Parliament of Jamaica

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.

Parliament of Jamaica
Type
Type
HousesSenate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Elizabeth II
since 06 August 1962
Patrick L. Allen
since 26 February 2009
Hon. Pearnel Charles, CD, MP,JP, JLP
since 10 March 2016
President of the Senate
Sen. the Hon.Thomas Tavares-Finson CD, QC, JLP
since 10 March 2016
Structure
Seats84
21 Senators
63 Members of Parliament
Senate political groups
House of Representatives political groups
Elections
Appointed by Governor-General on advice of the Prime Minister (13) and Leader of the Opposition (8)
House of Representatives voting system
First-past-the-post
House of Representatives last election
25 February 2016
House of Representatives next election
On or before 10 June 2021
Meeting place
George William Gordon House, Kingston, Jamaica
Website
http://www.japarliament.gov.jm/
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The Senate (Upper House) – the direct successor of a pre-Independence body known as the "Legislative Council" – 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.

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]

Inside the Parliament of Jamaica

Overview

As Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, 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.

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

Opposition – People's National Party members
  • Dr. Peter Phillips, St. Andrew East Central – Leader of the Opposition
  • Dr. Morais Guy, St. Mary Central – Leader of Opposition Business
  • Mr. Phillip Paulwell, Kingston East and Port Royal
  • Mr. Mark Golding, St. Andrew South
  • Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Westmoreland Western
  • Mr. Noel Arscott, Clarendon South Western
  • Mr. Luther Buchanan, Westmoreland Eastern
  • Mr. Peter Bunting, Manchester Central
  • Mr. Dwayne Vaz, Westmoreland Central
  • Dr. Angela Brown-Burke, St. Andrew South West
  • Mr. Colin Fagan, St. Catherine South Eastern
  • Dr. Fenton Ferguson, St. Thomas Eastern
  • Ms. Lisa Hanna, St. Ann South Eastern
  • Mr. Victor Wright Trelawny Northern
  • Mr. Ian Hayles, Hanover Western
  • Ms. Denise Daley, St. Catherine Eastern
  • Mr. Julian Robinson, St. Andrew South Eastern
  • Mr. G. Anthony Hylton, St. Andrew Western
  • Mr. Fitz Jackson, St. Catherine Southern
  • Mr. Derrick Kellier, St. James Southern
  • Ms. Natalie Neita, St. Catherine North Central
  • Mr. Mikael Phillips, Manchester North Western
  • Mr. Michael Stewart, Manchester Southern
  • Hon. Robert Pickersgill, OJ, St. Catherine North Western
  • Mr. Evon Redman, St. Elizabeth North Eastern
  • Rev. Ronald Thwaites, Kingston Central
  • Mr. Richard Azan, Clarendon North Western
  • Mr. Horace Dalley, Clarendon Northern
  • Dr. Dayton Campbell, St. Ann North Western

Senate

The Senate is the Upper House. This is the list of senators:

Government senators

  1. Senator the Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, CD, QC – President
  2. Senator Aubyn Hill – Deputy President
  3. Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith – Leader of Government Business
  4. Senator the Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan
  5. Senator Kavan Gayle
  6. Senator Ransford Braham, QC
  7. Senator Don Wehby
  8. Senator Charles Sinclair, Jr.
  9. Senator Matthew Samuda
  10. Senator Delroy Williams
  11. Senator Kerensia Morrison
  12. Senator Dr. Saphire Longmore-Dropinski
  13. Senator Tova Hamilton

Opposition senators

  1. Senator Donna Scott-Mottley – Leader of Opposition Business
  2. Senator the Hon. Keith D. Knight OJ, QC
  3. Senator Damion Crawford
  4. Senator Dr. Floyd Morris
  5. Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns
  6. Senator Lambert Brown
  7. Senator Wentsworth Skeffery
  8. Senator Dr. Andre Haughton

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.

Current composition
Party Votes % Seats +/–
Jamaica Labour Party437,17849.533+12
People's National Party433,62949.130−12
Marcus Garvey People's Progressive Party2600.0300
National Democratic Movement2230.0300
People's Progressive Party910.010New
Independents A2120.0100
Independents B1,0210.1300
Invalid/Rejected Ballots9,875–––
Total882,489100630
Registered voters/turnout1,824,41248.37%––
Source: Electoral Commission (100% of vote counted)
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See also

References
  1. "Contact Us". Japarliament.gov.jm. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  2. "History". Japarliament.gov.jm. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
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