Jamaica's current Constitution was drafted in 1962 by a bipartisan joint committee of the Jamaican legislature. It came into force with the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 of the United Kingdom Parliament, which gave Jamaica political independence.
The Jamaican head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is given the title of "Queen of Jamaica". The Queen is represented by a Governor-General, nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the monarch. Both the Queen and the Governor-General serve largely ceremonial roles.
The Parliament of Jamaica is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House (known as 'Members of Parliament' or MPs) are directly elected, and the leader of the majority party in the House becomes the Prime Minister. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister, and the parliamentary Leader of the Opposition.
In February 2006, Portia Simpson Miller was unanimously elected to replace the current Prime Minister, P. J. Patterson, at the end of March 2006 when he leaves office. Ms. Simpson Miller will be the first female Prime Minister in Jamaican history. Prime Minister Patterson has held office since the 1992 resignation of Michael Manley. The current leader of the opposition is Bruce Golding. Patterson has been re-elected three times, the last being in 2002.
Jamaica has traditionally had a two party system, with power often alternating between the People's National Party and Jamaica Labour Party.
Jamaica is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
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