Government

The Jamaican government operates in the framework of a representative parliamentary democratic monarchy. The Constitution of 1962 established Jamaica as politically independent, but also established a parliamentary system based on the United Kingdom model. The chief of state, the King or Queen of the United Kingdom, appoints a Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor-General serves as the representative of the United Kingdom in Jamaica.

Legislative power is vested in the government (executive) and parliament. Parliament is composed of an appointed Senate and elected House of Representative. 13 Senators are nominated on the advice of the Prime Minister (leader of the majority party), and the other 8 are nominated on the advice of the leader of the opposition.

The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on English common law. The Court of Appeals is the highest appellate court in Jamaica. In extreme circumstances, however, a case can be appealed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
   

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Updated: 30 April 2008