Senate of Chile explained

Senate of the Republic of Chile
Native Name:Senado de la República de Chile
Coa Pic:Emblema Senado de la Republica Chile.png
Coa Caption:Seal
Session Room:Senado de Chile.jpg
House Type:Upper House
Body:National Congress of Chile
Term Limits:None
Election1:19 March 2024
Leader2 Type:Vice-President
Election2:19 March 2024
Leader3 Type:General Secretary
Leader3:Raúl Guzmán Uribe
Election3:16 April 2021
Members:50
Political Groups1:Government (18)

External support (5)

Opposition (27)

Term Length:8 years
Structure1:Senadores Chile.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Next Election1:2025
Website:http://www.senado.cl

The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.

Composition

According to the present Constitution of Chile, the Senate is composed of forty-three directly elected senators, chosen by universal popular suffrage vote in 16 senatorial circumscriptions. These serve eight-year terms, with half of them being replaced every fourth year. They must be eligible to vote, have completed secondary school, or its equivalent, and be at least 35 years old.

The Senate meets at the new National Congress building located in the port city of Valparaíso that replaced the old National Congress building located in downtown Santiago, the nation's capital.

Abolition of the unelected

Amendments to the Constitution, approved by a joint session of Congress on August 16, 2005, eliminated non-directly elected senators from March 11, 2006, the day 20 newly elected senators were sworn in, leaving the total number of senators at 38, all directly elected. Previously, according to the Constitution of 1980, "designated" or "institutional" senators were appointed to the chamber. Two former heads of state, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Augusto Pinochet, were installed as senators for life. Pinochet later resigned from this position and Frei lost his seat in the 2005 reform. However, Frei remained in the Senate by winning an elective seat.

Historical evolution

The Senate of Chile was created in 1812 to support the formulations of policies of the Government Junta. Since then it has undergone several constitutional reorganizations that have altered the scope of its constitutional powers, its composition and the generation of its members.

First senate

Created by Article 7 of the Provisional Constitutional Manual of 1812. It was composed of seven titular members (one for each province) and three alternate members and was supposed to serve as a counterbalance to the executive power of the Government Junta. The senators were directly nominated by the provinces in agreement with the central government. It functioned from November, 1812 to January, 1814, when it was reorganized to better respond to the problems caused by the successive military defeats at the hands of the advancing Spanish Army.

Consultative senate

Created by Article 13 of the Provisional Government Manual of 1814. As its predecessor, it was composed of seven titular members (only) nominated by the provinces in lists of three from which they were selected by the Supreme Director. It functioned from March to July, 1814, when the Spanish Army captured Santiago, putting an end to the Patria Vieja government.

First conservative senate

Created by Title III of the Constitution of 1818. It was composed of five titular members and five alternate members selected directly by the Supreme Director. It was supposed to function only when the lower house was not in function or could not meet, and had the power to enact "provisory rules" that had the same effect as laws (hence the "conservative" moniker, because it "conserved" the power.) It functioned from October, 1818 to May, 1822.

