Parliament of Jamaica


The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It consists of three elements: the Crown, the appointed Senate and the directly elected House of Representatives.
The Senate – the direct successor of a pre-Independence body known as the "Legislative Council" – 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 Members of Parliament, elected to five-year terms on a first-past-the-post basis in single-seat constituencies.
The Parliament meets at Gordon House at 81 Duke Street, Kingston. It was built in 1960 and named in memory of Jamaican patriot George William Gordon.

Overview

As Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, 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 of holds a more powerful and prestigious role since it is the main source of legislation.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the Lower House. It is the group of elected members of parliament.

''Government'' – Jamaica Labour Party members

The Senate is the Upper House. This is the list of senators:
Government senators
  1. Senator the Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, CD, QC – President
  2. Senator Aubyn Hill – Deputy President
  3. Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith – Leader of Government Business
  4. Senator the Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan
  5. Senator Kavan Gayle
  6. Senator Ransford Braham, QC
  7. Senator Don Wehby
  8. Senator Charles Sinclair, Jr.
  9. Senator Matthew Samuda
  10. Senator Delroy Williams
  11. Senator Kerensia Morrison
  12. Senator Dr. Saphire Longmore-Dropinski
  13. Senator Tova Hamilton
Opposition senators
  1. Senator Donna Scott-Mottley – Leader of Opposition Business
  2. Senator the Hon. Keith D. Knight OJ, QC
  3. Senator Damion Crawford
  4. Senator Dr. Floyd Morris
  5. Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns
  6. Senator Lambert Brown
  7. Senator Wentsworth Skeffery
  8. Senator Dr. Andre Haughton
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.

Current composition