Parliament of Jordan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jordanian Parliamentمجلس الأمة Majlis Al-Umma |
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| 19th Parliament of Jordan | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
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Term limits
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4 years |
| History | |
| Founded | January 1, 1952 |
| Leadership | |
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President of the Senate
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Faisal Al-Fayez, Independent
Since 7 November 2016 |
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Speaker of the House of Representatives
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Ahmed Safadi, Independent
Since November 15, 2022 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 195 members: 65 senators 130 representatives |
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Senate political groups
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House of Representatives political groups
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| Elections | |
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Senate voting system
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Appointed by the King |
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House of Representatives voting system
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Open list proportional representation (15 seats reserved for women, nine for Christians, and three for Chechens and Circassians) |
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House of Representatives last election
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10 November 2020 |
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House of Representatives next election
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10 November 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
| Al-Abdali, Amman | |
The Parliament of Jordan (Arabic: مجلس الأمة Majlis Al-Umma) is Jordan's main law-making body. It has two parts, like many parliaments around the world. It was set up by Jordan's Constitution in 1952. The two parts are the Senate (also called Majlis Al-Aayan) and the House of Representatives (also called Majlis Al-Nuwaab).
The Senate has 65 members. These members are chosen directly by the King of Jordan. The House of Representatives has 130 members who are elected by the people. Some seats in the House are set aside for specific groups. For example, nine seats are for Christians, three are for Chechen and Circassian people, and fifteen are for women. Members of both houses serve for four years.
Contents
Jordan's Political Journey
Jordan is a country with a King, but it also has a parliament that helps make laws. Since becoming independent in 1946, Jordan has slowly moved towards more democracy. Its people have not faced the same harsh rule as some other countries in the Middle East.
After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, many Palestinian refugees came to Jordan. They were given Jordanian citizenship. These refugees made up a big part of Jordan's population.
The 1952 Constitution allowed people to form political parties. But these rights were stopped in 1967 due to a state of emergency. Parliament was also suspended until 1989. In 1988, King Hussein made a big decision. He dissolved the lower house of parliament. He also announced that Jordan would no longer have legal ties with the West Bank. This was done to help Palestinians create their own independent state.
After some public unrest in 1989, the King decided to hold elections again. This was a big step towards more freedom and democracy for Jordanians. New laws were also made to allow more freedom of speech and media. In 1992, political parties became legal again. The first multi-party elections since 1956 were held in 1993. Jordan is now one of the most open countries in the Middle East for politics. However, the King still has a lot of power. He appoints Senate members and can change the prime minister.
It's also important to know that family ties and tribal identity are very strong in Jordan. These often play a bigger role than political parties when people vote in elections.
How Laws Are Made
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives can suggest and vote on new laws. Here's how it usually works:
- The Prime Minister sends ideas for laws to the House of Representatives.
- The House can accept, change, or reject these ideas.
- Each idea goes to a special committee in the House for review.
- If the committee approves, the government writes it as a bill.
- The House of Representatives votes on the bill. If they approve it, it goes to the Senate.
- The Senate debates and votes on the bill.
- If the Senate approves, the King can either agree to the law or say no.
- If the King says no, the bill goes back to the House of Representatives. If both houses then pass the bill again with a two-thirds majority vote, it becomes a law, even if the King doesn't agree.
The King of Jordan has a lot of power in this system. For example, between 2001 and 2003, when Parliament was suspended, King Abdullah II passed 110 temporary laws on his own.
Who Can Be a Member?
Senators serve for four years and can be chosen again by the King. To be a senator, you must be at least 40 years old. You also need to have held important jobs in the government or military before. Many former prime ministers and members of the House of Representatives have become senators.
Representatives are elected for four-year terms. To be a representative, you must be older than 35. You cannot be related to the King, and you should not have financial deals with the government.
Political Parties in Jordan
Even with reforms, Jordan's political parties are still developing. In the 2016 election, most seats were won by independent candidates. These candidates often have ties to the royal family. Only a small number of candidates ran with the support of political parties. This shows that parties don't yet have a huge impact on elections.
The Islamic Action Front (IAF) is one of the main political parties in the legislature. There are 34 registered political parties in Jordan. However, many of them are small and don't have much influence. In 2007, a study found that only a small number of Jordanians felt that political parties truly represented their hopes. Most people also believed that no political party was ready to form a government.
Important Committees
Both houses of Parliament have special groups called committees. These committees focus on different topics. The main ones are:
- Legal
- Financial
- Administrative
- Foreign Affairs
Both houses can also create new committees when they are needed.
Challenges for Parliament
Jordan's Parliament is still quite new compared to parliaments in Western countries. It faces some challenges:
- Low Voter Turnout: Not enough people vote in elections. This shows that many citizens might not feel involved in the democratic process. For example, in 2007, only 54% of voters participated.
- Short Sessions: Parliamentary sessions are often short, usually from November to March. This can limit how much work they can get done.
- Limited Role of Parties: Political parties don't play a very strong role in Jordanian politics. Many elected members run as independents, often based on family or tribal connections.
Despite these challenges, Jordan has made good progress towards democracy compared to many other countries in the Middle East. While the King still has a lot of power, the Parliament has become more important and representative since 1989.
Images for kids
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Old hall of the Parliament of Jordan from 1949 till 1974, now part of the Museum of Parliamentary Life.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento de Jordania para niños
- List of presidents of the Senate of Jordan
- List of speakers of the House of Representatives of Jordan
- 2020 Jordanian general election
- 2016 Jordanian general election
- 2013 Jordanian general election
- 2010 Jordanian general election
- Politics of Jordan
- List of legislatures by country
