Congress of the Dominican Republic

Congreso Nacional de la República Dominicana
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Houses Senate
Chamber of Deputies
Leadership
President of the Senate
Reinaldo Pared Pérez (PLD)
Since August 16, 2006
President of the Chamber of Deputies
Abel Martínez (PLD)
Since August 16, 2010
Seats 210, 32 senators and 178 deputies
Meeting place
Palace of Congress
Website
http://www.congreso.gov.do
Dominican Republic
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The Congress of the Dominican Republic is the bicameral legislature of the government of the Dominican Republic, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Both senators and deputies are chosen through direct election. There are no term limits for either chamber.

As provided by the Dominican Constitution, each of the 178 members of the Chamber of Deputies represents a district and serves a four-year term. Chamber seats are apportioned among the states by population. The 32 Senators serve staggered four-year terms. Each province has one senator, regardless of population.

The Constitution vests all legislative power in the Congress. The Chamber and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process (legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers); however, the Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate is empowered to approve treaties and presidential appointments. Revenue-raising bills must originate in the Chamber of Deputies, which also has the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate has the sole power to try impeachment cases.

The Congress meets in the Palace of Congress in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The term Congress actually refers to a particular meeting of the national legislature, reckoned according to the terms of representatives. Congressional elections are held in even numbered years not divisible by four, even-numbered years divisible by four are reserved for presidential elections. Suffrage is universal and compulsory for all Dominican citizens aged over 18 or under that age if married.

Latest election

 Summary of the 16 May 2006 Congress of the Dominican Republic election results
Parties Votes % Deputies Senators
Progressive Bloc
(Bloque Progresista)		 Dominican Liberation Party (Partido de la Liberación Dominicana) 1,387,878 46.4 96 22
Institutional Social Democratic Bloc (Bloque Institucional Socialdemócrata) 75,872 2.54
Alliance for Democracy (Alianza por la Democracia) 46,573 1.56
Christian Democratic Union (Unión Demócrata Cristiana) 24,868 0.83
Dominican Workers' Party (Partido de los Trabajadores Dominicanos) 16,684 0.56
Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (Partido Liberal de República Dominicana) 14,456 0.48
Grand National Alliance
(Gran Alianza Nacional)		 Dominican Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Dominicana) 931,151 31.13 60 7
Social Christian Reformist Party (Partido Reformista Social Cristiano) 326,893 10.93 22 3
National Unity Party (Partido de Unidad Nacional) 34,755 1.16
Quisqueyano Christian Democratic Party (Partido Quisqueyano Demócrata Cristiano) 23,929 0.80
Green Party of Democratic Unity (Partido Verde de la Unidad Democrática) 14,623 0.49
National Civic Veterans Party (Partido Nacional de Veteranos y Civiles) 11,984 0.40
Dominican Social Alliance (Alianza Social Dominicana) 6,033 0.20
Popular Democratic Party (Partido Demócrata Popular ) 5,400 0.18
Christian People's Party (Partido Popular Cristiano) 4,793 0.16
Others Revolutionary Social Democratic Party (Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata) 45,744 1.53 - -
Movement for Independence, Unity and Change (Movimiento Independencia, Unidad y Cambio) 8,538 0.29 - -
Independent Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Independiente) 5,458 0.19 - -
National Renaissance Party (Partido Renacentista Nacional ) 2,914 0.10 - -
Dominican Humanist Party (Partido Humanista Dominica) 2,485 0.08 - -
Total (turnout 56.5 %) 2,991,031   178 32
Source: Junta Central Electoral and E-Polityka.pl

See also

External links

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