FIRST: The
system of government in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is parliamentary, monarchic and
hereditary. Adherence by all to legitimacy and to respect of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution shall enhance the union between the people and their leadership.
SECOND: The
Jordanian people are part of the Arab nation. Arab unity is the only option that would
achieve national security for Jordan and the Arab nation in all Arab countries, guarantee
economic and psychological stability and ensure preservation, progress and continuity.
THIRD: Faith in
God, respect for spiritual values, adherence to higher principles and acceptance of the
right of every individual to a life of freedom and decency are fundamental concepts in the
building of the state and the achievement of progress by Jordanian society.
FOURTH: Islam is
the religion of the state , and Islamic law is the principal source of legislation.
FIFTH: Arab
Islamic civilisation, open to world civilisation, is the defining aspect of the national
identity of the Jordanian people. It constitutes one of the bases of its unity,
independence and progress in the face of division, dependence and cultural intrusion in
all its forms. It is also a wellhead of innate values which Jordanian society seeks to
strengthen, through science, learning, education and good example.
SIXTH: The
Arabic language is the official language of the state. It is the language of the Holy
Qur’an which has preserved for the Arab nation its true essence. It is imperative
that the supremacy of Arabic be stressed by Jordanian society at all levels. Arabic should
be used in all stages of education. Attention must be given to translation and Arabisation
to keep abreast of accelerating scientific progress, and to the learning and teaching of
other living languages.
SEVENTH: Respect
for the mind, belief in dialogue, recognition of the right of others to disagree, respect
for the opinion of others, tolerance, and rejection of political and social violence are
basic characteristics of Jordanian society. Pursuant to this, there is no compulsion in
religion or recourse to fanaticism, sectarianism or regional bias.
EIGHTH:
Jordanian men and women are equal under the law. There shall be no distinction between
them in rights and obligations regardless of difference in race, language or religion.
They shall exercise their constitutional rights and uphold the higher interest of the
state and the national ethic in such a manner as to ensure that the material and spiritual
resources of Jordanian society are freed and directed towards achieving the national
objective of unity, progress and building a better future.
NINTH:
Strengthening the foundations of a state governed by the supremacy of the law, and firming
up the democratic process based on political pluralism are an obligation of the
state’s institutions, of individual members of Jordanian society and all its other
bodies.
TENTH: Political,
party and intellectual pluralism is the means of strengthening democracy and ensuring
participation by the Jordanian people in administering the affairs of the state. It serves
to guarantee national unity and build a balanced civil society.
ELEVENTH: To be
nationally committed is to respect the freedom of all citizens and to protect the
country’s security, independence and progress. National commitment contributes to the
preservation of unity, the strengthening of the Jordanian people’s sovereignty on
their national soil, and the protection of the people’s integrity under conditions
removed from all forms of discrimination, fanaticism or introversion.
TWELFTH: National
independence requires a liberation of the national will from all manner of external
pressure or hegemony. It is achieved and preserved through the constant and effective
exercise of a national political will at all levels. This requires the development of
institutions and systems and the acquisition of appropriate means and methods to effect
modernisation and progress in order to meet the challenges of the future, while at the
same time preserving the noble mores of Jordanian Arab society and taking pride in its
innate traditions.
THIRTEENTH: The
Jordanian Armed Forces are the country’s protective shield and the guarantors of its
security and independence. The Arab Legion is in the forefront of the forces entrusted
with the task of liberation and the defence of Arab integrity. The Legion’s strength
and effectiveness are enhanced through active support by the people and the popular army
for strengthening Jordanian national security. It is the responsibility of the state and
society as a whole to support the Armed Forces’ capacity and preparedness and to
provide the best possible conditions for their development.
FOURTEENTH: An
independent national economy is a true support of national independence, security and
progress. It is best achieved through self-reliance, development of latent national
capacities, rational use of national wealth and resources, as well as through
strengthening all components of the productive base, providing capable management, and
moving towards a stabilisation and integration of basic economic legislation, within a
framework of social justice.
FIFTEENTH:
Social justice for all Jordanians requires a range of social insurance schemes, an
updating of labour laws and a narrowing of income disparities in such a manner as to
ensure balance and social harmony and to provide security and stability for society as a
whole.
SIXTEENTH:
Respect for human rights, strengthening of democratic practices, guaranteeing a continued
balance in development and achieving administrative efficiency in the Kingdom are
fundamental national goals. They require a constant effort to promote a unified
administrative system for the Jordanian state and to ensure that local councils become
answerable to central authority for supervision and guidance purposes. They also require a
strengthening of the social, political and economic structures of the state through
supporting the concept of local administration in the various districts and governorates
in such a manner as to provide practical opportunities for the people to exercise
self-government, enable continued close coordination between governmental and popular
bodies and lead to better democratic practices through responsible participation within a
framework of balanced rights and obligations.
SEVENTEENTH:
Jordanian universities are an important part of the country’s fabric. They ought to
function as beacons of intellectual enlightenment and scientific progress. To achieve
this, the universities must be provided with the requisites and guarantees of academic
freedom. They must be provided with the means to develop their curricula, keep abreast of
knowledge, develop their capacity for scientific research and enhance their role in
developing Jordanian society and meeting its needs. They must have the capacity to help
build the country’s institutions, provide good instruction and qualify the
country’s youth to solve problems and meet the challenges of the future.
EIGHTEENTH: The
decade of the nineties is a decisive period for Jordan and the Arab World. It is
imperative that our nation must acquire the means to preserve its current state of
awakening and bring together the various components of its strength and solidarity in
order to meet the needs of the present as well as the challenges of the twenty-first
century, as reflected in the democratic revolution, the emphasis on human rights, the
establishment of large economic blocs, and the explosive impact of technology and
informatics.
