. The country was previously a British protectorate known as the Emirate of Transjordan, which was established in 1921 by Emir Abdullah I.
