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2007 Assessment

Jordan: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Jordan: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	83
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	85

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Article 3 a of the 2001 election law stipulates that "all Jordanians above 18 years of age on the first day of the first month of the election year have the right to vote." [ LINK ]

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution, Article 68 [ LINK ]

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Mr. Jihad Mhiesen, director of Al Mashreq Al Jadid Center for Research, in Amman, Jordan Academic paper at [ LINK ]

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments: Despite many claims of voting irregularities in the municipal and parliamentary elections, no claims of violation of the secret ballot have been made.

References: Interview with Mr. Jihad Mhiesen, director of Al Mashreq Al Jadid Center for Research, in Amman, Jordan [ LINK ]

Hassan M. Fattah, Islamic Opposition Group Pulls Out of Elections in Jordan, August 1, 2007, NY Times [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The National Center for Human Rights and some political groups mentioned that ballots were marred by some violations, such as repetition of votes and allowing some individuals below 18 years old to vote.

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments: Parliamentary elections have been held every four to six years since 1989. Parliamentary elections were postponed in 2001 for two years. The country had no legislative authority for two years.

References: International Foundation for Election System (IFES) [ LINK ] Konrad Adenauer Stiftung [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The king has several times postponed parliamentary elections in recent years. As the IFES Web Site notes, one of these postponements was for "internal" reasons.

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: In the Constitution, Article 16 (i) Jordanians shall have the right to hold meetings within the limits of the law. (ii) Jordanians are entitled to establish societies and political parties provided that the objects of such societies and parties are lawful, their methods peaceful, and their by-laws not contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. (iii) The establishment of societies and political parties and the control of their resources shall be regulated by law [ LINK ]

1992 Political Parties Law and its amendments, which passed through Parliament on 19 March 2007

Ministry of Political Development: [ LINK ]

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution Article 2:6 [ LINK ]

Women's rights in Jordan [ LINK ]

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments: A political parties law that passed in March places requirements on both the number of party members and requirements on support in different regions (minimum 500 members from 5 governorates). This barrier is relatively high, given the low level of membership in political parties among Jordanians at present. In principle, all eligible citizens can form parties. The government argued for this number to help in creating viable parties, given the high level of volatility among the nearly 33 legal parties that did not manage to send representatives to Parliament in the November 20, 2007 elections.

References: Jordan Times, Lower House endorses political parties draft law, 15 March 2007 [ LINK ]

al-Ghad [ LINK ]

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments: When a 100 score is given, it means formal political barriers are not present. However, there are many ways in which political influence can be applied to people who did not run for office. These methods were practiced in some areas in the municipal elections of July 2007. Finance is a significant barrier to people, especially with the rising cost of living in general and the accession of new wealthy business elites to the political process, and the spending of large sums of money on campaigns. So far there is no official public funding for parties or candidates.

References: My personal observations of the parliamentary elections of November 2007. [ LINK ]

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments: The IAF has a vocal presence in Parliament.

References: Ellen Lust-Okar, Elections Under Authoritarianism [ LINK ] Sahliyeh, "The State and the Islamic Movement in Jordan," Journal of Church and State (Winter 2005): 109-131

Peer Review Comments: It is worth noting that there is only one democratically elected house of Parliament. The king appoints the Upper House (Senate). There is no organized opposition to the government in the Senate.