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
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 (27)

Others (4)

    •   DC (3)
    •   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

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

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.

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 terms expire in March 2026.

  • Class 2 consists of:

-the 20 current senators whose terms expires March 2022. Plus 7 new senators, who were elected in the 2021 general elections.

ClassElectionExpireCP/DCChile VamosOther pactsTotal
1201820261012123
220142022117220
Total2119343

Current composition Senate of Chile

ConstituencyRegionClassSenatorNamePolitical GroupPartyPrior Public Office/PositionEducationAssumed OfficeTerm Expires
1Arica and Parinacota1José Miguel InsulzaConstituent UnityPSSecretary General of the Organization of American StatesUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
1Arica and Parinacota1José DuranaChile VamosUDIIntendant of the Arica y Parinacota RegionUniversity of TarapacáMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
2Tarapacá1Jorge SoriaConstituent UnityIndependentMayor of IquiqueIquique Men's High School, IquiqueMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
2Tarapacá1Luz EbenspergerChile VamosUDIIntendant of the Tarapacá RegionPontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2022
3Antofagasta2Pedro Araya GuerreroConstituent UnityIndependentDeputy District 4° (Antofagasta, Mejillones, Sierra Gorda and Taltal)University of AntofagastaMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
3Antofagasta2Alejandro GuillierConstituent UnityIndependentJournalist and television reporterCatholic University of the NorthMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
4Atacama1Yasna ProvosteConstituent UnityDCDeputy District 6° (Alto del Carmen, Caldera, Freirina, Huasco, Tierra Amarilla and Vallenar)University of Playa AnchaMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
4Atacama1Rafael ProhensChile VamosRNIntendant of the Atacama RegionExcelsior College, SantiagoMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
5Coquimbo2Adriana MuñozConstituent UnityPPDDeputy by District 9° (Combarbalá, Punitaqui, Monte Patria, Illapel, Salamanca, Los Vilos and Canela)University of Chile
University of Vienna
March 11, 2014March 11, 2022
5Coquimbo2Jorge PizarroConstituent UnityDCDeputy by District 8° (Coquimbo, Ovalle and Rio Hurtado)University of ChileMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
6Valparaíso1Francisco ChahuánChile VamosRNDeputy District 14° (Viña del Mar and Concon)University of ValparaísoMarch 11, 2010March 11, 2026
6Valparaíso1Kenneth Pugh OlavarríaChile VamosRNGeneral Director of the Personnel of the Chilean NavyArturo Prat Naval School, ValparaísoMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
6Valparaíso1Ricardo Lagos WeberConstituent UnityPPDGeneral Secretariat of Government minister during the government of Michelle BacheletUniversity of Chile
University of Sussex
March 11, 2010March 11, 2026
6Valparaíso1Isabel AllendeConstituent UnityPSSenator for Constituency 3University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
6Valparaíso1Juan Ignacio LatorreBroad FrontRDNo previous public officeCentral University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
7Santiago West2Guido GirardiConstituent UnityPPDDeputy District 18° (Cerro Navia, Lo Prado and Quinta Normal)University of ChileMarch 11, 2006March 11, 2022
7Santiago West2Marcela SabatChile VamosRNDeputy District 10° (Santiago, Providencia, Ñuñoa, Macul, La Granja and San Joaquín)Universidad del Desarrollo
Finis Terrae University
August 4, 2020March 11, 2022
8Santiago East2Manuel José OssandónChile VamosRNMayor of Puente AltoInacapMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
8Santiago East2Carlos Montes CisternasConstituent UnityPSDeputy District 26° (La Florida)Pontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
9O'Higgins2Juan Pablo LetelierConstituent UnityPSDeputy District 33° (Mostazal, Graneros, Codegua, Machalí, Requínoa, Rengo, Olivar, Doñihue, Coinco, Coltauco, Quinta de Tilcoco and Malloa)Georgetown UniversityMarch 11, 2006March 11, 2022
