Parliament of Jamaica

17.9740°N 76.7906°W / 17.9740; -76.7906

Parliament of Jamaica Paaliment
14th Parliament of Jamaica
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Leadership
Monarch	Charles III since 8 September 2022
Governor-General	Patrick L. Allen since 26 February 2009
Speaker of the House of Representatives	Juliet Holness, JLP since 26 September 2023
President of the Senate	Thomas Tavares-Finson, JLP since 10 March 2016
Structure
Seats	84 21 Senators 63 Members of Parliament
Senate political groups	HM Government   Jamaica Labour Party (13) Official Opposition   People's National Party (8)
House of Representatives political groups	HM Government   Jamaica Labour Party (49) Official Opposition   People's National Party (14)
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
Last House of Representatives election	3 September 2020
Next House of Representatives election	2025
Meeting place
George William Gordon House, Kingston, Jamaica
Website
japarliament.gov.jm

The Parliament of Jamaica (Jamaican Patois: Paaliment a Jumieka) 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, 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 was delayed.^[4] As of May 2024^[update], the project was still in the procurement phase.^[5]

House of Representatives

See also: Constituencies of Jamaica

The House of Representatives is the Lower House. It is the group of elected members of parliament.

Members

Main article: 14th Parliament of Jamaica

Senate

The Senate is the Upper House. The current members are:

Jamaica Labour Party:

• The Hon. Thomas George Lewis Tavares-Finson, JP, President
• The Hon. Aubyn Rochester Hill
• The Hon. Kamina Elizabeth Johnson Smith, Leader of Government Business
• The Hon. Matthew Peter Samuda
• Dr. The Hon. Dana Morris Dixon
• Abka Fitz-Henley
• Ransford Braham
• Kavan Anthony Gayle
• Dr. Sapphire Inderea Longmore
• Sherene Samantha Golding Campbell
• Charles Anthony Sinclair
• Donald George Wehby
• Delroy Hugh Williams

People's National Party:

• Peter Bancroft Bunting, Leader of Opposition Business
• Donna Scott Mottley
• Floyd Emerson Morris
• Damion O. Crawford
• Gabriela Morris
• Sophia Lilleth Fraser-Binns
• Lambert Alexander Brown, CD
• Janice Allen

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

Main article: 2020 Jamaican general 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
• Jamaican Parliamentary by-elections
• Politics of Jamaica
• List of legislatures by country
• Roy McGann – Assassinated member

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.
3. "Construction of New Parliament Building to Begin 2021". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
4. Henry, Balford (19 March 2021). "Construction of new Parliament building set to start next year". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
5. "UDC to begin construction of new parliament building". The Star, Jamaica. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.

External links

• Parliament of Jamaica