Parliament of Jamaica
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2016) |
Parliament of Jamaica | |
---|---|
14th Parliament | |
Type | |
Type | Bicameral |
Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
Leadership | |
Elizabeth II since 6 August 1962 | |
Patrick L. Allen since 26 February 2009 | |
Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
President of the Senate | Thomas Tavares-Finson, JLP since 10 March 2016 |
Structure | |
Seats | 84 21 Senators 63 Members of Parliament |
Senate political groups |
Jamaica Labour Party (13)
|
House of Representatives political groups |
Jamaica Labour Party (49)
|
Elections | |
Senate voting system | Appointed by the Governor-General of Jamaica on advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition |
House of Representatives voting system | First-past-the-post |
House of Representatives last election | 3 September 2020 |
House of Representatives next election | 2025 |
Meeting place | |
George William Gordon House, Kingston, Jamaica | |
Website | |
japarliament.gov.jm |
Judiciary |
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Jamaica portal
|
Coordinates: 17°58′26″N 76°47′26″W / 17.9740°N 76.7906°W
The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It consists of three elements: The Crown (represented by the Governor-General), the appointed Senate and the directly elected House of Representatives.
The Senate, the Upper House, is the direct successor of a pre-Independence body known as the "Legislative Council" and comprises 21 senators appointed by the Governor-General: thirteen on the advice of the Prime Minister and eight on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
The House of Representatives, the Lower House, is made up of 63 (previously 60) Members of Parliament, elected to five-year terms on a first-past-the-post basis in single-seat constituencies.
Overview[]
As Jamaica is a parliamentary democracy modelled after the Westminster system, most of the government's ability to make and pass laws is dependent on the Prime Minister's ability to command the confidence of the members of the House of Representatives. Though both Houses of Parliament hold political significance, the House of Representatives, of which the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are both required to be members of, holds a more powerful and prestigious role since it is the main source of legislation.
Parliament building[]
The Parliament meets at Gordon House at 81 Duke Street, Kingston.[1] It was built in 1960 and named in memory of Jamaican patriot George William Gordon.[2]
Construction on a new parliament building directly north of Gordon House was expected to start in early 2021.[3] However, the start of construction has been delayed until at least 2022.[4]
House of Representatives[]
The House of Representatives is the Lower House. It is the group of elected members of parliament.
Government – Jamaica Labour Party members[]
- The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ON – St. Andrew West Central - Prime Minister
- Dr. The Hon. Horace Chang, CD, St. James North Western - Deputy Prime Minister
- Hon. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, Trelawny South – Speaker
- Mrs. Juliet Holness, St. Andrew East Rural - Deputy Speaker
- Hon. Edmund Bartlett, St. James East Central– Leader of Government Business
- Hon. Pearnel Patroe Charles Jr., Clarendon South Eastern
- Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, Sr. Clarendon North Central
- Mr. Lester Michael Henry, OJ, Clarendon Central
- Mr. Phillip Henriques, Clarendon North Western
- Mr. , Clarendon Northern
- Mr. , Hanover Eastern
- Ms. Tamika Davis, Hanover Western
- Hon. Desmond McKenzie, Kingston Western
- Mr. , Kingston Central
- Hon. Audley Shaw, Manchester North Eastern
- Ms. , Manchester Central
- Mr. , Manchester Southern
- Hon. Daryl Vaz, Portland Western
- Mrs. Ann-Marie Vaz, Portland Eastern
- Hon. Fayval Williams, St. Andrew Eastern
- Dr. The Hon. Nigel Clarke, St. Andrew North Western
- Hon. Karl Samuda, St. Andrew North Central
