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Jamaica

Jamaica Government Stats

chris.lockyer781

Author: chris.lockyer781

The government of Jamaica is recognized as a parliamentary democracy which is based on a representational system of government. This means that the citizens of a country choose the individuals that govern the people. This established government tables laws that must be subscribed to by all the citizens of that country. This is commonly referred to as ‘the rule of law.’

The Queen of England is the head of state for the Jamaican government. The local representative of the queen in Jamaica is appointed as the Governor General based on the recommendation of the Jamaica Prime Minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition.

Jamaica’s parliament consists of two Houses - the Senate or the Upper House, and a House of Representatives or the Lower House. The Senate has 21 members; 13 appointed by the government and 8 appointed by the opposition.

The House of Representatives currently consists of 63 members. Each person representatives a constituency and is elected in a first past the post system. Parliament is appointed once every five years. This is done by the governor general that dissolves parliament before a Jamaica government general election.

Definitions

  • Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Capital city > Geographic coordinates: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital city > Name: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
STAT AMOUNT DATE RANK HISTORY
Administrative divisions 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland 2013
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 76 48 W 2008
Capital city > Name Kingston 2011
Constitution 6 August 1962 2012
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5 2013
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister 2013
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009) 2013
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 5 January 2012) 2013
Government type constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm 2013
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in UK; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) 2012
Legal system common law system based on the English model 2013
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the House of Representatives 2011
Political parties and leaders Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew HOLNESS]
People's National Party or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]
National Democratic Movement or NDM [Michael WILLIAMS]
2013
Political pressure groups and leaders New Beginnings Movement or NBM
Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
2013
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 2013

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011

Citation

7

The government of Jamaica is recognized as a parliamentary democracy which is based on a representational system of government. This means that the citizens of a country choose the individuals that govern the people. This established government tables laws that must be subscribed to by all the citizens of that country. This is commonly referred to as ‘the rule of law.’

The Queen of England is the head of state for the Jamaican government. The local representative of the queen in Jamaica is appointed as the Governor General based on the recommendation of the Jamaica Prime Minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition.

Jamaica’s parliament consists of two Houses - the Senate or the Upper House, and a House of Representatives or the Lower House. The Senate has 21 members; 13 appointed by the government and 8 appointed by the opposition.

The House of Representatives currently consists of 63 members. Each person representatives a constituency and is elected in a first past the post system. Parliament is appointed once every five years. This is done by the governor general that dissolves parliament before a Jamaica government general election.

Posted on 28 Mar 2014

chris.lockyer781

chris.lockyer781

396 Stat enthusiast

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