Senate of the Republic (Mexico)
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Senate of the United Mexican States Senado de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos | |
|---|---|
| LXI Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | October 4, 1824 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 128 |
 | |
Political groups |       Independent |
Length of term | 6 years (no reelection) |
| Authority | Chapter II of the Constitution of the United Mexican States |
| Elections | |
| Direct election | |
Last election | July 2, 2006 |
| Motto | |
| La Patria Es Primero(The Country Is First) | |
| Meeting place | |
| File:Salon de Sesiones Palacio del Senado.jpg | |
| Senate Tribune Senate Palace Mexico City Mexico | |
| Website | |
| Official Website of the Mexican Senate | |
The Senate of the Republic, (Spanish: Senado de la República) constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union (Spanish: Cámara de Senadores del H. Congreso de la Unión, is the upper house of Mexico's bicameral Congress.
After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:
- Two for each of the 31 states and two for the Federal District elected under the principle of relative majority;
- One for each of the 31 states and one for the Federal District, assigned under the principle of first minority (i.e. awarded to the party who had won the second highest number of votes within the state or Federal District);
- Thirty-two national senators-at-large, divided among the parties in proportion to their share of the national vote.
In a senatorial race, each party nominates two candidates who run and are elected together by direct vote. The party of the two candidates that won the second highest vote within the state or the Federal District then assigns a senator to occupy the third seat (first minority seat), according to the list of candidates that the party registered with the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE).
Senators serve six-year terms, running concurrently with the President of Mexico. Special elections are rare, as substitutes are chosen at every election.
The Senate is completely renewed every six years, since senators are barred from immediate reelection.
Term and current composition
- See main article: LXI Legislature of the Mexican Congress
In Spanish, it is conventional to refer to each Legislature of the Senate by the Roman numeral of its term.
The current session (whose term lasts from 2009 to 2012) is known as the LXI Legislatura (61st Legislature).
Senators are elected to serve during two legislatures of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. Thus, current Senators (who were elected in the general election of July 2, 2006) will serve during the 60th and 61st Legislatures of the Chamber of Deputies.
Gallery
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Former Senate tribune.
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Former Main Senate Chambers at corner of Donceles and Xicotencatl Streets in the historic center of Mexico City.
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Former Senate offices on Donceles Street
Last election
Template:Mexican Senate election, 2006