The Government of Jordan
Overview
- Capital: Amman
- Administrative regions: 12 governorates (Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, Balqa, Madaba, Karak, Tafilah, Ma’an, Aqaba, Mafraq, Jerash, and Ajloun)
- Government & legal system: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy — the King holds broad executive authority (including appointing the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and approving legislation), while an elected House of Representatives and appointed Senate form a bicameral legislature; civil law system, with Islamic (Sharia) law governing personal status matters for Muslims. (government site)
- Head of state / government: King Abdullah II, Monarch and Head of State (constitutional powers include appointing the Prime Minister); Jafar Hassan, Prime Minister (head of government, since September 2024) (official page)
- Official language(s): Arabic (official)
- National Day: May 25 (Independence Day, 1946)
- Independence: May 25, 1946 (from the British Mandate for Transjordan)
- Other official holidays: Accession Day (June 9), Great Arab Revolt and Army Day (June 10), Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official site)
- Regional / international memberships: UN, Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, WTO; close security and economic partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council states without being a full member
- Visa / entry requirements: Most eligible nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or apply in advance through Jordan’s e-visa system. Travelers who purchase a Jordan Pass in advance and stay at least three nights have the standard tourist entry-visa fee waived. (visa info)
- Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD) — the current series depicts King Abdullah II’s portrait on the obverse of most denominations, with national and historic landmarks (including Petra’s Treasury and other archaeological and religious sites) on the reverse; earlier series depicted King Hussein.
- Flag symbolism: Horizontal black-white-green bands (the Pan-Arab colors, representing the Abbasid, Umayyad, and Fatimid dynasties) with a red chevron at the hoist bearing a white seven-pointed star — red represents the Hashemite dynasty and the Great Arab Revolt, and the seven-pointed star represents the seven verses of the opening chapter of the Quran (the Fatiha) and the unity of the Arab peoples.
