Politics of Jamaica

Politics of Jamaica
Executive Monarch Charles III Governor-General (list) Patrick Allen Prime Minister Andrew Holness Cabinet Ministries and agencies
Legislative Parliament Senate President House of Representatives Speaker Leader of the Opposition Peter Phillips
Elections General: 2007 2011 2016 by-elections Political parties
Judiciary Caribbean Court of Justice Court of Appeal Supreme Court Parish Court Petty Sessions
Administrative divisions Constituencies Electoral divisions Populated places
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister: Kamina Johnson-Smith Diplomatic missions of / in Jamaica Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
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Politics in Jamaica takes place in the framework of a representative parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The 1962 Constitution of Jamaica established a parliamentary system whose political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom. As the head of state, King Charles III - on the advice of the Prime Minister of Jamaica - appoints a governor-general as his representative in Jamaica. The governor-general has a largely ceremonial role,^[1] with their parliamentary function consisting simply of granting royal assent to bills which have passed Parliament.^[2] Jamaica constitutes an independent Commonwealth realm.^[3]

The Constitution vests executive power in the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested both in the government and in the Parliament of Jamaica. The Prime Minister is appointed by the governor-general, the common convention being the leader of the largest party in Parliament.^[4]

A bipartisan joint committee of the Jamaican legislature drafted Jamaica's current Constitution in 1962. That Constitution came into force with the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which gave Jamaica political independence. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, and freedom of association.

The judiciary operates independently of the executive and the legislature, with jurisprudence based on English common law.

The Economist rated Jamaica a 'flawed democracy' in 2023.^[5]