• General information
• Electoral system
• Last elections
• Election archive
• Presidency
• Mandate
• Specialized bodies
• Full text

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional / Plurinational Legislative Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Senadores / Chamber of Senators Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1979 - 1980 1983 - LEADERSHIP President Lilly Gabriela Montaño Viaña (F)  Notes Elected on 21 Jan. 2015, re-elected on 20 Jan. 2016, 18 Jan. 2017 and on 18 Jan. 2018. Secretary General Oscar Arze Solíz (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 130 / 130 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 69 (53.08%) Mode of designation directly elected 130 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 12 October 2014 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Cámara de Diputados Palacio Legislativo Plaza Murillo LA PAZ-BOLIVIA (Export mailing lists) Phone (591 2) 214 4002 Fax (591 2) 220 1921 E-mail webmaster@diputados.gob.bo Website http://www.diputados.bo/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional / Plurinational Legislative Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Senadores / Chamber of Senators LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 30 April 2002 Last updated on 30 June 2010 (La Ley No. 026 de Régimen Electoral) Mode of designation directly elected 130 Constituencies - 70 single-member constituencies - 9 multi-member constituencies (seats allocated according to population) corresponding to the country's departments. Voting system Mixed: Mixed system: - simple majority vote for 68 seats. - party-list proportional representation vote with a double quotient system. Only lists which receive a number of valid votes in excess of the simple electoral quotient may share the allocation of seats. A second quotient is then computed which only takes account of the votes obtained by the participating lists and which determines the exact allocation of seats, with each list receiving as many seats as the number of times it fulfils this quotient. Seats not filled in this first count are attributed to parties with the greatest remainders. Lists eliminated in the first count may participate in this second count. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by substitutes elected at the same time as titular members of Congress or, failing this, by the "next-in-line" candidate on the same party list. Voting is compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Bolivian citizenship CANDIDATES Eligibility - age: 25 years - Bolivian citizenship by birth - fulfillment of military obligations - literacy - full possession of civil rights - ineligibility: arrest, imprisonment Incompatibilities - Minister of the Government - diplomat - civil servant or employee - military or police officer on active duty - contractor for public works or services - manager or administrator of a State-related company or enterprise - certain ecclesiastics Candidacy requirements - nomination by political parties, coalition of parties or duly-recognised civic institutions - Candidacies are presented on the basis of gender equality, with women and men alternating on the list. At least 50 per cent of candidates (both titular and substitutes) must be women.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional / Plurinational Legislative Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Senadores / Chamber of Senators BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 12 October 2014 Timing and scope of renewal President Evo Morales' Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP ) won a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. It took 88 seats in the 130-member Chamber of Deputies and 25 in the 36-member Senate. The Democratic Unity coalition (UD) - comprising the Social Democratic Movement (MDS ) and the National Unity Front (UNF) - took 32 seats in the Chamber and nine in the Senate. Following a law passed in 2010, which requires electoral lists to include an equal number of men and women, the 2014 elections resulted in a record number of women - 69 (up from 29) in the Chamber (53.08%) and 17 (up from 15) in the Senate (47.22%). Mr. Morales, who has been President since 2006, was re-elected for a third term (see note). During the election campaign, the President ran on the government's record, highlighting economic growth and reduced poverty in the country. The MAS-IPSP promised to halve extreme poverty to 9% by 2020. It also promised to call a referendum on reform of the judiciary, though it did not unveil the details. UDC's presidential candidate, Mr. Samuel Doria Medina, proposed to introduce a new subsidy to eradicate extreme poverty. He also promised to restore diplomatic relations with the United States and to withdraw from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). Note: The Constitution stipulates that the President can serve only two consecutive terms. In April 2013, the Constitutional Court ruled that President would be able to seek re-election in 2014. It stated President Morales' first term did not count since it was shortened due to the 2009 constitutional referendum and subsequent early presidential elections. Date of previous elections: 6 December 2009 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: October 2019 Number of seats at stake: 130 (full renewal) Number of candidates: Not available. Percentage of women candidates: Not available. Number of parties contesting the election: Not available. Number of parties winning seats: 3 Alternation of power: No Number of parties in government: 1 Names of parties in government: Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 21 January 2015 Name of the new Speaker: Ms.Lilly Gabriela Montaño Viaña (MAS) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 12 October 2014 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 5'973'901 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) National Unity Front (UNF) Christian Democrats Party (PDC) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) 88 National Unity Front (UNF) 32 Christian Democrats Party (PDC) 10 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 61 69 53.08% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Source: Plurinational Legislative Assembly (17.11.2014, 19.11.2014, 09.12.2014)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional / Plurinational Legislative Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Senadores / Chamber of Senators APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Chamber of Deputies Term - duration: 1 year - reasons for interruption of the term: death, resignation, dissolution of Parliament Appointment - elected by all Deputies - election is held after validation of mandates and swearing-in Eligibility - any Deputy may be a candidate Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - a two-third majority of the members is required Procedures / results - the outgoing President, the outgoing Vice-President or the oldest Member presides over the Chamber during the voting - an appointed commission supervises the voting - the outgoing President announces the results without delay - the results may be challenged STATUS Status - ranks fourth in the hierarchy of State - ranks second in the order of precedence between the Presidents of the two Houses - represents the Chamber with the public authorities - represents the Chamber in international bodies - in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions Board - the Governing Board is regulated by the Standing Orders - consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents and 4 Secretaries - meets once weekly - exercises a collegial presidency Material facilities - MP's allowance - official car - secretariat and advisers - bodyguards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes 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 Chamber - is responsible for discipline inside the Chamber - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up - 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 texts adopted and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Chamber - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Chamber - is responsible for discipline inside the Chamber - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up - 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 texts adopted and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Chamber - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Special powers - is responsible for establishing the Chamber's budget - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - appoints the Clerk - organizes the services of the Chamber - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments and inter-parliamentary committees - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - transmits laws to the Executive for promulgation

