External support (5)
Opposition (27)
Length of term
8 years Open list Proportional representation Last election
21 November 2021 Next election
2025 Senate Chamber, National Congress Building, Valparaíso , Chile 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.
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
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
Notes
External links