Senate of Chile
| Senate of the Republic of Chile Senado de la República de Chile | |
|---|---|
| 54th National Congress | |
 Seal | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | Unlimited 8-year terms |
| Leadership | |
Vice-President | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 43 |
 | |
Political groups |
Government
Opposition
Others
|
| Elections | |
| Open list Proportional representation | |
Last election | November 19, 2017 |
Next election | November 21, 2021 |
| Meeting place | |
| Senate Chamber, National Congress Building, Valparaíso, Chile | |
| Website | |
| http://www.senado.cl | |
 |
|---|
| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Chile |
| Comptroller General |
| Constitutional Court |
|
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 thirty-eight directly elected senators, chosen by universal popular suffrage vote in 19 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 sessions at the new (1990) National Congress located in the port city of Valparaíso that replaced the old National Congress 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.
Consultive 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.
Election cycles
Key to Senate classes by regions:
- Class 1 consists of:
-the 23 current senators whose seats expire in March 2026.
- Class 2 consists of:
-the 20 current senators whose seats expire in March 2022. Plus 7 new senators, who will be elected in 2022
| Class | Election | Expire | New Majority | Chile Vamos | Other pacts | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018 | 2026 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 23 |
| 2 | 2014 | 2022 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 20 |
| Total | 21 | 19 | 3 | 43 | ||
Current composition Senate of Chile
| Constituency | Region | Class | Senator | Name | Political Group | Party | Prior Public Office/Position | Education | Assumed Office | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arica and Parinacota Tarapacá | 1 |  | Fulvio Rossi | New Majority | PS | Deputy District 2° (Iquique, Huara, Camiña, Colchane, Pica, Pozo Almonte and Alto Hospicio) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 1 | Arica and Parinacota Tarapacá | 1 |  | Jaime Orpis | Chile Vamos | Independent | Deputy District 25° (Macul, San Joaquín and La Granja) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2018 |
| 2 | Antofagasta | 2 |  | Pedro Araya | New Majority | DC | Deputy District 4° (Antofagasta, Mejillones, Sierra Gorda and Taltal) | University of Antofagasta | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 2 | Antofagasta | 2 |  | Alejandro Guillier | New Majority | New Majority's independents | Journalist and television reporter | Catholic University of the North | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 3 | Atacama | 1 |  | Isabel Allende | New Majority | PS | Deputy District 29° (Puente Alto, Pirque, San José de Maipo and La Pintana) | University of Chile | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 3 | Atacama | 1 |  | Baldo Prokurica | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy District 6° (Caldera, Tierra Amarilla, Vallenar, Freirina, Huasco and Alto del Carmen) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2018 |
| 4 | Coquimbo | 2 |  | Adriana Muñoz | New Majority | PPD | Deputy by District 9° (Combarbalá, Punitaqui, Monte Patria, Illapel, Salamanca, Los Vilos and Canela) | University of Chile University of Vienna | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 4 | Coquimbo | 2 |  | Jorge Pizarro | New Majority | DC | Deputy by District 8° (Coquimbo, Ovalle and Rio Hurtado) | University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 5 | Valparaíso Cordillera | 1 |  | Ignacio Walker | New Majority | DC | Foreign Minister during the government of Ricardo Lagos | University of Chile Princeton University | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 5 | Valparaíso Cordillera | 1 |  | Lily Pérez | Out of pact | Amplitude | Deputy District 38° (Curepto, Constitución, Empedrado, Pencahue, Maule, San Clemente, Pelarco, Río Claro and San Rafael) | University of the Pacific (Chile) Gabriela Mistral University | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 6 | Valparaíso Coast | 1 |  | Ricardo Lagos Weber | New Majority | PPD | General Secretariat of Government minister during the government of Michelle Bachelet | University of Chile University of Sussex | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 6 | Valparaíso Coast | 1 |  | Francisco Chahuán | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy District 14° (Viña del Mar and Concon) | University of Valparaíso | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 7 | Santiago West | 2 |  | Guido Girardi | New Majority | PPD | Deputy District 18° (Cerro Navia, Lo Prado and Quinta Normal) | University of Chile | March 11, 2006 | March 11, 2022 |