- Hon. Delroy Chuck, QC, St. Andrew North Eastern
- Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, St. Andrew West Rural
- Hon. , St. Ann South Western
- Hon. , St. Ann North Eastern
- Ms. , St. Ann North Western
- Hon. Clifford Everald Warmington, St. Catherine South Western
- Dr. The Hon. Christopher Tufton, St. Catherine West Central
- Hon. Olivia Grange, St. Catherine Central
- Hon. , St. Catherine East Central
- Mr. , St. Catherine South Eastern
- Ms. , St. Catherine North Eastern
- Dr. , St. Catherine South Central
- Hon. , St. Elizabeth South Western
- Hon. , St. Elizabeth North Western
- Mr. , St. Elizabeth South Eastern
- Mr. , St. Elizabeth North Eastern
- Hon. , St. James Southern
- Mr. , St. James Central
- Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC, St. James West Central
- Hon. Robert Montague, St. Mary Western
- Dr. The Hon. Norman Alexander Dunn, St. Mary South Eastern
- Mr. James Robertson, St. Thomas Western
- Dr. Michelle Charles, St. Thomas Eastern
- Ms. , Trelawny Northern
- Mr. , Westmoreland Eastern
- Mr. , Westmoreland Western
Opposition – People's National Party members[]
- Mr. Mark Golding, St. Andrew South – Leader of the Opposition
- Mr. Phillip Paulwell, Kingston East and Port Royal – Leader of Opposition Business
- Dr. , St. Mary Central
- Dr. Peter Phillips, St. Andrew East Central
- Dr. Angela Brown-Burke, St. Andrew South West
- Mr. , Clarendon South Western
- Ms. , St. Catherine Eastern
- Mr. , St. Andrew South Eastern
- Mr. G. Anthony Hylton, St. Andrew Western
- Mr. , St. Catherine Southern
- Ms. , St. Catherine North Central
- Mr. , Manchester North Western
- Hon. , St. Catherine North Western
- Ms. Lisa Hanna, St. Ann South Eastern
Independent - Mr. George Wright[]
- Mr. , Westmoreland Central[5]
Senate[]
The Senate is the Upper House. This is the list of senators:
Government senators
- Senator the Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, CD, QC – President
- Senator – Deputy President
- Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith – Leader of Government Business
- Senator the Hon.
- Senator the Hon.
- Senator the Hon.
- Senator
- Senator , QC
- Senator Don Wehby
- Senator Dr.
- Senator
- Senator
- Senator
Opposition senators
- Senator Peter Bunting – Leader of Opposition Business
- Senator Dr. Floyd Morris
- Senator Damion Crawford
- Senator
- Senator
- Senator
- Senator
- Senator
In order to effect changes to the Constitution of Jamaica a two-thirds majority in both Houses is required. Therefore, changes to the Jamaican constitution will require consensus among Government and Opposition Senators.
Last election[]
Party | Votes | % | +/– | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jamaica Labour Party | 408,376 | 57.07 | +6.99 | 49 | +17 | |
People's National Party | 305,950 | 42.76 | –6.95 | 14 | –17 | |
Independents | 1,185 | 0.17 | +0.03 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 715,511 | 100.00 | – | 63 | – | |
Valid votes | 715,511 | 98.78 | ||||
Invalid/blank votes | 8,806 | 1.22 | ||||
Total votes | 724,317 | 100.00 | ||||
Registered voters/turnout | 1,913,410 | 37.85 | ||||
Source: Electoral Commission of Jamaica |
See also[]
- List of Presidents of the Jamaican Council
- List of Presidents of the Legislative Council of Jamaica
- List of Presidents of the Senate of Jamaica
- List of Speakers of the House of Representatives of Jamaica
- Women in the House of Representatives of Jamaica
- Politics of Jamaica
- List of legislatures by country
References[]
- ^ "Contact Us". Japarliament.gov.jm. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "History". Japarliament.gov.jm. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "Construction of New Parliament Building to Begin 2021". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Henry, Balford (19 March 2021). "Construction of new Parliament building set to start next year". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ George Wright resigns from JLP, remains independent MP
External links[]
- Parliaments by country
- Government of Jamaica
- Bicameral legislatures
- National legislatures