9O'Higgins2Alejandro García-HuidobroChile VamosUDIDeputy District 32° (Rancagua)University of ChileAugust 2, 2011March 11, 2022
10Maule1Juan Castro PrietoChile VamosIndependentMayor of TalcaIndustrial A-10 High School, TalcaMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
10Maule1Rodrigo GalileaChile VamosRNIntendant of the Maule RegionPontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
10Maule1Juan Antonio Coloma CorreaChile VamosUDIDeputy District 31° (Talagante, Peñaflor, El Monte, Isla de Maipo, Melipilla, María Pinto, Curacaví, Alhué and San Pedro)Pontifical Catholic University of ChileMarch 11, 2002March 11, 2026
10Maule1Ximena RincónConstituent UnityDCLabor Minister during the government of Michelle BacheletUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
10Maule1Álvaro ElizaldeConstituent UnityPSGeneral Secretariat of Government during the government of Michelle BacheletUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
11Biobío2Alejandro NavarroConstituent UnityPRODeputy District 45° (Tomé, Penco, Florida, Hualqui, Coronel and Santa Juana)University of ConcepciónMarch 11, 2006March 11, 2022
11Biobío2Jacqueline Van RysselbergheChile VamosUDIIntendant of the Bío Bío RegionUniversity of ConcepciónMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
12Biobío
Ñuble
2Loreto CarvajalConstituent UnityPPDDeputy District 19º (Bulnes, Cabrero, Cobquecura, Coelemu, Ñiquén, Portezuelo, Quillón, Quirihue, Ninhue, Ránquil, San Carlos, San Fabián, San Nicolás, Treguaco, Yumbel, Chillán, Chillán Viejo, Coihueco, El Carmen, Pemuco, Pinto, San Ignacio and Yungay).Catholic University of the Most Holy ConceptionMarch 3, 2021March 11, 2022
12Biobío
Ñuble
2Claudio AlvaradoChile VamosUDIGeneral Secretariat of Presidency during the government of Sebastián PiñeraValparaiso Business SchoolAugust 4, 2020March 11, 2022
13Araucanía1Felipe KastChile VamosEvópoliDeputy District 22° (Santiago)Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Harvard University
March 11, 2018March 11, 2026
13Araucanía1Carmen Gloria AravenaChile VamosIndependentTraiguén municipal administratorUniversity of La FronteraMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
13Araucanía1José García RuminotChile VamosRNDeputy District 50° (Temuco and Padre Las Casas)Higher Institute of TradeMarch 11, 2002March 11, 2026
13Araucanía1Francisco HuenchumillaConstituent UnityDCIntendant of the Araucanía RegionUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
13Araucanía1Jaime QuintanaConstituent UnityPPDDeputy District 49° (Victoria, Curacautín, Lonquimay, Melipeuco, Vilcún, Lautaro, Perquenco and Galvarino)Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
University of La Frontera
March 11, 2010March 11, 2026
14Los Ríos2Alfonso de UrrestiConstituent UnityPSDeputy District 53° (Corral, Lanco, Mafil, Mariquina and Valdivia)University of ChileMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
14Los Ríos2Ena von BaerChile VamosUDISenator for Constituency 8Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
RWTH Aachen University
March 11, 2014March 11, 2022
15Los Lagos2Rabindranath QuinterosConstituent UnityPSMayor of Puerto MonttUniversity of ChileMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
15Los Lagos2Iván MoreiraChile VamosUDIDeputy District 27° (El Bosque, La Cisterna and San Ramon)Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta ArenasMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022
16Aysén1David SandovalChile VamosUDIDeputy District 59° (Coihaique, Lago Verde, Aisén, Cisnes, Guaitecas, Chile Chico, Río Ibáñez, Cochrane, O'Higgins and Tortel)University of ChileMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2026
16Aysén1Ximena ÓrdenesConstituent UnityIndependentIntendant of the Aysén RegionAndrés Bello National UniversityMarch 11, 2018March 11, 2016
17Magallanes2Carlos Bianchi ChelechOut of pactIndependentCouncillor of Punta ArenasLuis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta ArenasMarch 11, 2006March 11, 2022
17Magallanes2Carolina GoicConstituent UnityDCDeputy 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 ChileMarch 11, 2014March 11, 2022

See also

Notes

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