What does legislative government in Jamaica do?

The legislative government of Jamaica is responsible for making laws, amending laws, and repealing laws. It also has the power to levy taxes, borrow money, and approve the budget. The legislative government is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate

The Senate is the upper house of the Jamaican Parliament and consists of 21 members. Ten senators are appointed by the Governor-General, seven senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, and four senators are appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. The Senate has the power to review and amend bills passed by the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Jamaican Parliament and consists of 63 members. Members of the House of Representatives are elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. The House of Representatives is responsible for passing bills, which must then be approved by the Senate.

The Legislative Process

The legislative process in Jamaica begins when a member of the House of Representatives introduces a bill. The bill is then debated by the House of Representatives and, if passed, is sent to the Senate for review. The Senate can either pass the bill, amend the bill, or reject the bill. If the Senate rejects the bill or makes amendments, the House of Representatives must decide whether to accept the Senate's changes or to reject the bill.

If the House of Representatives and the Senate cannot agree on a bill, the Governor-General may call a joint sitting of the two chambers to resolve the matter. At a joint sitting, the bill is voted on by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If a majority of the members of each chamber vote in favor of the bill, it is passed into law.

The legislative government of Jamaica also has the power to impeach the Prime Minister or any other member of the Cabinet. In order to impeach an official, a motion of impeachment must be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If the motion of impeachment is passed, the official is removed from office.