Senate of Chile

Senate of the Republic of Chile

Senado de la República de Chile
56th National Congress
Coat of arms or logo
Seal
Type
Type
Term limits
None
Leadership
José García Ruminot, RN
since 19 March 2024
Vice-President
Matías Walker, D
since 19 March 2024
General Secretary
Raúl Guzmán Uribe
since 16 April 2021
Structure
Seats50
Political groups
Government (18)
  • Government Alliance (18)
    •   PS (7)
    •   PPD (6)
    •   PCCh (2)
    •   FREVS (2)
    •   FA (1)

External support (5)

Opposition (27)

Length of term
8 years
Elections
Open list Proportional representation
Last election
21 November 2021
Next election
2025
Meeting place
Senate Chamber, National Congress Building, Valparaíso, Chile
Website
http://www.senado.cl

33°02′52″S 71°36′21″W / 33.04778°S 71.60583°W / -33.04778; -71.60583

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Constituency Region Senator Name Political Group Party Prior Public Office/Position Education Assumed Office Term Expires
I Arica and Parinacota José Miguel Insulza Democratic Socialism PS Secretary General of the Organization of American States University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
I Arica and Parinacota José Durana Chile Vamos UDI Intendant of the Arica y Parinacota Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency University of Tarapacá March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
II Tarapacá Jorge Soria Democratic Socialism PPD Mayor of Iquique Iquique Men's High School, Iquique March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
II Tarapacá Luz Ebensperger Chile Vamos UDI Intendant of the Tarapacá Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency Pontifical Catholic University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
III Antofagasta Pedro Araya Guerrero Democratic Socialism Ind. - PPD Deputy of former District 4 University of Antofagasta March 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
III Antofagasta Esteban Velásquez Constituent Unity FREVS Deputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region) University of Tarapacá March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
III Antofagasta Paulina Núñez Chile Vamos RN Deputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region) Catholic University of the North March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
IV Atacama Yasna Provoste Out of pact DC Deputy of former District 6 University of Playa Ancha March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IV Atacama Rafael Prohens Chile Vamos RN Intendant of the Atacama Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency Excelsior College, Santiago March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
V Coquimbo Daniel Núñez Apruebo Dignidad PC Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
V Coquimbo Matías Walker Out of pact Democrats Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) Diego Portales University

University for Development

March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
V Coquimbo Sergio Gahona Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region) Diego Portales University

Catholic University of the North

March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VI Valparaíso Francisco Chahuán Chile Vamos RN Deputy of former District 14 University of Valparaíso March 11, 2010 March 11, 2026
VI Valparaíso Kenneth Pugh Olavarría Chile Vamos RN General Director of the Personnel of the Chilean Navy Arturo Prat Naval School, Valparaíso March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
VI Valparaíso Ricardo Lagos Weber Democratic Socialism PPD Minister Secretary General of Government during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of Chile
University of Sussex
March 11, 2010 March 11, 2026
VI Valparaíso Isabel Allende Democratic Socialism PS Senator for Constituency 3 University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
VI Valparaíso Juan Ignacio Latorre Apruebo Dignidad RD No previous public office Central University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
VII Santiago Metropolitan Manuel José Ossandón Chile Vamos RN Mayor of Puente Alto Inacap March 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago Metropolitan Luciano Cruz-Coke Chile Vamos Evópoli Deputy of District 10 (Santiago Centre) Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago Metropolitan Claudia Pascual Apruebo Dignidad PC Minister of Women and Gender Equality during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago Metropolitan Fabiola Campillai Apruebo Dignidad Independent No previous public office Fidel Pinochet Le-brun High School, San Bernardo

Manuel Barros Borgoño High School, Santiago

March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VII Santiago Metropolitan Rojo Edwards Out of pact PSC Deputy of former District 51 Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Harvard Kennedy School

March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VIII O'Higgins Alejandra Sepúlveda Apruebo Dignidad Independent Deputy of District 16 (Colchagua Province) Austral University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VIII O'Higgins Javier Macaya Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province) Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

University of Valparaíso Adolfo Ibáñez University|| March 11, 2022 || March 11, 2030

VIII O'Higgins Juan Luis Castro Democratic Socialism PS Deputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province) University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
IX Maule Juan Castro Prieto Chile Vamos PSC Mayor of Talca Industrial A-10 High School, Talca March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IX Maule Rodrigo Galilea Chile Vamos RN Intendant of the Maule Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency Pontifical Catholic University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IX Maule Juan Antonio Coloma Correa Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of former District 31 Pontifical Catholic University of Chile March 11, 2002 March 11, 2026
IX Maule Ximena Rincón Out of pact Democrats Minister of Labor and Social Provision during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
IX Maule Paulina Vodanovic Democratic Socialism PS Subsecretary for the Armed Forces during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of Chile April 25, 2023 March 11, 2026
X Biobío Sebastián Keitel Chile Vamos Evópoli Deputy of District 9 (Santiago North) Silva Henríquez Catholic University March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
X Biobío Enrique van Rysselberghe Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of District 20 (Concepción Province) University for Development March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
X Biobío Gastón Saavedra Democratic Socialism PS Deputy of District 20 (Concepción Province) Federico Santa María Technical University March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XVI Ñuble Loreto Carvajal Democratic Socialism PPD Deputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region) Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception March 3, 2021 March 11, 2030
XVI Ñuble Gustavo Sanhueza Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region) University of the Bío Bío March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XI Araucanía Felipe Kast Chile Vamos Evópoli Deputy of former District 22 (Santiago commune) Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Harvard University
March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XI Araucanía Carmen Gloria Aravena Out of pact PLR Traiguén municipal administrator University of La Frontera March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XI Araucanía José García Ruminot Chile Vamos RN Deputy of former District 50 University of La Frontera March 11, 2002 March 11, 2026
XI Araucanía Francisco Huenchumilla Out of pact DC Intendant of the Araucanía Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidency University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XI Araucanía Jaime Quintana Democratic Socialism PPD Deputy of former District 49 Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
University of La Frontera
March 11, 2010 March 11, 2026
XII Los Ríos Alfonso de Urresti Democratic Socialism PS Deputy of former District 53 (El Ranco province) University of Chile March 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
XII Los Ríos María José Gatica Chile Vamos RN Provincial Governor of Valdivia during Sebastián Piñera's presidency Austral University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XII Los Ríos Iván Flores Out of pact DC Deputy of District 24 (Los Ríos Region) Austral University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XIII Los Lagos Iván Moreira Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of former District 27 Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta Arenas March 11, 2014 March 11, 2030
XIII Los Lagos Fidel Espinoza Democratic Socialism PS Deputy of District 25 (Los Lagos Region) University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XIII Los Lagos Carlos Kuschel Chile Vamos RN Deputy of District 26 (Los Lagos Region) Austral University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XIV Aysén David Sandoval Chile Vamos UDI Deputy of former District 59 (Aysén Region) University of Chile March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XIV Aysén Ximena Órdenes Democratic Socialism Ind. - PPD Intendant of the Aysén Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidency Andrés Bello National University March 11, 2018 March 11, 2026
XV Magallanes Karim Bianchi Out of pact Independent Deputy of District 28 (Magallanes Region) UNIACC

University of Magallanes

March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
XV Magallanes Alejandro Kusanovic Chile Vamos Ind. - PSC President of the Regional Council of Magallanes (2019-2021) Technical State University of Chile March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030

See also

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Notes

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