Jordan

Legal tradition

Jordan belongs to the civil law with islamic law influence tradition. A civil-law system on the Egyptian and French model, with the Civil Code of 1976 drawing directly on Sanhuri's work and on the Ottoman Mecelle for its Islamic content. Personal status is separated by religion: sharia courts have exclusive jurisdiction over Muslims' marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance, and recognised Christian denominations run their own councils for their members. Commercial law has been extensively modernised to support the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and the development zones, which have their own regulatory and tax regimes layered on national law.

How power is divided

Unitary, with twelve governorates administered by centrally appointed governors and elected municipal and governorate councils. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority holds delegated regulatory powers within its area, which functions as a limited territorial carve-out rather than devolution.

Where law comes from

The 1952 Constitution

As amended; Article 128 limits restriction of rights by law.

Laws of the National Assembly

Require royal ratification and publication in the Official Gazette.

Regulations

Issued by the Council of Ministers with royal approval; subordinate to statute.

The Civil Code 1976

Egyptian and Mecelle-influenced codification of private law.

Sharia

Applied by sharia courts to Muslims' personal status; the Mecelle informs civil interpretation.

The legal profession

A single profession of lawyers admitted by the Jordan Bar Association after a law degree and a two-year traineeship, with compulsory membership and a graded right of audience by seniority. The Bar is self-governing and disciplines its members. Sharia court advocacy is a separate licensed track, and notarial functions are performed by court-based notaries public rather than an independent notariat.