h widely understood among upper
and middle classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.6%
male: 93.4%
female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
@Jordan:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan
Data code: JO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Amman
Administrative divisions: 12 governorates (muhafazat,
singular-muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al
Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution: 8 January 1952
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review
of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HUSSEIN bin Talal Al-Hashimi (since 2 May 1953)
head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Salam al-MAJALI (since 19
March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with
the king
elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister
appointed by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma
consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the king from
designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year
terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives-last held 4 November 1997 (next to
be held NA November 2001)
election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote by
party-NA; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land
Party 1, independents 75, other 2
note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by
the king several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first
parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party, Dr. Ahmad
ZO'BI, secretary general; Arab Ba'th Progressive Party, Mahmoud
al-MA'AYTAH, secretary general; Arab Islamic Democratic Party (Doa'a),
Yousif ABU B
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