The Government of Jamaica - The World Countries

Jamaica - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Jamaica, it was from the native Taino word "haymaca" meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs". The Government system in this country is the parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland

National symbols

Green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black.

The flag

The National flag of Jamaica has diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side); green represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects hardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden sunshine and the island's natural resources.

The National Anthem

Title	"Jamaica, Land We Love"
Lyric/music	Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE

note: adopted 1962

More about the government of Jamaica

Constitution
Date of Independence	6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday	Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Legal system	common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)
Amendments	Proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections, such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections, such as fundamental rights and freedoms, requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017; note - in mid-July 2024, Jamaica’s Constitutional Reform Committee submitted its report on recommendations for reform of the constitution and awaiting debate in Parliament
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	yes
Citizenship by descent only	yes
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	4 out of the previous 5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
Head of government	Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Elections/appointments	the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch
Description	Bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (21 seats; 13 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and 8 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the opposition party leader; members serve 5-year terms (no term limits) or until Parliament is dissolved) House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms (no term limits) or until Parliament is dissolved)
Elections	Senate - last full slate of appointments early on 3 September 2020 (next full slate in 2025) House of Representatives - last held on 3 September 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results	Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 13, women 8, percentage women 38.1% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - JLP 57%, PNP 42.8%, independent 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 48, PNP 15; composition - men 45, women 14; percentage women 23.7%; note - total Parliament percentage women 27.5%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Court of Appeal (consists of president of the court and a minimum of 4 judges); Supreme Court (40 judges organized in specialized divisions); note - appeals beyond Jamaica's highest courts are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) rather than to the Caribbean Court of Justice (the appellate court for member states of the Caribbean Community)
Judge selection and term of office	Chief justice of the Supreme Court and president of the Court of Appeal appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister; other judges of both courts appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; judges of both courts serve till age 70
Subordinate courts	Resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017)
Chancery	1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone	[1] (202) 452-0660
FAX	[1] (202) 452-0036
Email address and website	[email protected] Jamaican Embassy (embassyofjamaica.org)
Consulate(s) general	Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador N. Nickolas PERRY (since 13 May 2022)
Embassy	142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
Mailing address	3210 Kingston Place, Washington DC 20521-3210
Telephone	(876) 702-6000
FAX	(876) 702-6348
Email address and website	[email protected] https://jm.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	1 (mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Blue and John Crow Mountains