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The Jamaican Parliament

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jamaican parliamentJamaican Parliament in session | (Photo: JIS.gov.jm)

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Jamaica is a democratic island, this means the citizens of the island vote for the party they think will do the best job of leading the country. Those chosen as representatives form the cabinet and the sitting government for the period. The laws, rules, bills and legislations are all created by the Parliament.

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What makes up the Jamaican Parliament?

The Senate, also known as the Upper House, and the House of Representatives, also known as the Lower House, make up the Jamaican Parliament and the British Monarch. The monarch is represented in Parliament by the Governor-General.

The "Throne Speech" is given by the Governor-General once a year at the start of Parliament. Beyond this, his or her official assent to bills passed by the two Houses of Parliament is the extent of his or her parliamentary role.

Duration of the Parliament

A Parliament may exist for a maximum of five years, after which time it must be dissolved and a general election held. However, at any point during the five years, the Prime Minister may recommend to the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament and set a date for a general election.

In addition, if a no-confidence motion is supported by a majority of the House of Representatives, Parliament must be dissolved and a general election must be held.

The Senators: How Are They Chosen and Their Function

Twenty-one (21) Senators make up the nominated House known as the Senate. On the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General appoints thirteen (13) Senators. On the counsel of the Leader of the Opposition, the remaining eight (8) are chosen.

Only four Ministers from the Senate may be chosen, and they may be given portfolio responsibilities. Senators elect a President and a Deputy President at the first meeting of a newly appointed Senate or whenever there is a vacancy.

A minister or parliamentarian is not eligible to serve as president or vice president.

Typically, the Senate serves as a review body for laws passed by the House of Representatives. Except for money Bills, the Senate may also introduce legislation. Money bills and other bills cannot be postponed for longer than one month or seven months, respectively.

House of Representatives

Who can be a member?

Any Commonwealth citizen who is at least 21 years old and has resided in Jamaica for the past 12 months is eligible to run for and be elected to the House of Representatives.

Members of the armed forces, those working for foreign governments, judges on the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, and those in public office are among those who are not eligible to run for office in the legislature.

The Constitution allows for a maximum of 63 members of the House of Representatives to be chosen by single-member districts using a first-past-the-post voting system. The majority of the House of Representatives members must support the government for it to continue to exist.

Purpose of the House of Representative

In reality, the House of Representatives is where most bills are first introduced. A majority of the members in the House must vote in favour of a Bill for it to be passed and become law.

In addition to the person presiding, the House needs 16 members to be in session. The finances of the government are under the control of the House of Representatives. Without the consent of the House, neither funds nor taxes may be imposed.

The Speaker

At the first sitting following each general election or in the event of a vacancy, the members of the House of Representatives formally elect one of their number as Speaker of the House. Although the Speaker is typically a representative of the majority party, this is not always the case.

Rarely does the Speaker participate in discussions? His responsibility is to ensure that everyone receives a fair hearing, that other members adhere to the House's rules, and that opposition members' rights are upheld.

The Leader of the House

The management of House business is the responsibility of the Leader of the House of Representatives. His duty is to ensure that the House has enough time to debate a variety of topics. To decide what business will be conducted in the House each day, the Leader of the House consults with the Opposition.

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Return to Jamaican Elections from Jamaican Parliament 
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References & Sources For Jamaican Parliament

  1. Jis.gov.jm. 2022. The Legislature – Jamaica Information Service. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 September 2022].

Jamaican Parliament | Written: September 28, 2022

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