| Parliament of Jamaica | |
| Native Name: | Paaliment |
| Coa Pic: | Coat of arms of Jamaica.svg |
| Coa Res: | 160px |
| House Type: | Bicameral |
| Houses: | Senate House of Representatives |
| Leader1 Type: | Monarch |
| Leader1: | Charles III |
| Election1: | 8 September 2022 |
| Leader2 Type: | Governor-General |
| Leader2: | Patrick L. Allen |
| Election2: | 26 February 2009 |
| Leader3 Type: | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Leader3: | Juliet Holness |
| Party3: | JLP |
| Election3: | 26 September 2023 |
| Leader4 Type: | President of the Senate |
| Leader4: | Thomas Tavares-Finson |
| Party4: | JLP |
| Election4: | 10 March 2016 |
| Members: | 84 21 Senators 63 Members of Parliament |
| Structure1: | JamaicaSenate_2016.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 200px |
| House1: | Senate |
| Political Groups1: |
|
| Members2: | 63 |
| Structure2: | JamaicaHouseofRepresentatives_2016.svg |
| Structure2 Res: | 240px |
| House2: | House of Representatives |
| Political Groups2: |
|
| Last Election2: | 3 September 2020 |
| Next Election2: | 2025 |
| Voting System1: | Appointed by the Governor-General of Jamaica on advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition |
| Voting System2: | First-past-the-post |
| Meeting Place: | George William Gordon House, Kingston, Jamaica |
| Legislature: | 14th Parliament of Jamaica |
The Parliament of Jamaica (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.
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.
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], the project was still in the procurement phase.[5]
See also: Constituencies of Jamaica. The House of Representatives is the Lower House. It is the group of elected members of parliament.
See main article: 14th Parliament of Jamaica.
The Senate is the Upper House. The current members are:
Jamaica Labour Party:
People's National Party:
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.
See main article: 2020 Jamaican general election.