Appointer Monarch of Jamaica First holder Sir Kenneth Blackburne | Formation 6 August 1962 | |
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Style His Excellency the Most Honourable Residence King's House, Jamaica
(Government House) Term length At Her Majesty's pleasure | ||
The Governor-General of Jamaica represents the Jamaican monarch and head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen, on the advice of the prime minister, appoints a governor-general as her representative in Jamaica. Both the Queen and the governor-general hold much power, but rarely exercise it, usually only in emergencies and in some cases war.
The governor-general represents the monarch on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of parliament, the presentation of honors, and military parades. Under the constitution, he or she is given authority to act in some matters, for example in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service, proroguing parliament, and so on, but only in a few cases does he have the power to act entirely at his own discretion.
Jamaican republicanism, a position which is held by the current Jamaican government, generally advocates for the replacement of the governor-general with a president.