The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with representative government. The reigning monarch is the head of state, the chief executive and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The king exercises his executive authority through the prime minister and the Council of Ministers, or cabinet. The cabinet, meanwhile, is responsible before the elected House of Deputies which, along with the House of Notables (Senate), constitutes the legislative branch of the government. The judicial branch is an independent branch of the government.
Since 1989, all elements of the Jordanian political spectrum have embarked together on a road to greater democracy, liberalization and consensus building. These reforms, which were guided by the late King Hussein, have placed Jordan on an irreversible road to democratization. The result has been greater empowerment and involvement of everyday citizens in Jordan’s civic life, contributing to increased stability and institutionalization which will benefit the country far into the future.
The Executive Branch
The reigning monarch, King Abdullah, is the chief executive. The king exercises his executive authority by appointing the prime minister, who then organizes a cabinet of ministers to be appointed by the king. The prime minister and the cabinet must then be approved by the Lower House of Parliament, the House of Deputies. If the House of Deputies votes against the prime minister, he and his entire cabinet must resign. The Lower House can also vote any individual minister out of office. The king also appoints all of the members of the Upper House of Parliament, known as the House of Notables, or Senate. The number of senators cannot exceed one-half the number of elected representatives.
The Constitution stipulates that the reigning monarch must approve laws before they can take effect, although his power of veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Parliament. The king also authorizes the appointment and dismissal of judges, regional governors and the mayor of Amman, and he approves constitutional amendments, declares war and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. As head of state, the king concludes and ratifies treaties and agreements, with the approval of the cabinet and Parliament. The king is also entitled to grant special pardons and amnesties.
The throne of the Kingdom is passed down through inheritance within the dynasty of King Abdullah bin al-Hussein in the direct line of his male heirs. Since 1921, Jordan has been ruled by four monarchs: King Abdullah (1921-51), son of Sharif Hussein of Mecca and King of the Arabs; King Talal bin Abdullah (1951-52), eldest son of King Abdullah; King Hussein bin Talal (1952-1999), eldest son of King Talal; and, King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein (February 7, 1999-present), eldest son of King Hussein.
Jordan national regulatory departments list:
Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC)
Summary of Role and Services: ERC was established based on the Council of Ministers decision issued on 15/1/2001.
ERC objective is to mainly ensure applying the rights of consumers and to resolve any complain that may occur between the consumer and Electricity companies
Responsibilities: Apply the government policy of restructuring the electricity sector on bases of equity and fairness. Provide Electricity services to more than one and a half million consumers. Ensure that electricity companies are providing high quality safe services. Provide electricity services with acceptable competitive prices. Overview, monitor and solve complains submitted by consumers.
Jordan Insurance Federation (JOIF)
Summary of Role and Services: Jordan Insurance Federation with its regulation being set out to function as a regulatory and managing authority for the insurance sector according to certain objectives defined by this regulation to be achieved in cooperation with the Insurance Regulatory Commission.
Insurance Commission of Jordan
Summary of Role and Services: The Commission has implemented a comprehensive strategy and put together the policies necessary to restructure the Jordanian insurance sector by modernizing the legal, technical, financial and organizational frameworks and by upgrading the sector's efficiency and performance measures in accordance with international standards.
They are working hand in hand with the various economical, financial and social sectors in the Kingdom in order to serve our national economy. In addition, the Commission observes international best practices of insurance supervision, be it legal, technical or financial; driven by belief that developing the Jordanian insurance sector is a must in order to contribute to improving the efficiency of our national financial system
Jordan Securities Commission
Summary of Role and Services: Role: To regulate, monitor & develop Jordan capital market in issues related to disclosure, financial services activities & dealing in securities, in order to enhance the trust in the national economy, encourage investment & protect investors. As well as, upgrade legislations & technical developments continuously & according to recent standards & international best practices.
Services: Enhance Disclosure & Transparency, Licensing & Registration, Continuous Inspection on Financial Services Companies.
Central Bank Of Jordan
Summary of Role and Services: Ensuring monetary and financial stability by maintaining price stability , protecting the value of the Jordanian Dinar and through an interest rate structure consistent with the level of economic activity thereby contributing toward an attractive investment environment and a sound macroeconomic environment .
Furthermore, the Central Bank of Jordan strives to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system and the resilience of the national payments system. To this end, the Central Bank of Jordan adopts and implements effective monetary and financial policies and employs its human, technological, and financial recourses in an optimal manner in order to effectively achieve its objectives.
Services: The BIS offers a wide range of financial services specifically designed to assist central banks and other official monetary institutions in the management of their foreign exchange reserves. The Bank continually adapts its product range in order to respond more effectively to the evolving needs of central banks. Besides standard services such as sight/notice accounts and fixed-term deposits. In addition, the BIS offers a range of asset management services in sovereign securities or high-grade assets. The BIS extends short-term credits to central banks, usually on a collateralised basis. From time to time, the BIS also coordinates emergency short-term lending to countries in financial crisis. BIS: Bank for international settlements.
