King opens 2nd ordinary session of 19th Parliament

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday is scheduled to inaugurate the 19th Parliament's second ordinary session with a Speech from the Throne.

The two chambers of Parliament then have a 14-day period to respond separately to the King’s speech, according to Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The 29th Senate will also hold a session, to be presided over by Senate President Faisal Fayez, to elect two vice presidents and two assistants. The session will also elect members of a committee that will draft the reply to the Speech from the Throne.

The session will also include a reading of the Royal Decrees proroguing the special session as of September 29, and postponing the start of Parliament’s ordinary session as of November 13, 2022.

Upon the end of the Senate session, the Lower House is set to hold its first session, which will be presided over by the MP with the longest membership along with the assistance of the two youngest lawmakers.

The Lower Chamber first must elect a speaker, as it cannot hold discussions or issue decisions before electing a speaker as per House bylaws.

Upon the start of every ordinary session, MPs also elect members of the House's 15 permanent committees.

During the six-month ordinary session, the Lower Chamber is set to discuss draft laws regarding the general budget and the budgets of government units for 2023. The House will endorse the budgets at least one month before the start of the fiscal year.

Since the election almost two years ago, the Lower House has endorsed 56 laws, discussed 150 questions and referred 244 memoranda to the government.