Senate of Chile

33°02′52″S 71°36′21″W

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
President
Juan Antonio Coloma Correa[1], UDI
since 15 March 2023
Vice-President
Francisco Huenchumilla, PDC
since 15 March 2023
General Secretary
Raúl Guzmán Uribe
since 16 April 2021
Structure
Seats50
Political groups
Government (19)
  • Apruebo Dignidad (6)
    •   PCCh (2)
    •   FREVS (2)
    •   RD (1)
    •   Independent (1)
  • Democratic Socialism (13)

Opposition (25)

Others (6)

  •   DC (3)
  •   Democrats (2)
  •   Independent (1)
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

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

ConstituencyRegionSenatorNamePolitical GroupPartyPrior Public Office/PositionEducationAssumed OfficeTerm Expires
IArica and ParinacotaJosé Miguel InsulzaDemocratic SocialismPSSecretary General of the Organization of American StatesUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IArica and ParinacotaJosé DuranaChile VamosUDIIntendant of the Arica y Parinacota Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidencyUniversity of TarapacáMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IITarapacáJorge SoriaDemocratic SocialismPPDMayor of IquiqueIquique Men's High School, IquiqueMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IITarapacáLuz EbenspergerChile VamosUDIIntendant of the Tarapacá Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidencyPontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2022
IIIAntofagastaPedro Araya GuerreroDemocratic SocialismInd. - PPDDeputy of former District 4University of AntofagastaMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2030
IIIAntofagastaEsteban VelásquezConstituent UnityFREVSDeputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region)University of TarapacáMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
IIIAntofagastaPaulina NúñezChile VamosRNDeputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region)Catholic University of the NorthMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
IVAtacamaYasna ProvosteOut of pactDCDeputy of former District 6University of Playa AnchaMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IVAtacamaRafael ProhensChile VamosRNIntendant of the Atacama Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidencyExcelsior College, SantiagoMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
VCoquimboDaniel NúñezApruebo DignidadPCDeputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region)University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
VCoquimboMatías WalkerOut of pactDemocratsDeputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region)Diego Portales University

University for Development

March 11, 2022March 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
VIValparaísoFrancisco ChahuánChile VamosRNDeputy of former District 14University of ValparaísoMarch 11, 2010March 11, 2026
VIValparaísoKenneth Pugh OlavarríaChile VamosRNGeneral Director of the Personnel of the Chilean NavyArturo Prat Naval School, ValparaísoMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
VIValparaísoRicardo Lagos WeberDemocratic SocialismPPDMinister Secretary General of Government during Michelle Bachelet's presidencyUniversity of Chile
University of Sussex
March 11, 2010March 11, 2026
VIValparaísoIsabel AllendeDemocratic SocialismPSSenator for Constituency 3University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
VIValparaísoJuan Ignacio LatorreApruebo DignidadRDNo previous public officeCentral University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
VIISantiago MetropolitanManuel José OssandónChile VamosRNMayor of Puente AltoInacapMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2030
VIISantiago MetropolitanLuciano Cruz-CokeChile VamosEvópoliDeputy of District 10 (Santiago Centre)Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film InstituteMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
VIISantiago MetropolitanClaudia PascualApruebo DignidadPCMinister of Women and Gender Equality during Michelle Bachelet's presidencyUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
VIISantiago MetropolitanFabiola CampillaiApruebo DignidadIndependentNo previous public officeFidel Pinochet Le-brun High School, San Bernardo

Manuel Barros Borgoño High School, Santiago

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

Harvard Kennedy School

March 11, 2022 March 11, 2030
VIIIO'HigginsAlejandra SepúlvedaApruebo DignidadIndependentDeputy of District 16 (Colchagua Province)Austral University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
VIIIO'HigginsJavier MacayaChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province)Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

University of Valparaíso

Adolfo Ibáñez University
March 11, 2022March 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
IXMauleJuan Castro PrietoChile VamosInd. - PSCMayor of TalcaIndustrial A-10 High School, TalcaMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IXMauleRodrigo GalileaChile VamosRNIntendant of the Maule Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidencyPontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IXMauleJuan Antonio Coloma CorreaChile VamosUDIDeputy of former District 31Pontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2002March 11, 2026
IXMauleXimena RincónOut of pactDemocratsMinister of Labor and Social Provision during Michelle Bachelet's presidencyUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
IXMaulePaulina VodanovicDemocratic SocialismPSSubsecretary for the Armed Forces during Michelle Bachelet's presidencyUniversity of ChileApril 25, 2023March 11, 2026
XBiobíoSebastián KeitelChile VamosEvópoliDeputy of District 9 (Santiago North)Silva Henríquez Catholic UniversityMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
XBiobíoEnrique van RysselbergheChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 20 (Concepción Province)University for DevelopmentMarch 11, 2022March 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
XVIÑubleLoreto CarvajalDemocratic SocialismPPDDeputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region)Catholic University of the Most Holy ConceptionMarch 3, 2021March 11, 2030
XVIÑubleGustavo SanhuezaChile VamosUDIDeputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region)University of the Bío BíoMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030
XIAraucaníaFelipe KastChile VamosEvópoliDeputy of former District 22 (Santiago commune)Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Harvard University
March 11, 2018March 11, 2026
XIAraucaníaCarmen Gloria AravenaOut of pactPLRTraiguén municipal administratorUniversity of La FronteraMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
XIAraucaníaJosé García RuminotChile VamosRNDeputy of former District 50University of La FronteraMarch 11, 2002March 11, 2026
XIAraucaníaFrancisco HuenchumillaOut of pactDCIntendant of the Araucanía Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidencyUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
XIAraucaníaJaime QuintanaDemocratic SocialismPPDDeputy of former District 49Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
University of La Frontera
March 11, 2010March 11, 2026
XIILos RíosAlfonso de UrrestiDemocratic SocialismPSDeputy of former District 53 (El Ranco province)University of ChileMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2030
XIILos RíosMaría José GaticaChile VamosRNProvincial Governor of Valdivia during Sebastián Piñera's presidencyAustral University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 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
XIIILos LagosIván MoreiraChile VamosUDIDeputy of former District 27Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta ArenasMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2030
XIIILos LagosFidel EspinozaDemocratic SocialismPSDeputy of District 25 (Los Lagos Region)University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 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
XIVAysénDavid SandovalChile VamosUDIDeputy of former District 59 (Aysén Region)University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
XIVAysénXimena ÓrdenesDemocratic SocialismInd. - PPDIntendant of the Aysén Region during Michelle Bachelet's presidencyAndrés Bello National UniversityMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
XVMagallanesKarim BianchiOut of pactIndependentDeputy of District 28 (Magallanes Region)UNIACC

University of Magallanes

March 11, 2022March 11, 2030
XVMagallanesAlejandro KusanovicChile VamosInd. - PSCPresident of the Regional Council of Magallanes (2019-2021)Technical State University of ChileMarch 11, 2022March 11, 2030

See also

Notes

  1. "Juan Antonio Coloma Correa". www.bcn.cl. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
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