The Basic Law published in 1928 gave the Emirate of East Jordan the constitutional legitimacy to run the affairs of the country. As a result, an election law was enacted to elect the first Legislative Council. Five such councils were elected throughout the Emirate’s era, the first of which was elected in 1929, and the last ended in 1947.It is noteworthy that the authority of these councils was restricted to approving draft laws presented by the Executive Council without having the right to propose laws. The Council was deprived of any control authority on governmental policy, and had no right to put forward questions or interpellations or to request discussions or cast the vote of confidence in the government. The Council’s term was three years, and the Emir could extend it for an additional period of two years.

After the establishment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the proclamation of the new Constitution, the bicameral system was adopted and called the National Assembly (The Parliament). It is composed of an elected House of Representatives and a Senate appointed by the King. The House of Representatives’ term was 4 calendar years. The Constitution did not give the National Assembly the right to propose laws, and restricted this right to the Executive Authority only. Control authority was granted to the National Assembly (the Parliament) by the Constitution through questions and discussions, while the issue of the right of casting the vote of confidence in the government was excluded. 

The first House of Representatives was elected on October 20, 1947. Parliamentary life continued only to be halted as a result of the occupation of the West Bank in 1967, during which nine Houses of Representatives were elected, to be replaced by the National Consultative Council. Three such Councils were formed during that period, the first of which started on April 20, 1978, and the last was terminated in 1984. The term of each Council was two years.

The ninth House of Representatives was then recalled, to become the tenth House of Representative, after which elections for the eleventh House of Representatives were held in 1989, the twelfth in 1993, the thirteenth in 1997, and the fourteenth in 2003.