IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Argentina

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Presidential
October 2011

Argentina
Argentine Republic
Region: Americas

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER *
Head of Government: President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER
Assembly: Argentina has a bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la nación) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 72 seats and the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) with 257 seats.

* The electoral system is two-round. To avoid a runoff, the winner must win 45 percent of valid votes. Alternatively, she must win 40 percent of valid votes and at least 10 points more than the next-placed candidate.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by qualified majority to serve a 4-year term.
In the Senate (Senado) 72 members are elected by regional legislatures to serve 6-year terms*. In the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) 257 members are elected by proportional representation to serve 4-year terms.**

* One-third of the Senate is renewable every two years.

** One-half of the Chamber of Deputies is renewable every two years. Party lists are closed. There are 24 multi-member districts. The threshold is 3 percent.