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The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with the king granted wide executive authority. It is currently ruled by King Abdullah II bin Hussein. The Constitution concentrates executive and legislative authority in the King. Jordanian citizens do not have the right to change their government, but citizens do participate in the political system through their elected representatives to Parliament to a greater degree than is common in the region. The Jordanian economy is largely based on foreign assistance, remittances, exports of minerals and various manufactured goods, and tourism. The Government in recent years has moved to implement market-based reforms. There have been steps toward deregulation, privatization of state owned companies, trade liberalization, and opening the economy to foreign investment. The country faces serious economic problems. Unemployment is very high and economic growth is not keeping pace with population growth. Poverty is still severe, especially in rural areas. Major concerns are limited water and energy resources. There are reports of violence against women and a range of restrictions on women's rights. Societal discrimination against women persisted. "Honor" crimes continue. The Government imposes some limits on freedom of religion. There is both official and societal discrimination against adherents of unrecognized religions. The Jordanian Constitution provides for an independent judiciary. The monarchy, however, exerts considerablr influence. The security forces have committed some human rights abuses. Abuses of the public security forces have to be viewed in the context of attacks on the monarchy by Palestinian and extremist Islamic factions. Child abuse is a continuing problem. There is descrimination against Palestinians. This is an especually difficult problem in Jordon.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with the king granted wide executive authority. It is currently ruled by King Abdullah II bin Hussein. The Constitution concentrates executive and legislative authority in the King. Jordanian citizens do not have the right to change their government, but citizens do participate in the political system through their elected representatives to Parliament to a greater degree than is common in the region. The King can at his discression appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and upper house of Parliament. He can dissolve Parliament and plays a dominant role in establishing public policy. The King appoints the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet who carry out daily affairs. The Parliament consists of an upper and lower house. The King appoints the 55-member Senate. The 110-member Chamber of Deputies is elected. King Abdullah dissolved Parliament (2001). New elections were delayed until June. During this period, the size of the lower house from 80 to 110 seats. Reports suggest that the 2001 June parliamentary and July municipal elections were basically free and fair. The country's election law does not evenly aportion voting representation. Rural areas are over represented, in pat because they tend to be more conservative and suportive of the monarchy. The King appointed a new Senate (November 2001).
The Jordanian economy is largely based on foreign assistance, remittances, exports of minerals and various manufactured goods, and tourism. The Government in recent years has moved to implement market-based reforms. There have been steps toward deregulation, privatization of state owned companies, trade liberalization, and opening the economy to foreign investment. The country faces serious economic problems.
Unemployment is very high and economic growth is not keeping pace with population growth. Poverty is still severe, especially in rural areas. Major concerns are limited water and energy resources.
There are reports of violence against women and a range of restrictions on women's rights. Societal discrimination against women persisted. "Honor" crimes continue.
The Government imposes some limits on freedom of religion. There is both official and societal discrimination against adherents of unrecognized religions. Jews can not be citizens of Jordan.
The Jordanian Constitution provides for an independent judiciary. The monarchy, however, exerts considerablr influence.
The Public Security Directorate (PSD) oversees police functions. The PSD, the General Intelligence Directorate (GID), and the military all have a roll in maintaining internal security. The PSD is part of the Interior Minister. The independent GID reports directly to the King. The civilian authorities generally maintain effective control of the security forces. The security forces, however, have committed some human rights abuses. The principal abuses concern police abuse and mistreatment of detainees, allegations of torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, lack of transparent investigations and of accountability within the security services. There have been reports od indivuals detained being denied due process of law.
This is often associated with expanded authority of the State Security Court and interference in the judicial process. There are reports of violations on citizens' privacy rights, harassment of members of opposition political parties, and significant restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association. Abuses of the public security forces have to be viewed in the context of attacks on the monarchy by Palestinian and extremist Islamic factions.
Child abuse is a continuing problem.
There is descrimination against Palestinians. This is an especually difficult problem in Jordon. What is now Jordon was part of the Ottoman province of Palestine as well as the original British mandate. Britain partioned the Mandate, creating Trans-Jordan (meaning beyound the Jordan) and what came to be called Palestine. Jews were prohibited from settling in Trans-Jordan. After the Firs Isreali-Arab War (1948-49), Jordab seized the West Bank and later annexed it. Jordanians thus have close ethnic and family ties with Palestinins. Jordan lost the West Bank after it attacked Israel in the Six Days War. Palestinians have since been considered foreign nationals and denied a range of rights afforded to Jordanian citizens.
The situation was further complicated when the Palestinians attempted to seize control of the Jorsanian Government. There have been numerous reports of abuse of foreign domestics. An increasing problem is that of Iraqi refugees.
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