House endorses its code of conduct

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday concluded its extraordinary session with the endorsement of its code of conduct.

The code, as stated in its validating reasons, aims at instilling and institutionalising democracy and rule of the law in the Chamber's performance as well as enhancing values of accountability and good citizenship.

As stipulated in the document, MPs are required to abide by the Constitution, laws and the House's by-laws to well represent the Chamber and avoid whatever may harm its image.

Lawmakers are also expected to keep the confidentiality of information especially related to citizens and their problems. The document also calls on MPs to always be impartial and refrain from using their connections to serve personal interests.

Attending the House sessions and those of committees is a must under the code of conduct, which obliges MPs to receive written permission from the speaker for leaving the meetings in urgent situations. 

MPs are also not allowed to carry weapons within the vicinity of the Parliament building which also grants the speaker the right to refer any lawmaker to the Order and Behaviour Committee.

In meetings with heads of parliamentary blocs and committees, His Majesty stressed the importance of endorsing a code of conduct to regulate lawmakers’ performance and resolve all problems hindering the performance of the Lower House, especially the frequent lack of quorum.

The House also referred the new transparency and corruption-combating law for 2015 to its Legal Committee for review. 

House Speaker Atef Tarawneh read a statement in the name of MPs expressing their condolences to the families of the three terrorist attacks in Kuwait, Tunisia and France. 

Tarawneh also called on the international community to provide protection for the flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip which left Cyprus on Sunday.