Editing Politics of Jordan

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{{Politics of Jordan}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2020}}
The '''politics of Jordan''' takes place in a framework of a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[monarchy]], whereby the [[Prime Minister of Jordan]] is [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]]. Jordan is a [[constitutional monarchy]] based on the [[constitution]] promulgated on January 8, 1952. The king exercises his power through the government he appoints which is responsible before the [[Parliament of Jordan|Parliament]]. In contrast to most parliamentary monarchies, the monarchy of Jordan is not ceremonial, with the King having significant influence over the affairs of the country.

King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]] has been sovereign since the death of his father, King Hussein, in 1999. [[Jafar Hassan]] has been prime minister since 15 September 2024.

==Executive branch==
{{office-table}}
|[[King of Jordan|King]]
|[[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II]]
|
|7 February 1999
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Jordan|Prime Minister]]
|[[Jafar Hassan]]
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|15 September 2024
|-
|}
The [[Constitution of Jordan]] vests [[executive authority]] in the [[King of Jordan|king]] and in his [[Cabinet of Jordan|cabinet]]. The king signs and executes or [[veto]]es all laws. The king may also suspend or dissolve parliament, and shorten or lengthen the term of session. A veto by the king may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of parliament at his discretion, most recently in November 2009.<ref name="Freedom House">Freedomhouse.org http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2010&country=7849 {{Dead link|date=May 2020|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The king appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves [[constitutional amendment|amendment]]s to the constitution after passing by both parliaments, declares [[war]] and acts as the supreme leader of the [[Military of Jordan|armed forces]]. Cabinet decisions, [[court]] judgments, and the national [[currency]] are issued in his name. The Cabinet, led by a [[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 of Jordan|Chamber of Deputies]] on matters of general policy, including the composition of cabinet. A two-thirds vote of "[[Motion of no confidence|no confidence]]" by the Chamber can force the cabinet to resign.

==Legislative branch==
[[Legislature|Legislative]] power rests in the [[bicameral]] National Assembly. The [[National Assembly of Jordan|National Assembly]] (''Majlis al-Umma'') has two [[bicameralism|chambers]]. The [[Chamber of Deputies of Jordan|Chamber of Deputies]] (''Majlis al-Nuwaab'') has 138 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat [[constituency|constituencies]] with 15 seats reserved for women by a special electoral college, nine for Christians and three for [[Chechen people|Chechens]]/[[Circassians]]. While the Chamber of Deputies is elected by the people, its main legislative abilities are limited to approving, rejecting, or amending legislation with little power to initiate laws.<ref name="Freedom House" /> The [[Senate of Jordan|Assembly of Senators]] (''Majlis al-Aayan'') has 65 members appointed by the King for a four-year term. The Assembly of Senators is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies and can be removed by a "[[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]]".

Political factions or blocs in the Jordanian parliament change with each parliamentary election and typically involve one of the following affiliations; a democratic Marxist/Socialist faction, a mainstream liberal faction, a moderate-pragmatic faction, a mainstream conservative faction, and an extreme conservative faction (such as the [[Islamic Action Front]]).

The Jordanian Chamber of Deputies is known for brawls between its members, including acts of violence and the use of weapons. In September 2013 Representative [[Talal al-Sharif]] tried to shoot one of his colleagues with an assault rifle while at the parliamentary premises.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tamer al-Samadi |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2013/09/jordan-violence-parliament-tribal.html |title=Jordan MP Fires Kalashnikov In Parliament |publisher=[[Al-Monitor]] |date=25 September 2013 |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000118/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2013/09/jordan-violence-parliament-tribal.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Judicial branch==
The judiciary is completely independent from the other two branches of the government.  The constitution provides for three categories of courts—civil (in this case meaning "regular"), religious, and special. Regular courts consist of both civil and criminal varieties at the first level—First Instance or Conciliation Courts, second level—Appelette or Appeals Courts, and the Cassation Court which is the highest judicial authority in the kingdom. There are two types of religious courts: Sharia courts which enforce the provisions of Islamic law and civil status, and tribunals of other religious communities officially recognized in Jordan.<ref>The Constitution of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3ae6b53310.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519064959/https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3ae6b53310.pdf |date=2021-05-19 }}</ref>