Civil aviation regulatory commission
Summary of Role and Services: Role: To promote the development of Civil Aviation safety, security and environmental regulatory compliance, while ensuring the economic soundness of a liberalized industry. And Safe skies for all Operators.
Services: Regulate all affairs pertain to civil aviation including safety, security, economic and environment. Carry out all contractual obligations on behalf of the government with investors, operators in accordance with the civil aviation legislation. Executing all the policy prepared by the Ministry of Transport and endorsed by the Council of ministers.
Representing the Kingdom in bilateral and international agreements, as well as, international bodies that pertain to civil aviation. Executing the government’s environment protection policy regarding noise and emissions, sky and land use in accordance with international laws, agreements, and protocols. Executing the national program of aviation security prepared by the Ministry of Transport and endorsed by the Council of ministers. Develop the civil aviation technically and economically in accordance with safety and security standards and conduct research and studies in this regard. Strive to improve the civil aviation services level and provide the qualified human resources and the required technical expertise. Issuing the regulations and setting standards for air navigation in accordance with international laws and regulations. Supervising and regulating the air transport sector in the Kingdom while protecting the consumer rights. Encourage private sector investment in the civil aviation sector in accordance with the market demand, by providing incentives and taking the necessary regulatory measures to protect their investments. Supervising the performance of the operators and their activities and their adherence to laws, rules and regulations established in the civil aviation sector. Encouraging positive competition among investors, and preventing any monopoly of the market.
Land Transport Regulatory Commission
Summary of Role and Services:
Objective: Regulating land transport services and their control and encouraging investment in land transport sector in compliance with the objectives of the economical and social development.
Duties and responsibilities
1. Implementing the land general policy.
2. Meeting the demand for land transport services and provide them a good level and convenient cost (in the connection, it is understood that public transport is concernd).
3. Planning a land transport services network including and its facilities network and routes.
4. Drawing up and implementing the necessary plans for building and operating land transport facilities.
5. Determining the locations of the land transport facilities in coordination with competent authorities, and managing supervising their services.
6. Coordination with the competent authorities in connection with planning constructions and maintenance of roads in the kingdom, and provide its recommendations in the respect to achieve the beneficiaries public interest.
7. Drawing up and developing measures for land transport accidents in accordance with international standards and in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Jordan Food and Drug Administration
Summary of Role and Services: Ensuring food safety and quality, as well as effectiveness, quality and safety of the drug and related materials through the application of controlled systems based on the scientific and international standards. Strengthen cooperation with partners and increase citizen awareness of proper handling and use of food and drug.
Jordan Maritime Commission
Summary of Role and Services: Towards Safe, Secure and Organized Maritime Sector in Jordan combined with high Safety and Quality levels and open new investments opportunities in Maritime Sector
Achieving the highest standards for organizing, control and developing the maritime transport sector in Jordan including all transportation modes, services and human resources taking into account the protection of the marine environment and enhancing maritime safety and security.
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC)
Summary of Role and Services :TRC started to take responsibility for regulating the postal sector in the Kingdom and monitoring all postal service providers and their compliance with the law.
In accordance with the Telecommunications Law, TRC is tasked with “regulating the telecommunications and information technology services in the Kingdom in compliance with the stated policy to guarantee the provision of high-standard ICT services to end user at reasonable prices, and in such a manner as to ensure optimum performance in the ICT sector.”
As stipulated in the Telecommunications Law, TRC performs its duties independently of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, but in compliance with the general policy of the government.
Ministry Of Education (MOE)
Summary of Role and Services
Vission : The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has the quality competitive human resource system to provide all people with life-long learning experiences relevant to their current and future needs in order to respond to and stimulate sustained economic development through an educated population and a skilled workforce
Ministry of Education MissionTo create and administer an education system based on “excellence,” energized by its human resources, dedicated to high standards, social values, and a healthy spirit of competition, which contributes to the nation’s wealth in a global “Knowledge Economy.
Ministry Of Health
Summary of Role and Services
A healthy community within a leading comprehensive health system ensuring equity, efficiency and high quality at the regional level.
Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization
Summary of Role and Services: Organization had been one of the directorates in the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The Law has defined the following principal objectives to be pursued by JSMO:
1.Adoption of a national system for standardization and metrology based on accepted international practices.
2.Keeping pace with scientific and technical developments in the fields of standards, metrology, conformity assessment and laboratory accreditation.
3.Ensuring the health and safety of the Kingdom's citizenry and protection of the environment by making sure that goods, products and services are in compliance with the technical regulations adopted by the Organization for the purpose.
4.Ensuring the quality of local goods, products and services through the adoption of appropriate Jordanian Standards in order to enhance their competitiveness in the local and international markets and thus support the national economy.
For information on Jordan regulatory department contact details, please see the following link:
