Ammon News - King Abdullah II will give the Throne Speech on Monday at the beginning of the 20th National Assembly's first regular session, where he will discuss national policies and key regional issues.
The King may choose to have either himself, the Prime Minister, or one of the ministers deliver the Speech from the Throne to open the regular session of the National Assembly in both Houses together. According to Article 79 of the Jordanian Constitution, each House is required to submit a petition along with its corresponding response.
In his address, the King will assess country policies and fundamental vital matters in the region.
The Speeches from the Throne also discuss development plans and local policies, urging all government agencies and authorities to work together to meet specific national objectives.
Both the House of Senate and the House of Representatives will individually provide their official feedback on each Speech from the Throne within two weeks of the beginning of the regular session of the National Assembly.
His Majesty King Abdullah I bin Al Hussein had tasked his Prime Minister with performing this scheduled duty six times, from 1929 to 1947. Ever since, the current King has continued the tradition of delivering the Speeches from the Throne, which has been upheld by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein.
Recent Speeches from the Throne have covered defending Islam, fighting terrorism, enhancing national unity, upholding democratic standards, increasing political engagement, offering education and guidance to youth, and improving the quality of life for Jordanians.
The King wears a unique throne dress on two important occasions: his accession to the throne and delivering the Speech from the Throne. The throne dress comes in two colors - white for summer and black for winter.
The throne attire symbolizes magnificence and royalty, and is consistently viewed as a royal representation of the country, aligning with the constitutional rights that establish the country's institutionalization and its governance approach outlined in the constitution's first article: "The form of government is a parliamentary, hereditary monarchy."
Senate
Following the Speech from the Throne, the Senate convenes its inaugural session with President Faisal Al-Fayez presiding. The session's agenda consists of appointing the Vice Presidents and their assistants, as well as selecting members of the committee responsible for drafting the response to the Speech from the Throne.
Regular session of the House of Representatives
The King summons the National Assembly for a regular session on the first of October every year, and if that day falls on a public holiday, the following day will not be considered a holiday.
The King has the authority to delay the National Assembly meeting through a Royal Decree published in the Official Gazette, setting a new date within a maximum period of two months. The National Assembly's normal session starts on the meeting's scheduled date and lasts for 6 months unless the House of Representatives is dissolved by the King earlier.
The King can prolong the regular session for up to 3 months in order to finish necessary work. At the conclusion of the initial six months, or any prolongation, the King will bring the session to an end.
Permanent Office of Representatives
The first session of the regular session shall be held after His Majesty the King delivers the Speech from the Throne under the dome of the National Assembly, where the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the First and Second Deputies, and the Assistants to the Speaker are elected.
Article (16) of the Council's internal regulations stipulates that "the first and second deputies shall be elected one by one in the same manner as the president was elected in accordance with the provisions of Article (14) of the regulations, and the two assistants shall be elected on a single list, and the two who obtained the relative majority shall be declared the winners. In the event of a tie between two or more candidates for the same position, a draw shall be held between them."
The Council also elects the Committee for the Response to the Speech from the Throne; in preparation for its approval by the Council, and its submission to His Majesty the King within 14 days of the Speech from the Throne.
The committees shall be formed based on relative consensus between the blocs within 14 days in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a, b) of Article (54) of the internal regulations.
The committees include: Legal, Financial, Economic and Investment, Foreign Affairs, Administrative, Education and Youth, National Guidance and Media and Culture, Health and Environment, Agriculture, Water and Desert, Labor and Social Development and Population, Energy and Mineral Resources, Tourism, Antiquities and Public Services, Public Freedoms and Human Rights, Palestine, and Women and Family Affairs.
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