Parliament name (generic / translated) Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional / Plurinational Legislative Assembly Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Cámara de Senadores / Chamber of Senators NATURE Nature of the mandate · Free representation Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath Validation of mandates · Validation by the Chamber of Deputies and, in the event of challenge or the emrecence of grounds for annulment, by the National Electoral Court (Art. 67, No. 1 of the Constitution of 02.02.1967, as amended up to and including 06.02.1995, Art. 196, and 247 (2) in connection with Art. 121 and 123 of the Electoral Law) · Procedure (Art. 67, No. 1 of the Constitution, Art. 247 (4) of the Electoral Law) End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends (see Art. 60 (7) of the Constitution and Art. 127 of the Electoral Law) Can MPs resign? Yes · Of their own free will (Art. 57 of the Constitution) · Procedure (Rule 25 (1) (f) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies) · Authority competent to accept the resignation (Rule 25 (3) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies): the resignation need not be accepted Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter: definitive removal for misconduct (Art. 67, No. 4 of the Constitution, Rule 26 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies; see Code of conduct) (b) Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (Rule 25 (1) (a) to (d) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies in connection with Art. 49, and Art. 54 and 67, No. 4 of the Constitution). Procedure (Rule 25 (2) and (3) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). (c) Loss of mandate because of opening of judicial proceedings or charging of an MP after waiver of immunity (Rule 25 (1) (e) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). Procedure (Rule 25 (3) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The President 2. The Vice-Presidents (2) 3. The Secretaries (4) 4. The other MPs · Outside Parliament: Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic or official passport · Basic salary: BOB 20.800 + Sitting Allowance: BOB 1 per sitting · No exemption from tax · Private Pension Fund (AFP) · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat (b) Assistants (c) Official car for the President and the Vice-Presidents (d) Security guards for the President and the Vice-Presidents (e) Postal and telephone services (f) Travel and transport (g) Others: medical care, funeral costs Obligation to declare personal assets Yes Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 51 of the Constitution, Rule 17 (a) and 27 (1) (c) (5) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). · Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament. · Derogations: offence or insult (see Discipline) · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 52 of the Constitution). · It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and, in civil matters, also from the requirement to give bond. · No derogations are foreseen. · Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate, but for the suing and the requirement to give bond in civil matters only during a period beginning sixty days before the meeting of Congress and ending at the time the MP returns to his residence. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 52 of the Constitution): - Competent authority: the Chamber of Deputies - Procedure (Art. 52 of the Constitution, Rule 27 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). In this case, MPs can(not) be heard. They do (not) have means of appeal. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is neither a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs, nor a handbook of parliamentary procedure. Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings (Rule 20 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). · Penalties foreseen in case of lack of quorum (Rule 76 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies): publication of the names of those absent, proportional deduction of the monthly salary · Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Rule 86 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Interruption (Rule 86 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies) - Call to order (Rule 86 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies) - Withdrawal of the floor for the rest of the sitting (Rule 86 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies) · Specific cases: - Offence or insult · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: - Interruption: any MP - Call to order, withdrawal of the floor for the rest of the sitting: the President, after a decision of the Chamber of Deputies · Procedure (Rule 86 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 49, 54, and 67, No. 4 of the Constitution, Rules 25 (1) (a) to (d), (2) and (3), and 26 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). For the declaration of personal assets, see Obligation to declare personal assets. · Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: - Temporary removal (Art. 67, No. 4 of the Constitution, Rule 26 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies; misconduct) - Definitive removal (Art. 67, No. 4 of the Constitution, Rule 26 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies; misconduct) - Loss of mandate (Rule 25 (1) (a) to (d) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies in connection with Art. 49, and 54 and 67, No. 4 of the Constitution; incompatibilities) · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: - Temporary or definitive removal: the Chamber of Deputies - Loss of mandate: the Chamber of Deputies or without any decision · Procedure: - Temporary or definitive removal (Art. 67, No. 4 of the Constitution, Rule 26 of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). - Loss of mandate (Rule 25 (2) and (3) of the Rules of Debate of the Chamber of Deputies). Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 19 January 2018
Copyright 1996-2016 Inter-Parliamentary Union

• Also on PARLINE
• Search
• Modules
• At a glance
• Recent elections
• New in PARLINE
• Toolbox
• Photo gallery
• About
• Newsfeeds