| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Umma / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Nuwaab / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis Al-Aayan / Senate
|
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation |
| Start of the mandate |
· When the election results are declared (Art. 68 (i) of the Constitution of 01.01.1952, as amended up to and including 01.08.1984) |
| Validation of mandates |
· Validation by the House of Deputies (Art. 71 of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 71 of the Constitution) |
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (Art. 68 (i) of the Constitution; for early dissolution, see Art. 73 and 74 of the Constitution)
. If elections are delayed after the termination of the term of the House, on the day of new elections (Art. 68 (ii) of the Constitution). |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Yes, of their own free will (Art. 72 of the Constitution)· Procedure (Art. 72 of the Constitution)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the House of Deputies |
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. 75, 76, and 90 of the Constitution) |
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
|
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Official passport
· Basic salary: JOD 850 ($ 1,200)
· No exemption from tax
· No pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat
(b) Postal and telephone services |
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 87 of the Constitution)
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament.
· Derogations: disciplinary measures in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House of Deputies
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins. It does not offer, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. |
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept does exist (Art. 86 (i) of the Constitution).
· It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, and from the opening of judicial proceedings against them. It also protects them, as prescribed by the Standing Orders of Parliament, from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, MPs can be arrested. However, the House of Deputies has to be notified immediately.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided only during sessions and does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 86 (i) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the House of Deputies
- Procedure (Art. 86 (i) of the Constitution). In this case, MPs must be heard. They do have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned can be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament (SO 141 of the Standing Orders of Parliament).
|
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. |
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: suspension of salary for the period he was absent, prevention from attending further sessions
|
| Discipline |
|
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. For the definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter in cases of incompatibility, see Loss of mandate. |
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
