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Politics of Jamaica

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Jamaica

 

This article is part of a series on the

politics and government of

Jamaica 

  Monarch 

Elizabeth II 

  Governor-General 

Patrick Allen 

  Prime Minister 

Andrew Holness 

  Cabinet 

  Ministries and agencies 

  Parliament 

Senate 

House of Representatives 

  Leader of the Opposition 

Portia Simpson-Miller 

  Recent elections 

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General: 2007 

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2011 

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2016 

 

Political parties 

  Judiciary 

  Administrative divisions 

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Constituencies 

  Foreign relations 

Diplomatic missions 

 

Other countries 

  Atlas 

Politics portal 

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Politics in Jamaica takes place in the framework of a representative parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The 1962 Constitution of Jamaica established a parliamentary system whose

political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom. As the head of state, Queen

Elizabeth II - on the advice of the Prime Minister of Jamaica - appoints a governor-general as her

representative in Jamaica. The governor-general has a largely ceremonial role. Jamaica constitutes an

independent Commonwealth realm. 

The Constitution vests executive power in the cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. Executive power is

exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested both in the government and in the Parliament

of Jamaica. 

A bipartisan joint committee of the Jamaican legislature drafted Jamaica's current Constitution in 1962.

That Constitution came into force with the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 of the Parliament of the

United Kingdom, which gave Jamaica political independence. Constitutional safeguards include freedom

of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, and freedom of

association. 

The  judiciary operates independently of the executive and the legislature, with  jurisprudence based on

English common law. 

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Contents

  1 Executive branch 

  2 Legislative branch 

  3 Political parties and elections 

  4 Judicial branch 

  5 Administrative divisions 

  6 Foreign relations 

  7 See also 

  8 References 

Executive branch

Main office holders

Office Name Party Since

Monarch Queen Elizabeth II   6 February 1952

Governor-General Patrick Allen   26 February 2009

Prime Minister Andrew Holness Labour Party 3 March 2016

The 1962 Constitution established a parliamentary system based on the United Kingdom model. As head

of state, Queen Elizabeth II appoints a governor-general, on the advice of the prime minister, as her

representative in Jamaica. The governor-general's role is largely ceremonial. Executive power is vested

in the Queen, but exercised mostly by the Cabinet of Jamaica; led by the Prime Minister, currently

Andrew Holness. 

Legislative branch

The House of Representatives of Jamaica. 

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Parliament is composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives. Thirteen

Senators are nominated on the advice of the prime minister and eight on the advice of the leader of the

opposition; a two-thirds super-majority of both chambers is needed for major constitutional

amendments. General elections must be held within five years of the forming of a new government.

The prime minister may ask the governor-general to call elections sooner, however. The Senate may

submit bills, and it also reviews legislation submitted by the House. It may not delay budget bills for

more than one month or other bills for more than seven months. The prime minister and the Cabinet

are selected from the Parliament. No fewer than two nor more than four members of the Cabinet must

be selected from the Senate.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Jamaica. An overview on elections and election

results is included in Elections in Jamaica. 

e • d Summary of the 29 December 2011 Jamaican House of Representatives election results 

Parties Votes % +/ –  Seats +/ – 

People's National Party 464.064 52.96 +3.7 42 +14

Jamaica Labour Party 405,920 46.32  – 3.7 21  – 11

Marcus Garvey People's Progressive Party  420 0.05 0 ±0

National Democratic Movement 263 0.03 0 ±0

Independents 228 0.03 0 ±0

Jamaica Alliance Movement  57 0.01 0 ±0

Invalid/blank votes  –    –    –    –  

Total (turnout 53.17%) 876,310 100  63  +3 

Source: Electoral Commission of Jamaica 

Judicial branch

Main article: Judiciary of Jamaica 

The judiciary also is modelled on the British system. The Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court inJamaica. Under certain circumstances, cases may be appealed to Britain's Judicial Committee of the

Privy Council. Jamaica's parishes have elected councils that exercise limited powers of local government.

Firearms offences, including possession of unlicensed guns and ammunition, are tried before a

dedicated Gun Court established in 1974. The Gun Court hears cases in camera and practices jury trial

only for cases of treason or murder. All other cases are tried by resident magistrates or justices of the

Supreme Court of Jamaica. 

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Administrative divisions

Jamaica is divided in 14 parishes: Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew,

Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny,

Westmoreland.

Foreign relations

Further information: Foreign relations of Jamaica 

Jamaica has diplomatic relations with most nations and is a member of the United Nations and the

Organization of American States. Historically, Jamaica has had close ties with the UK. Trade, financial,

and cultural relations with the United States are now predominant. Jamaica is linked with the other

countries of the English-speaking Caribbean through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and more

broadly through the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).