| International Country Code: |
JM |
| Type of Government: |
Parliamentary Democracy |
| Capital: |
Kingston |
| Administrative Divisions: |
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 Hon.
Bruce Golding has held this office since September
11th, 2007. |
| 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 60 elected officials from a
General Election. (last held 3rd September 2007.) |
| Judicial Branch: |
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Great Britain) Court of Appealof Jamaica. The Supreme Court of Jamaica, Resident Magistrates Courts, Petty Sessions Courts. |