Current composition Senate of Chile

Senator Name Political Group Party Prior Public Office/Position Education Assumed Office Term Expires
I Democratic SocialismMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
I Intendant of the Arica y Parinacota Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
II Democratic SocialismMayor of Iquique March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
II Intendant of the Tarapacá Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
III Democratic SocialismDeputy of former District 4 March 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
III AntofagastaEsteban VelásquezConstituent UnityFREVSDeputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region) University of TarapacáMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
III AntofagastaPaulina NúñezChile VamosRNDeputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region) Catholic University of the NorthMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
IV Out of pactDeputy of former District 6 March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IV Intendant of the Atacama Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
V Daniel NúñezApruebo DignidadPCDeputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) University of ChileMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
V Matías WalkerOut of pactDemocratsDeputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) Diego Portales UniversityUniversity for DevelopmentMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VCoquimboSergio GahonaChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region)Diego Portales UniversityCatholic University of the NorthMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
VI ValparaísoFrancisco ChahuánChile VamosRNDeputy of former District 14 University of ValparaísoMarch 11, 2010 March 11, 2026
VI ValparaísoKenneth Pugh OlavarríaChile VamosRNGeneral Director of the Personnel of the Chilean NavyArturo Prat Naval School, ValparaísoMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
VI ValparaísoRicardo Lagos WeberDemocratic SocialismPPDMinister Secretary General of Government during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of Chile
University of Sussex
March 11, 2010 March 11, 2026
VI ValparaísoIsabel AllendeDemocratic SocialismPSSenator for Constituency 3 University of ChileMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
VI ValparaísoJuan Ignacio LatorreApruebo DignidadRDNo previous public office Central University of ChileMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
VII Santiago MetropolitanManuel José OssandónChile VamosRNMayor of Puente AltoInacapMarch 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago MetropolitanLuciano Cruz-CokeChile VamosEvópoliDeputy of District 10 (Santiago Centre) Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film InstituteMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago MetropolitanClaudia PascualApruebo DignidadPCMinister of Women and Gender Equality during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of ChileMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago MetropolitanFabiola CampillaiApruebo DignidadIndependent No previous public office Fidel Pinochet Le-brun High School, San BernardoManuel Barros Borgoño High School, SantiagoMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VIISantiago MetropolitanRojo EdwardsOut of pactPSCDeputy of former District 51Pontifical Catholic University of ChileHarvard Kennedy SchoolMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
VIII O'HigginsAlejandra SepúlvedaApruebo DignidadIndependent Deputy of District 16 (Colchagua Province) Austral University of ChileMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VIII O'HigginsJavier MacayaChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province) Pontifical Catholic University of ChileUniversity of ValparaísoAdolfo Ibáñez UniversityMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VIIIO'HigginsJuan Luis CastroDemocratic SocialismPSDeputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province)University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
IX MauleJuan Castro PrietoChile VamosPSCMayor of TalcaIndustrial A-10 High School, TalcaMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IX MauleRodrigo GalileaChile VamosRNIntendant of the Maule Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency Pontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IX MauleJuan Antonio Coloma CorreaChile VamosUDIDeputy of former District 31 Pontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2002 March 11, 2026
IX MauleXimena RincónOut of pactDemocratsMinister of Labor and Social Provision during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of ChileMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IX MaulePaulina VodanovicDemocratic SocialismPSSubsecretary for the Armed Forces during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of ChileApril 25, 2023 March 11, 2026
X BiobíoSebastián KeitelChile VamosEvópoliDeputy of District 9 (Santiago North) Silva Henríquez Catholic University March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
X BiobíoChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 20 (Concepción Province) University for DevelopmentMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XBiobíoGastón SaavedraDemocratic SocialismPSDeputy of District 20 (Concepción Province)Federico Santa María Technical UniversityMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
XVI ÑubleLoreto CarvajalDemocratic SocialismPPDDeputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region) Catholic University of the Most Holy ConceptionMarch 3, 2021 March 11, 2030
XVI ÑubleGustavo SanhuezaChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region) University of the Bío BíoMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XI AraucaníaFelipe KastChile VamosEvópoliDeputy of former District 22 (Santiago commune) Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Harvard University
March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XI AraucaníaCarmen Gloria AravenaOut of pact PLRTraiguén municipal administrator University of La FronteraMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XI AraucaníaJosé García RuminotChile VamosRNDeputy of former District 50 University of La FronteraMarch 11, 2002 March 11, 2026
XI AraucaníaFrancisco HuenchumillaOut of pactDCIntendant of the Araucanía Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of ChileMarch 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XI AraucaníaJaime QuintanaDemocratic SocialismPPDDeputy of former District 49 Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
University of La Frontera
March 11, 2010 March 11, 2026
XII Los RíosAlfonso de UrrestiDemocratic SocialismPSDeputy of former District 53 (El Ranco province) University of ChileMarch 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
XII Los RíosMaría José GaticaChile VamosRNProvincial Governor of Valdivia during Sebastián Piñera's presidency Austral University of ChileMarch 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XIILos RíosIván FloresOut of pactDCDeputy of District 24 (Los Ríos Region)Austral University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
XIII Los LagosIván MoreiraChile VamosUDIDeputy of former District 27 Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta ArenasMarch 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
XIII Democratic SocialismDeputy of District 25 (Los Lagos Region) March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XIIILos LagosCarlos KuschelChile VamosRNDeputy of District 26 (Los Lagos Region)Austral University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
XIV Deputy of former District 59 (Aysén Region) March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XIV Democratic SocialismIntendant of the Aysén Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidency March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XV Out of pact Independent Deputy of District 28 (Magallanes Region) March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XV Chile VamosPresident of the Regional Council of Magallanes (2019-2021) Technical State University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030

See also

External links