The legislative process in Chile is established in the country's constitution and is carried out by the National Congress, which is composed of two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 155 members who are elected by direct popular vote for a term of four years. Deputies must be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum level of education.
Senate
The Senate is composed of 43 members who are elected by direct popular vote for a term of eight years. Senators must be at least 35 years of age and have a minimum level of education.
Legislative Process
- A bill can be introduced by a member of either the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate.
- The bill must be approved by a majority of the members of the chamber in which it was introduced.
- The bill is then sent to the other chamber, where it must be approved by a majority of the members.
- If the bill is approved by both chambers, it is sent to the President of the Republic, who must sign it into law.
- If the President refuses to sign the bill, the bill is returned to the National Congress for reconsideration.
- If the National Congress approves the bill by a two-thirds majority, the bill becomes law.
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the general legislative process. For example, some laws must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members of both chambers of the National Congress. Additionally, some laws must be approved by a majority of the members of the National Congress and then ratified by a plebiscite.
The legislative process in Chile is designed to ensure that laws are passed that have the support of the majority of the population. It also provides for checks and balances between the different branches of government to prevent the abuse of power.