His Majesty King Abdullah II will open the third ordinary session of the National Assembly, comprising the Senate and House of Representatives, on Monday, delivering the Speech from the Throne before a joint sitting of both chambers.
اضافة اعلان
On September 30, two Royal Decrees were issued. The first postponed the convening of the National Assembly's ordinary session until November 2, while the second summoned the Assembly to convene as of Monday, November 2.
Article 79 of the Jordanian Constitution stipulates that the King opens the ordinary session of the National Assembly by delivering the Speech from the Throne before both chambers in a joint sitting.
The King may also delegate the Prime Minister or a minister to conduct the opening ceremony and deliver the speech. Each chamber subsequently submits a response outlining its reply to the Speech from the Throne.
Under Article 78 of the Constitution, the King summons the National Assembly to convene for its ordinary session on October 1 of each year. However, the session may be postponed by Royal Decree published in the Official Gazette to a specified date, provided that the postponement does not exceed two months.
The ordinary session begins on the date set for the Assembly to convene and lasts for six months, unless the King dissolves the House of Representatives before the end of that period.
The session may also be extended for an additional period of no more than three months to complete parliamentary business.
Following the opening ceremony and the delivery of the Speech from the Throne, the Senate and House of Representatives will hold their first sessions.
The House of Representatives will elect its Permanent Bureau, comprising the Speaker, the First and Second Deputy Speakers, and the Speaker's assistants.
The session's agenda also includes the formation of a committee to prepare the House's response to the Speech from the Throne, as well as the establishment of permanent parliamentary committees responsible for reviewing draft laws and matters referred to them as part of the House's legislative and oversight duties.
The Speech from the Throne
The first Speech from the Throne during the Emirate of Transjordan dates back to 1929, while the first Speech from the Throne following the establishment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was delivered in 1946.
His Majesty King Abdullah II delivered his first Speech from the Throne in 1999, following his assumption of constitutional powers.
The late founding King Abdullah I bin Al Hussein had delegated the Prime Minister to deliver the Speech from the Throne on six occasions between 1929 and 1947. Since then, Jordan's monarchs have maintained the tradition of delivering the Speech from the Throne at the opening of parliamentary sessions.
The Speech from the Throne represents a constitutional occasion for outlining national policies and political, economic, and social priorities, as well as regional and international issues.
It also addresses reform and modernization efforts and the strengthening of parliamentary and government performance and cooperation among the branches of government.
Previous Speeches from the Throne have addressed issues including strengthening national unity, political and economic reform, developing education, improving the quality of life for Jordanians, expanding political participation, combating terrorism and extremism, and Jordan's role in responding to regional challenges.
The Palestinian cause and the defense of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship, have also remained key themes in previous Speeches from the Throne.
The Royal Throne Attire
The opening of the National Assembly's ordinary session is associated with special royal traditions, including the Royal Throne Attire worn by His Majesty King Abdullah II on two occasions: Throne Day and the delivery of the Speech from the Throne.
The attire comes in two colors, white and black. The black attire is worn during winter, while the white version is worn in summer.
The Royal Throne Attire symbolizes grandeur and dignity and serves as a sovereign emblem of the state, reflecting royal traditions and the constitutional occasions upon which state institutions are founded, in accordance with Jordan's system of government as a hereditary parliamentary monarchy, as stipulated in Article 1 of the Constitution.
The Museum of Parliamentary Life in Amman preserves King Abdullah II's Royal Throne Attire among its historical collections, which document the development of Jordan's political and parliamentary life since the establishment of the Emirate.
