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| Senate of Jordan | |
|---|---|
| Name | Senate of Jordan |
| Native name | مجلس الأعيان |
| Legislature | Parliament of Jordan |
| House type | Upper house |
| Established | 1947 |
| Leader1 type | President |
| Leader1 | Ahmad al-Zu'bi |
| Members | 65 |
| Term length | Appointed, concurrent with House of Representatives (Jordan) |
| Voting system | Appointment by King of Jordan |
| Meeting place | Al-Abdali , Amman |
Senate of Jordan is the unelected upper chamber of the Parliament of Jordan, forming a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives (Jordan). Founded in the late 1940s under the reign of King Abdullah I of Jordan, the body functions as a revising and advisory assembly alongside the House of Representatives (Jordan), the Prime Minister of Jordan, and the Cabinet of Jordan. It meets at the parliamentary compound in Amman and operates within the constitutional framework established by the Constitution of Jordan (1952) and subsequent royal decrees.
The institution traces origins to legislative arrangements during the reign of King Abdullah I of Jordan and the 1947 transitional statutes preceding formalization under King Hussein of Jordan and the 1952 Constitution of Jordan (1952). During the 1950s and 1960s the Senate's composition and role were influenced by regional events including the 1958 Lebanon crisis, the Suez Crisis, and Arab inter-state diplomacy involving Egypt and Syria. Reforms under King Hussein of Jordan and later under King Abdullah II of Jordan adapted the chamber in response to pressures from the Jordanian National Charter, the Arab Spring, and constitutional debates featuring the Islamic Action Front. The Senate has often included former prime ministers such as Zaid al-Rifai, Abdelsalam al-Majali, and diplomats like Azzam al-Tamimi and jurists associated with the Jordanian Bar Association.
The Senate consists of appointed members selected by the King of Jordan, with membership often including former ministers such as Samir Rifai, retired military officers from the Jordanian Armed Forces, tribal leaders from the Hashemite family network, academics from University of Jordan, and career diplomats formerly posted to missions like the United Nations and Arab League. Traditionally the monarch appoints individuals with backgrounds tied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Jordan), the Ministry of Interior (Jordan), and senior figures from parties like the Jordanian Communist Party and independents connected to the Jordanian Press Association. Senators commonly have served as ambassadors to states such as United States, United Kingdom, France, or regional posts in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Under the Constitution of Jordan (1952), the chamber reviews legislation passed by the House of Representatives (Jordan), advises on royal initiatives linked to treaties such as the Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace and ratification of agreements with entities like the European Union and World Bank. The Senate can propose bills, amend legislation, and participate in oversight of executive acts involving the Prime Minister of Jordan and the Cabinet of Jordan. In matters of national security the body consults with leaders of the Jordanian Armed Forces and the General Intelligence Directorate (Jordan), and in foreign policy it hosts delegations from institutions like the United Nations Security Council and the Arab Parliament.
The chamber is presided over by a President elected from among its members, a position previously held by figures such as Faisal al-Fayez and Taher al-Masri; the President organizes plenary sessions, committees, and represents the Senate in state ceremonies presided over by King Abdullah II of Jordan and during visits by foreign dignitaries such as King Salman of Saudi Arabia or the President of the United States. The internal structure includes standing committees on subjects often labeled after institutions: committees mirror portfolios like the Ministry of Finance (Jordan), the Ministry of Education (Jordan), the Ministry of Health (Jordan), and committees that liaise with bodies such as the Royal Court (Jordan) and the Audit Bureau (Jordan).
Legislation typically originates in the Cabinet of Jordan or the House of Representatives (Jordan) and is transmitted to the upper chamber for review; the Senate examines bills in committee, amends texts, and returns measures to the lower house or transmits them for royal assent by King Abdullah II of Jordan. The procedure involves coordination with legal advisors versed in the Constitutional Court of Jordan precedents and consultations with stakeholders including the Jordanian Industrial Estates Company, Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and civil society groups like Jordanian Women’s Union. For treaties, the Senate deliberates before ratification events involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Jordan) and diplomatic missions to entities like the European Union.
The upper chamber functions as a revising body vis-à-vis the popularly elected House of Representatives (Jordan), engaging in bicameral negotiations on budgets submitted by the Ministry of Finance (Jordan), amendments to penal codes influenced by the Public Security Directorate (Jordan), and electoral law changes touching institutions such as the Independent Election Commission (Jordan). While the House initiates most legislation, the Senate's revisions and endorsements can affect final texts before submission to King Abdullah II of Jordan for promulgation. Institutional interactions include joint committees, inter-parliamentary delegations to assemblies like the Inter-Parliamentary Union and meetings with delegations from parliaments of Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon.
Critics from political parties such as the Islamic Action Front and civil society groups including the Jordanian National Forum argue that appointment by the monarch limits democratic accountability and call for reforms akin to changes debated after the Arab Spring and proposals influenced by the National Dialogue Committee (Jordan). Reform proposals range from partial election models similar to systems in Spain and Canada to enhanced transparency measures advocated by organizations like Transparency International and think tanks such as the Jordan Strategy Forum. Defenders cite the Senate's role in stability and statesmanship during crises like the Gulf War and the Syrian refugee crisis, while opponents press for constitutional amendments to increase representation and oversight by bodies like the Constitutional Court of Jordan.
Category:Politics of Jordan Category:Legislatures by country