Jordan

House of Representatives

Political system: Monarchy
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Date of independence: 1946
Year of first woman in parliament: 1989

Notes: The first woman in parliament was appointed to the Senate in 1989, followed by the first woman elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1993.
Year of first woman speaker: Not applicable

Notes: No woman has occupied the function of Speaker in the country.

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1974
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes:

In 1974, women were given the right to stand for election and to vote. In 1984 they exercised the right to vote for the first time (to fill vacant seats in by-elections), and in 1989 exercised the right to both vote and stand for election.

In 1982, women gained the right to vote and to stand for election at the local level via the Municipalities Law.

Sources: Constitution, art. 22(1)

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1974
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal

Notes: The right was exercised for the first time in 1989.