| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Umma / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Aayan / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis Al-Nuwaab / House of Representatives
|
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation |
| Start of the mandate |
· At the moment of their appointment (Art. 65 (i) of the Constitution of 01.01.1952, as amended up to and including 01.08.1984) |
| Validation of mandates |
· No validation |
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the legal term of the House ends (Art. 65 (i) of the Constitution) |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Yes, of their own free will
· Procedure: submission of the resignation to the Senate
· Authority competent to accept the resignation (see also SO 109 of the Standing Orders of the Senate): the Senate; approval by the King |
| Can MPs lose their mandate ? |
Yes |
Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. 75, 76, and 90 of the Constitution, SO 108 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) |
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
|
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Official passport
· Basic salary: JOD 850 ($ 1,2009)
· 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, SO 106 of the Standing Orders of the Senate).
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by senators both within and outside Parliament.
· Derogations: disciplinary measures in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Senate
· 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, SO 100 of the Standing Orders of the Senate).
· It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects senators 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, senators can be arrested. However, the Senate has to be notified immediately.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent senators from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided only during sessions and does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against senators before their appointment.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 86 (i) of the Constitution, SO 100 of the Standing Orders of the Senate):
- Competent authority: the Senate
- Procedure (Art. 86 (i) of the Constitution, SO 101 and 103 of the Standing Orders of the Senate). In this case, senators 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 senators 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 senators.
|
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for senators 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 |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in SO 33, 40 to 42, and 44 to 46 of the Standing Orders of the Senate.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Denial of speaking on the floor (SO 33 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Deletion from the records (SO 33 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Call to order (SO 40 and 41 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Denial of speaking on the floor for the rest of the sitting (SO 42 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) - Suspension from Parliament (SO 44 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension of the sitting and suspension of the senator from Parliament for two weeks (SO 45 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension of the sitting, adjournment of the Senate (SO 46 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (SO 40 of the Standing Orders of the Senate): call to order, denial of speaking on the floor for the rest of the sitting
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Deletion from the records, call to order, suspension of the sitting and suspension of the senator from Parliament for two weeks, suspension of the sitting, adjournment of the Senate, offence or insult: the Speaker
- Denial of speaking on the floor: the Speaker, the Senate (further decision)
- Denial of speaking on the floor for the rest of the sitting, offence or insult: the Senate
- Suspension from Parliament: the Senate, on recommendation made by the Speaker
· Procedure:
- Denial of speaking on the floor, deletion from the records (SO 33 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Call to order, offence or insult (SO 40 and 41 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Denial of speaking on the floor for the rest of the sitting, offence or insult (SO 42 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension from Parliament, suspension of the sitting and suspension of the senator from Parliament for two weeks (SO 44 and 45 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension of the sitting, adjournment of the Senate (SO 46 of the Standing Orders of the Senate) |
| 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. |
