Speeches from the Throne
© Royal Hashemite Court Archives
© أرشيف الديوان الملكي الهاشمي
Speeches from the Throne are constitutionally mandated formal addresses by the King at the opening of Ordinary Sessions of the Parliament, in which the Monarch lays out national policies and focuses on vital issues in the region. The speeches also address development plans and domestic policies, calling for cooperation among all branches of government in achieving certain national objectives, including, for example, expanded political participation. Speeches from the Throne commonly emphasise the core values and national aspirations that emanate from the founding principles of the Arab Revolt and the Hashemite-Jordanian commitment to the Arab nation, the Muslim community and the international community. Official replies to each speech from the House of Deputies (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House) are submitted on behalf of the sitting Parliament, within two weeks after the session opening.
According to Article No. 79 of the Constitution of Jordan, His Majesty the King opens the Ordinary Session of the Parliament by delivering the Speech from the Throne. Alternatively, the King can request the prime minister to perform these duties. This provision has been exercised only by King Abdullah I, who asked his prime minister to perform these protocols on six occasions between 1929 and 1947. Since then, however, Speeches from the Throne have been delivered by the reigning King, a tradition upheld by King Abdullah II.
Issues arising in recent Speeches from the Throne have included: defending Islam, fighting terrorism, strengthening national unity, maintaining democratic standards, raising the level of political participation, providing guidance and opportunities to youth through education and achieving and sustaining a good quality of life for Jordanians.
There is a special Uniform of the Throne, which is worn by the King on only two occasions. The first is on Coronation Day (for King Abdullah II, 9 June 1999) and the second is on the occasion of delivering the Speech from the Throne.
