Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources: Senate and House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act, Section 5

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes

Sources: Senate and House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act, Section 5

Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
No
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
2
(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
1
(2023)
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
50.0%
(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
No
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
6
(2023)

Notes: Inquiries may be carried out jointly with the lower house via Joint Select Committees (e.g. all 2023 Senate inquiries were joint)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Jamaica Constitution, Section 70

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Jamaica Constitution, Section 68

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No information available

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
The Head of Government
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
Lower chamber

Sources: Jamaica Constitution, Section 71

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
The whole Government
Individual members of the Executive
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
Lower chamber

Sources: BY convention following the practice of the UK House of Commons (see May’s Parliamentary Practice, 24th Edition, page 344)

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