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Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senado / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1979 - 1992 2005 - LEADERSHIP President Reinaldo Pared Pérez (M)  Notes Elected on 16 Aug. 2016, re-elected on 16 Aug. 2017 and on 16 Aug. 2018. Secretary General Mercedes Camarena Abreu (a.i.) (F)  Notes 30 Aug. 2012 - COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 32 / 32 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 3 (9.38%) Mode of designation directly elected 32 Term 4 years Last renewal dates 15 May 2016 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Senado Congreso Nacional de la República Centro de los Héroes SANTO DOMINGO (Export mailing lists) Phone (1809) 532 5561 Fax (1809) 535 1482 E-mail oai@senado.gov.do Website http://www.senado.gob.do/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senado / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 26 January 2010 (2010 Constitution) Mode of designation directly elected 32 Constituencies 32 single-member constituencies corresponding to the country's 31 provinces and the National District. Voting system Majority: Majority: simple majority vote. If vacancies arise between general elections, the plenary session of the Senate 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 elctors - 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

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senado / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 15 May 2016 Timing and scope of renewal President Danilo Medina, elected in 2012, led the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and its allies to a fourth consecutive victory in the 190-member Chamber of Deputies (see note 1) and the 32-member Senate. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), led by Mr. Andrés Bautista García, came second. The PRM was formed in 2014 by members expelled from the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), which was the second largest party in the 2010 elections. In the presidential elections, the incumbent President (see note 2) defeated Mr. Luis Abinader (PRM). During the election campaign, the major parties focused on measures to counter crime and address illegal immigration. Note 1: The May 2010 elections were held for 183 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (up from 178) and 32 seats in the Senate. In accordance with transitional measures in the 2010 Constitution, seven members representing Dominicans abroad were elected in May 2012. The number of members in the Chamber of Deputies has thus increased from 183 to 190. Note 2: The 2010 Constitution prohibited consecutive presidential terms. On 12 June 2015, the National Revisory Assembly, composing senators and deputies and tasked with reviewing amendments to the Constitution, adopted constitutional amendments to allow consecutive re-election for the presidency, as was the case before 2010. Date of previous elections: 16 May 2010 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry* *Under the new Constitution, which came into effect in January 2010, the statutory term of the Congress of the Republic remains four years. However, those members elected in 2010 served a six-year term in order to synchronize presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 2016. Expected date of next elections: May 2020 Number of seats at stake: 32 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 224 (194 men, 30 women) Percentage of women candidates: 13.4% Number of parties contesting the election: 17 Number of parties winning seats: 6 Alternation of power: No Number of parties in government: 2 Names of parties in government: Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 16 August 2016 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Reinaldo Pared Pérez (Dominican Liberation Party, PLD) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 15 May 2016 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 6'765'245 4'708'746 (69.6%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) Institutional Social Democratic Bloc (BIS) Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) 26 Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) 2 Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) 1 Institutional Social Democratic Bloc (BIS) 1 Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) 1 Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 29 3 9.38% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Sources: IPU Group (14.07.2016, 17.08.2016) Junta Central Electoral (02.06.2016) http://www.ifes.org http://www.dominicantoday.com/ http://www.dr1.com/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Senado / Senate Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Senate Term - duration: 2 years - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Senators - after validation of mandates - before Senators are sworn in Eligibility - any Senator can be a candidate Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - absolute majority in the first round, relative majority in the second round : in the event of a tie in the second round : lots will be drawn Procedures / results - the outgoing President, or the eldest Senator in the case of a newly elected Assembly, presides over the Senate during the voting STATUS Status - in the absence of the President, the Vice President can assume his/her role and functions Board - consists of the President, a Vice President and two Secretaries - elected for one year Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes extraordinary sessions - establishes and modifies the agenda - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - refers texts to a committee for study Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Senate - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates Special powers - is responsible for establishing the budget - heads up and oversees all of the Senate Departments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates, provided that he leaves his/her seat and does not resume it until the debate has ended

This page was last updated on 17 September 2018
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