IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Chile

Country Profile:

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Upcoming Elections

Presidential
First Round
November 17, 2013
Legislative
November 17, 2013
Presidential
Second Round
December 15, 2013
Presidential
December 2017
Legislative
December 2017

Chile
Republic of Chile
Region: Americas

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Sebastian PINERA *
Head of Government: President Sebastian PINERA
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 absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 4-year term.
In the Senate (Senado), 38 members are elected through a closed party-list majority system to serve 8-year terms and 10 members are designated *. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 120 members are elected through a closed party-list majority system 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