==Political conditions==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
[[Hussein of Jordan|King Hussein]] ruled Jordan from 1953 to 1999, surviving a number of challenges to his rule, drawing on the loyalty of his military, and serving as a symbol of unity and stability for both the Jordanians and [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] communities in Jordan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=King Hussein bin Talal|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/king-hussein-bin-talal|access-date=2021-02-09|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org|archive-date=2021-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211001909/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/king-hussein-bin-talal|url-status=live}}</ref> King Hussein ended [[martial law]] in 1989 and ended suspension on [[Political party|political parties]] that was initiated following the loss of the West Bank to Israel and in order to preserve the status quo in Jordan.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ap|date=1991-07-08|title=Jordanian Cancels Most Martial Law Rules (Published 1991)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/08/world/jordanian-cancels-most-martial-law-rules.html|access-date=2021-02-09|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215133421/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/08/world/jordanian-cancels-most-martial-law-rules.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989 and 1993, Jordan held free and fair [[parliament]]ary elections. Controversial changes in the election law led [[Islamist]] parties to boycott the 1997, 2011 and 2013 elections.

[[Abdullah II of Jordan|King Abdullah II]] succeeded his father Hussein following the latter's death in February 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hussein {{!}} Biography, History, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hussein|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302195925/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hussein|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdullah moved quickly to reaffirm Jordan's [[peace treaty]] with [[Israel]] and its relations with the [[United States]]. Abdullah, during the first year in power, refocused the government's agenda on economic reform.

Jordan's continuing structural economic difficulties, burgeoning population, and more open political environment led to the emergence of a variety of political parties. Moving toward greater independence, Jordan's parliament has investigated corruption charges against several regime figures and has become the major forum in which differing political views, including those of political Islamists, are expressed.

On February 1, 2011, it was announced that King Abdullah had dismissed his government.  This has been interpreted as a pre-emptive move in the context of the Tunisian Jasmine Revolution and unfolding events in nearby Egypt.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Kadri|first1=Ranya|last2=Bronner|first2=Ethan|date=2011-02-01|title=King of Jordan Dismisses His Cabinet (Published 2011)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02jordan.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02jordan.html |archive-date=2022-01-03 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-09|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=the CNN Wire Staff|title=On eve of protest, King Abdullah dissolves parliament|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/world/meast/jordan-king-dismisses-government/index.html|access-date=2021-02-09|website=CNN|date=4 October 2012|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302214005/https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/world/meast/jordan-king-dismisses-government/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Decentralization==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}
[[King Abdullah II]] and the Jordanian Government began the process of decentralization, with the [[Madaba]] governorate as the pilot project, on the regional level dividing the nation into three regions: North, Central, and South. The [[Greater Amman Municipality]] will be excluded from the plan but it will set up a similar decentralization process.  Each region will have an elected council that will handle the political, social, legal, and economic affairs of its area.  This decentralization process is part of Jordan's Democratization Program.

==Corruption==
{{Further|Corruption in Jordan|International rankings of Jordan}}
Jordan ranked 47th out of 180 nations in the [[Corruption Perceptions Index]].  The Constitution of Jordan states that no member of Parliament can have any financial or business dealings with the government and no member of the royal family can be in the government.  However, corruption remains a problem in Jordan despite progress.  The Anti-Corruption Commission examines corruption cases and then referred to the judiciary for legal action.  Corruption in Jordan takes the form of [[nepotism]], favoritism, and [[bribery]].

== 2018 Protests ==
The [[2018 Jordanian protests]] started as a general strike organized by more than 30 trade unions on 30 May 2018 after the government of Hani Mulki submitted a new tax law to Parliament.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sweis|first=Rana F.|date=2018-06-04|title=Jordan's Prime Minister Quits as Protesters Demand an End to Austerity|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/world/middleeast/jordan-strike-protest.html|access-date=2021-07-08|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710001754/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/world/middleeast/jordan-strike-protest.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The bill followed IMF-backed measures to tackle Jordan's growing public debt.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Jordan: Hundreds protest revised IMF-backed tax law {{!}} DW {{!}} 14.12.2018|url=https://www.dw.com/en/jordan-hundreds-protest-revised-imf-backed-tax-law/a-46732132|access-date=2021-07-08|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190407/https://www.dw.com/en/jordan-hundreds-protest-revised-imf-backed-tax-law/a-46732132|url-status=live}}</ref>

