Lower House approves amendments regarding Senate membership, IEC, speaker's term

AMMAN — The Lower House on Tuesday continued its deliberations on constitutional amendments.

The MPs approved amendments to Article 61 of the Constitution, granting the decision maker the authority to choose Constitutional Court members from specialists (not one specialist) who meet the Senate membership conditions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The amendment increased the terms of service in the required law specialisation from 15 to 20 years, which is required for appointment at the Constitutional Court. The amendment also changed the name of the Higher Court of Justice to the Higher Administrative Court. 

The Lower House additionally amended Article 64 related to the conditions of Senate membership to include: Prime ministers, former ministers, those who held leadership posts, speakers of the Lower House, heads and judges of the Court of Cassation, Higher Administrative Court, Sharia Higher Court, heads and members of the Constitutional Court, retired officers with a minimum rank of major general, former MPs who had been elected at least twice and figures who won the confidence and reliability of the people through their work and service to the nation. 

Lawmakers also approved adding new specialties to the Independent Election Commission, such as considering applications to establish political parties and following up on their affairs. 

The Independent Election Commission would carry out these roles instead of the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs.

The Lower Chamber also approved amending Article 69 that sets the speakership period of the Lower House speaker to one year instead of two. The amendment also grants deputies the right to dismiss their speaker with a two-third majority of the House. 

Meanwhile, 110 MPs approved the amended Article 70 that lowers the age for running for the Lower House election from 30 to 25 years, provided that candidates meet the membership conditions stipulated in the Elections Law, with the aim of encouraging the youth to participate in the political life.

The House, with a majority of 99 votes, approved amending Article 71 that delegates the authority of verifying MPs' membership to the Court of Cassation instead of the three courts of appeal.