Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
No

Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
20
(2023)
Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
117
(2016-03 - 2016-12)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
0
(2016-03 - 2016-12)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
117
(2016-03 - 2016-12)
Percentage of laws initiated by parliament in the previous legislature
0%
(2016-03 - 2016-12)
Dates of the previous legislature
17 Jan 2012 to 05 Feb 2016
(2016-03 - 2016-12)
Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
The decision of the lower chamber will take effect after a certain deadline

Sources: Jamaica Constitution, Section 57

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
Yes

Sources: Jamaica Constitution, Section 60

Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
0
(2023)
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
Other

Notes: Notwithstanding the constitutional provision, by convention the Governor-General does not decline to give Assent.

Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Other

Notes: Notwithstanding the constitutional provision, by convention the Governor-General does not decline to give Assent.

Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation

There is a procedure for introducing emergency legislation into parliament
Yes
Number of times the procedure for emergency legislation was used, per year
0

Sources: Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, SO 49(2); Standing Orders of the Senate, SO 49(2)

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No