The day following the strike on 31 May, the government raised fuel and electricity prices responding to an increase in international oil prices, which led to more public discontent.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-31|title=Sharp rises in fuel prices come amid public anger over tax bill|url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/sharp-rises-fuel-prices-come-amid-public-anger-over-tax-bill|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Jordan Times|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185349/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/sharp-rises-fuel-prices-come-amid-public-anger-over-tax-bill|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 June King Abdullah intervened and ordered the freeze of the price hikes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-01|title=King freezes price hikes on fuel and electricity|url=http://jordantimes.com/news/local/king-freezes-price-hikes-fuel-and-electricity|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Jordan Times|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184121/http://jordantimes.com/news/local/king-freezes-price-hikes-fuel-and-electricity|url-status=live}}</ref>

The protests continued for four days until Mulki submitted his resignation to the King on 4 June, and Omar Razzaz, his education minister, became prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-06-04|title=Jordan king asks Omar al-Razzaz to form new government: ministerial source|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-protests-razzaz-idUSKCN1J01G3|access-date=2021-07-08|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191818/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-protests-razzaz-idUSKCN1J01G3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=June 4, 2018|title=Jordan PM Hani Mulki resigns amid mass protests over tax bill|work=Aljazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/jordan-pm-hani-al-mulki-resigns-mass-protests-tax-bill-180604112844970.html|access-date=July 8, 2021|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922214257/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/jordan-pm-hani-al-mulki-resigns-mass-protests-tax-bill-180604112844970.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Protests only ceased after Razzaz announced his intention of withdrawing the new tax bill.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Akour|first=Omar|date=June 7, 2018|title=New Jordan PM Says He Will Cancel Tax Bill|work=U.S News|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-06-07/new-jordan-pm-says-working-on-changes-to-tax-plan|access-date=2021-07-08|archive-date=2018-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613030603/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-06-07/new-jordan-pm-says-working-on-changes-to-tax-plan|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Francis|first=Ellen|date=2018-06-07|title=Jordan protesters press on, some unions strike after new PM appointed|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-protests-idUSKCN1J118U|access-date=2021-07-08|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191851/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-protests-idUSKCN1J118U|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
Administratively, Jordan is divided into twelve [[governor]]ates (''muhafazat'', singular—''muhafazah''), each headed by a governor appointed by the king. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas:
{{div col |colwidth=18em}}
#[[Ajlun]]
#[[Aqaba]]
#[[Balqa Governorate|Balqa]]
#[[Al Karak|Karak]]
#[[Mafraq]]
#[[Amman]]
#[[Tafilah]]
#[[Zarqa]]
#[[Irbid]]
#[[Jerash]]
#[[Ma'an]]
#[[Madaba]]
{{Div col end}}

==International organization participation==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}
[[Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa|ABEDA]],  [[Arab Cooperation Council|ACC]], [[AFESD]], [[Arab League|AL]], [[Arab Monetary Fund|AMF]], [[Council of Arab Economic Unity|CAEU]], CCC, [[Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization|CTBTO]], [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|EBRD]], [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia|ESCWA]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Criminal Court|ICC]], [[International Chamber of Commerce|ICC]], [[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions|ICFTU]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], IDB, [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|IFRCS]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization|IMO]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol (organization)|Interpol]], [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]] (observer), [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] (correspondent), [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|OIC]], [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|OPCW]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] (partner), [[Permanent Court of Arbitration|PCA]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina|UNMIBH]], [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo|UNMIK]], [[United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka|UNMOP]], [[United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan|UNMOT]], [[United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia|UNOMIG]], [[United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East|UNRWA]], [[United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor|UNTAET]], [[World Tourism Organization|UN Tourism]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions|WFTU]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], WTrO

==See also==
*[[Jordanian political satire]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html Constitution of Jordan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426230052/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html |date=2013-04-26 }}

{{Asia topic|Politics of}}
{{Jordan topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Jordan}}
[[Category:Politics of Jordan| ]]