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Jordan Local Administration
In 1989 local government authorities were essentially an
extension of the central government seated in Amman. Under the
general supervision and control of the Ministry of Interior, the
local units operated at the governorate (sing., Liwaa; pl.,
alwiyah), municipality, township and village (or town)
levels. The East Bank was divided into the eight governorates of
Amman, Al Balqa, Irbid, Az Zarqa, Al Mafraq, Al Karak, At Tafilah,
and Maan
(see
fig. 1). Each governorate was subdivided into
districts (sing., qada) and subdistricts (sing.,
nahiya). The subdistricts comprised towns, villages, and
rural areas. Each of the eight governorates was headed by an
appointed commissioner. These commissioners were the principal
agents of the king and supervised and coordinated the activities of
various central government functions within their respective
administrative divisions.
The basic administrative unit was the village or town. The
towns and larger villages had municipal councils elected by popular
vote. The normal practice was for the minister of municipal, rural,
and environmental affairs to confirm as mayor the council member
who received the highest number of votes in each municipal
election. Smaller villages continued to be governed by traditional
headmen known as mukhtars. The village and town authorities
had limited responsibilities for administration of markets, law and
order, sanitation, and other community activities.
The central government provided for local-level social services
such as education, health, welfare, and public works. The
multiplication and extension of government services during the
1970s and 1980s increased the influence of central authorities
throughout the country. The elimination of tribal law in 1976
attested to the all-pervasiveness of central government penetration
even in rural areas where tribal leaders traditionally had provided
security and limited welfare services.
Data as of December 1989
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