Jordan, country, Asia, Middle Eastern Political Geography

Related Category: Middle Eastern Political Geography

Jordan is a constitutional monarchy. Under the 1952 constitution as amended, the most powerful political and military figure in the country is the king. He appoints a cabinet (headed by a prime minister who exercises executive power in his name), which is responsible to the bicameral parliament consisting of a 40-member senate (appointed by the king) and an 110-member house of representatives (popularly elected to four-year terms). The 1989 elections were the first in 22 years, and in 1993 political parties were again permitted to field candidates, resulting in Jordan's first multiparty elections in 37 years. Jordan is divided into 12 administrative governorates (muhafazah).