Prime Minister

The Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica is vested with the primary executive powers. The Parliament of Jamaica is bicameral and consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of Parliament are directly elected by universal adult suffrage and the leader of the majority party becomes the prime minister and is appointed by the governor-general. The prime minister presides over the cabinet and appoints senators and the leader of the opposition. The tenure of parliament happens in a five-year cycle; however, the prime minister may advise the governor-general to dissolve parliament at any time during this period and name a date for a general election.