Lower House endorses amendments to Rules of Procedure

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday endorsed amendments to its Rules of Procedure, with the aim of enhancing the Chamber’s performance and time management during its sessions.

During Wednesday’s session, several MPs said they have wasted their time during previous House sessions, particularly when they engaged in “nonessential” debates and discussions over various draft laws.

Therefore, making certain changes in the House’s rules to regulate deputies’ discussions is crucial to speeding up the work and ensuring a better performance in general, they added.

“We have 100 draft laws in our drawers and we must deal with all of them,” said MP Abdul Munim Odat (Irbid, 1st District), head of the House’s Legal Committee, in his remarks to defend the amendments his committee adopted.

Under the new amendments, the MPs limited the right to discuss draft laws during the sessions to those who submit a written proposal in advance. 

This amendment obliges the Lower House speaker to allow the deputy who presents a proposal, to speak under the Dome.

MPs also agreed to announce the names of the ministers who decline to answer deputies’ questions within the eight-day legal time frame.

This was a new provision added to the Lower House Rules of Procedure, based on a suggestion by MP Kheirallah Abu Saalik (Amman, 4th District), who heads the House’s Investment Committee. 

This provision is aimed at ensuring that ministers respect MPs’ questions and answer them on time. In previous cases, the government provided answers to such questions after eight months from the date of submission. 

Also at Wednesday’s session, deputies rejected a previous suggestion to deduct JD100 from any deputy’s financial benefits if he/she declines to attend a Lower Hose session for no valid reason. 

Instead, deputies decided to strip these MPs of their right to represent the Lower House in trips abroad or take part in conferences.

In other major changes to the Rules of Procedure, MPs decided to limit the number of members in each permanent committee to between seven and 11, and to agree on the members through the executive office in 14 days from the start date of the ordinary session. 

If no agreement is reached through the executive office, MPs will then elect members of the committee during a Lower House session.

Under another amendment, the Lower House budget will be drafted by the executive office from now on without a need to present it under the Dome for endorsement.