Senate of Chile

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

Constituency	Region	Senator	Name	Political Group	Party	Prior Public Office/Position	Education	Assumed Office	Term Expires
I	Arica and Parinacota	File:José Miguel Insulza Salinas.jpg	José Miguel Insulza	Democratic Socialism	PS	Secretary General of the Organization of American States	University of Chile	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:José Durana Semir.jpg	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	File:Jorge Soria Quiroga.jpg	Jorge Soria	Democratic Socialism	PPD	Mayor of Iquique	Iquique Men's High School, Iquique	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Luz Ebensperger Orrego.jpg	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	File:Pedro Araya Guerrero.jpg	Pedro Araya Guerrero	Democratic Socialism	Ind. - PPD	Deputy of former District 4	University of Antofagasta	March 11, 2014	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Esteban Jorge Velásquez Núñez (2022).jpg	Esteban Velásquez	Constituent Unity	FREVS	Deputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region)	University of Tarapacá	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senadora Paulina Núñez Urrutia (2022).jpg	Paulina Núñez	Chile Vamos	RN	Deputy of District 3 (Antofagasta Region)	Catholic University of the North	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
IV	Atacama	File:Yasna Provoste Campillay.jpg	Yasna Provoste	Out of pact	DC	Deputy of former District 6	University of Playa Ancha	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Rafael Prohens.jpg	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	File:Senador Daniel Ignacio Núñez Arancibia.jpg	Daniel Núñez	Apruebo Dignidad	PC	Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region)	University of Chile	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Matías Walker Prieto (2022).jpg	Matías Walker	Out of pact	Democrats	Deputy of District 5 (Coquimbo Region)	Diego Portales University University for Development	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Sergio Alfredo Gahona Salazar.jpg	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	File:Francisco Chahuán Chahuán.jpg	Francisco Chahuán	Chile Vamos	RN	Deputy of former District 14	University of Valparaíso	March 11, 2010	March 11, 2026
		File:Kenneth Pugh Olavarría.jpg	Kenneth Pugh Olavarría		RN	General Director of the Personnel of the Chilean Navy	Arturo Prat Naval School, Valparaíso	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Ricardo Lagos Weber.jpg	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
		File:María Isabel Allende Bussi.jpg	Isabel Allende	Democratic Socialism	PS	Senator for Constituency 3	University of Chile	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Juan Ignacio Latorre.jpg	Juan Ignacio Latorre	Apruebo Dignidad	RD	No previous public office	Central University of Chile	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
VII	Santiago Metropolitan	File:Manuel José Ossandón Irarrázabal.jpg	Manuel José Ossandón	Chile Vamos	RN	Mayor of Puente Alto	Inacap	March 11, 2014	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Luciano Cruz-Coke (2022).jpg	Luciano Cruz-Coke		Evópoli	Deputy of District 10 (Santiago Centre)	Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Claudia Pascual Grau.jpg	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
		File:Fabiola Campillai Rojas.jpg	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
		File:Rojo Edwards Senador 2022.jpg	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	File:Senadora Alejandra Sepúlveda Orbenes.jpg	Alejandra Sepúlveda	Apruebo Dignidad	Independent	Deputy of District 16 (Colchagua Province)	Austral University of Chile	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Javier Ignacio Macaya Danus.jpg	Javier Macaya	Chile Vamos	UDI	Deputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province)	Pontifical Catholic University of Chile	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Juan Luis Castro González.jpg	Juan Luis Castro	Democratic Socialism	PS	Deputy of District 15 (Cachapoal Province)	University of Chile	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
IX	Maule	File:Juan castro prieto talca senador.jpg	Juan Castro Prieto	Chile Vamos	PSC	Mayor of Talca	Industrial A-10 High School, Talca	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Rodrigo Galilea.jpg	Rodrigo Galilea		RN	Intendant of the Maule Region during Sebastián Piñera's presidency	Pontifical Catholic University of Chile	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Juan Antonio Coloma Correa oficial.jpg	Juan Antonio Coloma Correa		UDI	Deputy of former District 31	Pontifical Catholic University of Chile	March 11, 2002	March 11, 2026
		File:Ximena Rincón González, ministra Segpres.jpg	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
		File:Senadora Paulina Vodanovic.jpg	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	File:Senador Sebastián Keitel Bianchi (2022).jpg	Sebastián Keitel	Chile Vamos	Evópoli	Deputy of District 9 (Santiago North)	Silva Henríquez Catholic University	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Enrique Van Rysselberghe Herrera.jpg	Enrique van Rysselberghe		UDI	Deputy of District 20 (Concepción Province)	University for Development	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Gastón René Saavedra Chandía.jpg	Gastón Saavedra	Democratic Socialism	PS	Deputy of District 20 (Concepción Province)	Federico Santa María Technical University	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
XVI	Ñuble	File:María Loreto Carvajal Ambiado (2018).jpg	Loreto Carvajal	Democratic Socialism	PPD	Deputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region)	Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception	March 3, 2021	March 11, 2030
		File:Gustavo Adolfo Sanhueza Dueñas.jpg	Gustavo Sanhueza	Chile Vamos	UDI	Deputy of District 19 (Ñuble Region)	University of the Bío Bío	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
XI	Araucanía	File:Felipe José Kast Sommerhoff.jpg	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
		File:José García Ruminot.jpg	José García Ruminot		RN	Deputy of former District 50	University of La Frontera	March 11, 2002	March 11, 2026
		File:Carmen Gloria Aravena Acuña.jpg	Carmen Gloria Aravena	Out of pact	PLR	Traiguén municipal administrator	University of La Frontera	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Francisco Huenchumilla - Intendente Región de la Araucanía.jpg	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
		File:Jaime Quintana Leal.jpg	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	File:Alfonso De Urresti Longton.jpg	Alfonso de Urresti	Democratic Socialism	PS	Deputy of former District 53 (El Ranco province)	University of Chile	March 11, 2014	March 11, 2030
		File:María José Gatica Bertín.jpg	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
		File:Senador Iván Flores García (2022).jpg	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	File:Iván Moreira Barros.jpg	Iván Moreira	Chile Vamos	UDI	Deputy of former District 27	Luis Alberto Barrera High School, Punta Arenas	March 11, 2014	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Carlos Ignacio Kuschel Silva.jpg	Carlos Kuschel		RN	Deputy of District 26 (Los Lagos Region)	Austral University of Chile	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Senador Fidel Espinoza Sandoval (2022).jpg	Fidel Espinoza	Democratic Socialism	PS	Deputy of District 25 (Los Lagos Region)	University of Chile	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
XIV	Aysén	File:David Sandoval Plaza.jpg	David Sandoval	Chile Vamos	UDI	Deputy of former District 59 (Aysén Region)	University of Chile	March 11, 2018	March 11, 2026
		File:Ximena Órdenes Neira.jpg	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	File:Karim Antonio Bianchi Retamales.jpg	Karim Bianchi	Out of pact	Independent	Deputy of District 28 (Magallanes Region)	UNIACC University of Magallanes	March 11, 2022	March 11, 2030
		File:Alejandro Juan Kusanovic Glusevic.jpg	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

• President of the Senate of Chile
• National Congress of Chile
• Chamber of Deputies of Chile
• Politics of Chile
• List of legislatures by country

External links

• Senate of Chile Official web site
• Article from the Economist dealing with the Senate composition