Elections in Jamaica
Encyclopedia
Elections in Jamaica provides information on elections and election results in Jamaica
.
The Parliament of Jamaica
has two chambers
:
Jamaica effectively has a two-party system
: there are two dominant political parties
, and it is difficult for other parties to achieve electoral success.
Though the years are fixed due to the five year term of the prime minister, the date of the election is traditionally announced by the ruling party a few months in advance. Recently, there has been debate over whether this "flexible date" system is the best for Jamaica, or whether the government should switch to a fixed date system.
, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States
and the Electoral Office of Jamaica.
Politics of Jamaica
The Politics of Jamaica takes place in a framework of a representative parliamentary democratic monarchy. The 1962 Constitution established a parliamentary system based on the United Kingdom model. As chief of state, Queen Elizabeth II appoints a governor general, on the advice of the prime...
.
The Parliament of Jamaica
Parliament of Jamaica
The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It is a bicameral body, composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives....
has two chambers
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
:
- The House of Representatives has 60 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.
- The Senate has 21 appointed members: 13 chosen by the Prime Minister and 8 by the Leader of the Opposition.
Jamaica effectively has a two-party system
Two-party system
A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
: there are two dominant political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
, and it is difficult for other parties to achieve electoral success.
Though the years are fixed due to the five year term of the prime minister, the date of the election is traditionally announced by the ruling party a few months in advance. Recently, there has been debate over whether this "flexible date" system is the best for Jamaica, or whether the government should switch to a fixed date system.
Latest elections
Election Reform
In 2008, Prime Minister Bruce Golding acknowledged at a Conference for the Association for Caribbean Electoral Organizations that there were a number of areas of concern in his countries election process including political financing for campaigns, the accountability of the electoral process and the impact positive or negative of the media on elections. The Prime Minister said that the government is looking at a number of activities that could help this process of reform. These things were acknowledged in front of the CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral SystemsInternational Foundation for Electoral Systems
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...
, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
and the Electoral Office of Jamaica.