Country Profile:

Chile

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Michelle BACHELET *
  • Head of Government: President Michelle BACHELET
  • Assembly: Chile has a bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 48 seats and the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) with 120 seats.

* The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
  • In the Senate (Senado), 38 members are elected by popular vote to serve 8-year terms and 10 members are designated *. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 120 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.**

* One-half of the members in the Senate are elected every four years in a closed-list system. If the majority party obtains more than two-thirds of the valid votes cast, it is entitled to the two seats of the constituency. If it obtains less than two-thirds, it is entitled to one seat and the second seat goes to the second-placed party

** Closed party-list majority system. If the majority party obtains more than two-thirds of the valid votes cast, it is entitled to the two seats of the constituency. If it obtains less than two-thirds, it is entitled to one seat and the second seat goes to the second-placed party

Population:

  • Population: 16,601,707 (July 2009 est)

Past elections

Last Updated on 08/17/2005