The duration of the term of almost all lower chambers of parliament is four or five years. In rare cases, it may be three years (Bhutan, El Salvador, Mexico, Tonga) or even two (United Arab Emirates, United States of America).
In bicameral parliaments meanwhile, members of upper chambers are frequently elected or appointed for longer periods. In such cases, provision is sometimes made for a partial renewal during the term of the house, for example in Argentina (senators are elected for a six-year term and half of the house is renewed every three years) and the United States of America (a six-year term with a one-third renewal every two years).
The notion of a term of office does not exist in some assemblies, such as the German Bundesrat, where the term depends on membership of the Government of the Land represented. In addition, some assemblies have an unlimited term: members of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom are appointed for life and members of the Canadian Senate are appointed until retirement.
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Dataset
| Term |
Number of countries |
| 1 year(s) |
1 ( 0.36 %) |
| 2 year(s) |
2 ( 0.72 %) |
| 3 year(s) |
7 ( 2.51 %) |
| 4 year(s) |
87 ( 31.18 %) |
| 5 year(s) |
137 ( 49.1 %) |
| 6 year(s) |
21 ( 7.53 %) |
| 7 year(s) |
1 ( 0.36 %) |
| 8 year(s) |
3 ( 1.08 %) |
| 9 year(s) |
1 ( 0.36 %) |
| Others |
12 ( 4.3 %) |
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