Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senado / Senate
|
LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
Electoral Law |
26 January 2010 (2010 Constitution) |
Mode of designation |
directly elected 190 |
Constituencies |
- 32 multi-member constituencies in the country (31 constituencies corresponding to the provinces and one to the National District). Each province is represented by no less than two deputies. One member is elected for every 50,000 inhabitants in the constituency. One further member is elected for each additional 25,000 inhabitants in the constituency.
- 3 multi-member constituencies abroad. |
Voting system |
Proportional:
- 178 members are elected under List Proportional Representation (List PR) from constituencies in the National District and provinces.
- Five additional seats are allotted to the parties that obtained at least one percent of valid votes nationwide, preferably those that did not win any of the 178 initial seats.
- In addition, seven members represent the Dominican community abroad, who also are elected under List PR.
If vacancies arise between general elections, the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies chooses a replacement from among three candidates nominated by the party whose member vacated his/her seat.
Voting is compulsory.
|
Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years or married
- Dominican Republic citizenship
- disqualifications: members of the armed forces and police, irrevocable conviction for treason, espionage or conspiracy against the Republic, conviction for taking up arms or lending aid or participating in any attack against the country; right suspended in cases of irrevocable sentence to criminal punishment (until rehabilitation), legally declared judicial interdiction (while in effect) and acceptance, while in the country, of an office or employment from a foreign government without prior authorization from the executive branch |
CANDIDATES |
Eligibility |
- qualified electors
- age: 25 years
- Dominican Republic citizenship
- full enjoyment of civil and political rights
- native of the territorial district where elected or residence therein for at least five consecutive years |
Incompatibilities |
- any other public office or position |
Candidacy requirements |
- nomination by a political party recognized by the Central Electoral Board; candidates are chosen by a convention of their party, which then submits these names to the competent electoral board
- support by a political group which has an organization and a programme similar to that of a political party for independent candidates |