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Jamaica's Administrative Structure
| International Country Code: | JM |
| Type of Government: | Parliamentary Democracy |
| Capital: | 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, St. James, St. Mary, St. Thomas, Trelawny, and Westmoreland. |
| Independence: | 6 August 1962 (from UK) |
| Legal System: | Based on English Common Law. |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal. |
| Executive Branch: | Head of State: QUEEN ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by a Governor General. His Excellency The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, the current holder has held this office since February 26th, 2009. |
| Head of Government: | Prime Minister. The Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has held this office since January, 2012. |
| Cabinet: | Cabinet appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Legislative Branch: | Bi-cameral Parliament |
| Senate: | Consists of a 21-member body appointed by the Governor General. 13 persons on the advice of the Prime Minister and 8 persons on the recommendation of the Leader of The Opposition. |
| House of Representatives: | Consists of 63 elected officials from a General Election. (last held 9th December 2011.) |
| Judicial Branch: | Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Great Britain) Court of Appeal of Jamaica. The Supreme Court of Jamaica, Resident Magistrates Courts, Petty Sessions Courts. |
Election News
PNP Still Reeling From Previous Bitter Contests - New Leader Urged To Foster Unity
Internal campaigns have planted seeds of political division in the People’s National Party (PNP), leaving it badly damaged since 1992, but the temperature has risen exponentially in leadership races since, according to the party’s longest-s
#PNPvotes | Full Text: Lisa Thanks Supporters, Congratulates Golding
Defeated People's National Party (PNP) presidential candidate Lisa Hanna has said thanks to her supporters in Saturday's election. Hanna, the St Ann South Eastern MP was beaten by Mark Golding, the St Andrew South MP, by 296 votes. There was...
#PNPvotes | The Work Begins Tomorrow, Says Victorious Golding
Newly-elected president of the People’s National Party Mark Golding says he is ready to take on a bold new era in the 82-year-old organisation and the work begins tomorrow. Golding was speaking at the party’s Old Hope Road Headquarters...&l