t form:
Al Urdun
former:
Transjordan
Digraph:
JO
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Amman
Administrative divisions:
8 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Balqa', Al Karak,
Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Ma'an
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 11 August 1952)
head of government:
Prime Minister Abd al-Salam al-MAJALI (since May 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-'Umma)
House of Notables (Majlis al-A'ayan):
consists of a 40-member body appointed by the king from designated
categories of public figures
House of Representatives:
elections last held 8 November 1993 (next to be held NA November
1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total)
Muslim Brotherhood (fundamentalist) 16, Independent Islamic bloc
(generally traditionalist) 6, Radical leftist 3, pro-government 55
note:
the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the
King several times since 1974 and in November 1989 the first
parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
NA; note - political parties were legalized in December 1992
Member of:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA,
UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNRWA, UNPROFOR, UNTAC,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Fayiz A. TARAWNAH
chancery:
3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 966-2664
FAX:
(202) 966-3110
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Wesley EGAN, Jr.
embassy:
Jabel Amman, Amman
mailing address:
P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO AE 09892-0200
telephone:
[962] (6) 820-101
Flag:
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