Term limits None | ||
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Type Upper house of the Congress of the Dominican Republic New session started August 16, 2016 (2016-08-16) President Reinaldo Pared Pérez, PLD
Since August 16, 2016 Vice-President Dionis Sánchez, PLD
Since August 16, 2016 Majority Leader Rubén Darío Cruz, PLD
Since August 16, 2016 | ||
The Senate of the Republic is the upper legislative chamber in the bicameral legislature of the Dominican Republic, and together with the Chamber of Deputies makes up the National Congress.
Contents
- Qualifications
- Election and Terms
- Oath
- Majority and minority parties
- Seating
- Functions and Powers
- Current composition 20162020
- Party strengths in the Senate
- References
The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Third Tittle, Chapter 1 in the First Section of the Dominican Constitution Each provinces and the Distrito Nacional, regardless of population, is represented by one senator who serve for a four-years-term, with possibility of reelection. The Senate Chamber is located in the west wing of the Congress Palace, in Santo Domingo The Chamber of Deputies convenes in the east wing of the same building.
The Senate has several advice and consent powers not granted to the Chamber, including consenting to treaties, loans and contracts as a precondition to their ratification and consenting to or confirming appointments the members of Chamber of Accounts, Central Electoral Board and ambassadors. The Senate is widely considered both a more deliberative and more prestigious body than the Chamber of Deputies, due to its smaller size, and statewide constituencies, which historically led to a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere.
Qualifications
The constitution of the Dominican states that to be a senator must be a Dominican in full exercise of civil and political rights, have twenty-five years old, a native of the territorial demarcation that choose or have resided there for at least five years consecutive. In consequence:
Election and Terms
The members of the Senate in Dominican Republic are elected by the D'Hondt method in relationship with the deputies. The terms for serving as senator are unlimited, one term correspond to 4 year.
Oath
The internal rules of procedure of the Senate requires that senators take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution. Congress has prescribed the following oath for all senators:
The oath to be provided is:
"I SWEAR TO GOD, THE HOMELAND AND MY HONOR, RESPECT CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND COMPLY WITH DIGNITY AND THE FAITHFULLY OTHER DUTIES OF MY OFFICE",
what will be answered as follows:
"IF I DO SO, GOD AND THE PEOPLE WHAT OS REWARD IF I NOT, THAT I DEMAND IT. "
Majority and minority parties
The "Majority party" is the political party that either has a majority of seats or can form a coalition or caucus with a majority of seats; if two or more parties are tied, the vice president's affiliation determines which party is the majority party. The next-largest party is known as the minority party.
Seating
The majority party or the party with more senators traditionally sits to the presiding officer's right, and the minority party or the party with less senator traditionally sits to the presiding officer's left, regardless which party has a majority of seats.
Functions and Powers
The exclusive powers of the Senate are:
- Know the allegations made by the Chamber of Deputies against and public officials. The plea leaves the person removed from office, and may not perform any public function, whether or not popularly elected for a term of ten years. The destitute person shall be subject, if any, to be charged and tried by the ordinary courts, in accordance with the law. This decision shall be taken by a vote of two-thirds of enrollment;
- To approve or disapprove the appointment of ambassadors and heads of permanent missions accredited abroad to submit to the President of the Republic;
- To elect the members of the Chamber of Accounts of the lists presented by the Chamber of Deputies, with the vote of two thirds of the senators present;
- To elect the members of the Central Electoral Board and their deputies, with the vote of two thirds of those present;
- Choose the Ombudsman, their deputies and their deputies from the triads to submit to the House of Representatives, by a vote of two-thirds of those present;
- To authorize, upon request of the President of the Republic, in the absence of agreement permitted, the presence of foreign troops in military exercises in the territory of the Republic, as well as determine the time and conditions of their stay;
- To approve or disapprove of sending troops abroad in peacekeeping missions authorized by international organizations, setting the conditions and duration of the mission.
Current composition (2016–2020)
Senators elected in the May 2016 elections.
Party strengths in the Senate
The following table shows the composition of the Senate at the start of the most recent legislative periods.