| 7 | Santiago West | 2 |  | Andrés Allamand | Chile Vamos | RN | Defense Minister under President Sebastián Piñera | University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 8 | Santiago East | 2 |  | Manuel José Ossandón | Chile Vamos | Independent | Mayor of Puente Alto | Inacap | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 8 | Santiago East | 2 |  | Carlos Montes | New Majority | PS | Deputy District 26° (La Florida) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 9 | O'Higgins | 2 |  | Juan Pablo Letelier | New Majority | PS | Deputy District 33° (Mostazal, Graneros, Codegua, Machalí, Requínoa, Rengo, Olivar, Doñihue, Coinco, Coltauco, Quinta de Tilcoco and Malloa) | Georgetown University | March 11, 2006 | March 11, 2022 |
| 9 | O'Higgins | 2 |  | Alejandro García-Huidobro | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy District 32° (Rancagua) | University of Chile | August 2, 2011 | March 11, 2022 |
| 10 | Maule North | 1 |  | Andrés Zaldívar | New Majority | DC | Interior Minister during the government of Michelle Bachelet | University of Chile | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 10 | Maule North | 1 |  | Juan Antonio Coloma | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy District 31° (Talagante, Peñaflor, El Monte, Isla de Maipo, Melipilla, María Pinto, Curacaví, Alhué and San Pedro) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2018 |
| 11 | Maule South | 1 |  | Manuel Matta | New Majority | DC | Ambassador of Chile in El Salvador | University of Chile | May 7, 2014 | March 11, 2018 |
| 11 | Maule South | 1 |  | Hernán Larraín | Chile Vamos | UDI | No previous public office | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 1994 | March 11, 2018 |
| 12 | Biobío Coast | 2 |  | Alejandro Navarro | New Majority | MAS | Deputy District 45° (Tomé, Penco, Florida, Hualqui, Coronel and Santa Juana) | University of Concepción | March 11, 2006 | March 11, 2022 |
| 12 | Biobío Coast | 2 |  | Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe | Chile Vamos | UDI | Intendant of the Bío Bío Region | University of Concepción | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 13 | Biobío Cordillera | 2 |  | Felipe Harboe | New Majority | PPD | Deputy District 22° (Santiago) | Central University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 13 | Biobío Cordillera | 2 |  | Víctor Pérez | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy District 47° (Los Ángeles, Tucapel, Antuco, Quilleco, Santa Bárbara, Quilaco, Mulchén, Negrete, Nacimiento, San Rosendo, Laja and Alto Biobío) | University of Concepción | March 11, 2006 | March 11, 2022 |
| 14 | Araucanía North | 1 |  | Jaime Quintana | New Majority | PPD | Deputy District 49° (Victoria, Curacautín, Lonquimay, Melipeuco, Vilcún, Lautaro, Perquenco and Galvarino) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile University of La Frontera | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 14 | Araucanía North | 1 |  | Alberto Espina | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy District 21° (Providence and Ñuñoa) | University of Chile | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2018 |
| 15 | Araucanía South | 1 |  | Eugenio Tuma | New Majority | PPD | Deputy District 51° (Carahue, Nueva Imperial, Saavedra, Teodoro Schmidt, Freire, Pitrufquén and Cholchol) | University of Chile | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 15 | Araucanía South | 1 |  | José García Ruminot | Chile Vamos | RN | Deputy District 50° (Temuco and Padre Las Casas) | Higher Institute of Trade | March 11, 2002 | March 11, 2018 |
| 16 | Los Ríos | 2 |  | Alfonso De Urresti | New Majority | PS | Deputy District 53° (Corral, Lanco, Mafil, Mariquina and Valdivia) | University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 16 | Los Ríos | 2 |  | Ena von Baer | Chile Vamos | UDI | Senator for Constituency 8 | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile RWTH Aachen University | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 17 | Los Lagos | 2 |  | Rabindranath Quinteros | New Majority | PS | Mayor of Puerto Montt | University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 17 | Los Lagos | 2 |  | Iván Moreira | Chile Vamos | UDI | Deputy District 27° (El Bosque, La Cisterna and San Ramon) | Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta Arenas | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |
| 18 | Aysén | 1 |  | Antonio Horvath | Independent | Independent | Deputy District 59° (Coihaique, Lago Verde, Aisén, Cisnes, Guaitecas, Chile Chico, Río Ibáñez, Cochrane, O'Higgins and Tortel) | University of Chile | March 11, 1994 | March 11, 2018 |
| 18 | Aysén | 1 |  | Patricio Walker | New Majority | DC | Deputy by District 8° (Coquimbo, Ovalle and Río Hurtado) | Diego Portales University | March 11, 2010 | March 11, 2018 |
| 19 | Magallanes | 2 |  | Carlos Bianchi | Out of pact | DRP | Councillor of Punta Arenas | Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta Arenas | March 11, 2006 | March 11, 2022 |
| 19 | Magallanes | 2 |  | Carolina Goic | New Majority | DC | Deputy District 60° (Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, Punta Arenas, Río Verde, Laguna Blanca, San Gregorio, Porvenir, Primavera, Timaukel, Cabo de Hornos and Antártica) | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | March 11, 2014 | March 11, 2022 |