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Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso de la nación / National Congress More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1954 - 1965 1973 - 1976 1984 - LEADERSHIP President Eduardo Alfredo Fellner (M)  Notes Re-elected on 3 Dec. 2009. Secretary General Enrique Hidalgo (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 257 / 257 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 99 (38.52%) Mode of designation Directly elected 257 Term 4 years; one-half of the membership is renewed every 2 years Last renewal dates 28 June 2009 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Cámara de Diputados Calle Rivadavia 1864 1033 CAPITAL FEDERAL (Export mailing lists) Phone (5411) 6310 7100 Fax (5411) 6313 6048 E-mail gservidi@senado.gov.ar Website http://www.diputados.gov.ar/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso de la nación / National Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 18 August 1983 Last amendment: 11/01/1995 Mode of designation Directly elected 257 Constituencies 24 multi-member constituencies. Voting system Proportional: Party-list system, with proportional distribution of seats according to the d'Hondt method. To be awarded a seat, a party must obtain 3 per cent of the votes cast in a constituency. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by substitutes elected at the same time as titular members. Voting is compulsory, with some exceptions (old age, illness, great distance from polling stations); penalties for abstention consist of a fine (between 50 and 500 Argentine pesos) and prohibition to hold public office or employment for three years from the election. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Argentine citizenship (request for registration on electoral lists for naturalised citizens three years after acquiring citizenship); since 1997, Argentines living abroad can register to vote. CANDIDATES Eligibility - age: 25 years - Argentine citizenship for at least 2 years - birth in the district where running or residence there for at least 2 years immediately before elections Incompatibilities - Government minister - provincial governor - judge - lawyer (unless excepted) - any public office Candidacy requirements - nomination by political party or coalition of parties

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso de la nación / National Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 28 June 2009 Timing and scope of renewal Early elections were held to renew one-half of the seats (127) in the Chamber of Deputies. Elections to the Chamber of Deputies had previously taken place on 28 October 2007. On 13 March 2009, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner proposed to hold early parliamentary elections on 28 June instead of 28 October. She argued that early elections would allow the government to focus more on solving the country's economic woes and less on politics. Opposition parties criticized the move, arguing that the President was calling elections before her popularity waned. Shortly before her announcement, the President's opponent, Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, had shifted the date of local elections in Buenos Aires to 28 June so as to hold local and national elections separately. Analysts said that was designed to give more time for Mr. Macri's party to prepare for the national elections. At stake in the 2009 parliamentary elections were 127 of the 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and one third of the 72 seats in the Senate. In the previous elections held in October 2007, the Victory Front (FV) of the then President Néstor Kirchner won 62 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and five in the Senate. After the elections, the FV controlled 116 and 11 seats respectively. Following the elections, the Civic Coalition Confederation held 18 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and two in the Senate, while the Radical Civic Union (UCR) had 24 and seven seats respectively. The remaining seats went to small parties. President Kirchner's wife, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, won the presidential elections, becoming the first elected female president of the country. President Fernández de Kirchner initially enjoyed high popularity. However, her popularity reportedly dwindled after she introduced a tax on soya bean exports in March 2008. It triggered four months of road blockades and protests by farmers. The global economic crisis and plummeting soya bean and wheat prices hit Argentina's exports. It slowed down annual economic growth to 6.8 per cent in 2008, down from 8.8 per cent the previous year. In October 2008, President Fernández de Kirchner announced a plan to nationalize the country's private pension funds amounting to US$ 24 billion. She argued that the move would protect pensions from turmoil in the global financial markets. Her opponents criticized the measure, claiming that the government was trying to use the funds to pay back its debt obligations. Former president Néstor Kirchner was running for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies on an FV ticket. He urged voters to support his party, saying that the 2009 poll was "a choice between a return to the past and the consolidation of a national project", referring to the country's economic crisis of 2001. The FV was challenged by the 'Pro coalition' (Republican Proposal), comprising dissidents from the FV. It was led by Mr. Macri, and included a wealthy entrepreneur, Francisco de Narvaez. The 'Pro coalition' pledged to fight crime. It criticized the FV for using "symbolic candidates" in the election campaign, arguing that many of its famous political figures would not play an active role in Congress. Several farmers ran for the 2009 elections under the banner of the Argentine Agrarian Federation. They promised to cut export taxes on agricultural products. In all, 74.36 per cent of the country's 28 million registered voters turned out for the elections to the Chamber of Deputies while 72.39 per cent of the 8.5 million registered voters cast their ballot for the Senate elections. Elections took place without any major incidents. Following the elections, the FV controlled 87 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 35 seats in the Senate. Mr. Néstor Kirchner resigned as FV leader. The 'Pro coalition' won 19 seats in the Chamber of Deputies but none in the Senate. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 28 June 2009 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 27'938'986 20'774'060 (74.36%) 193'431'216 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Victory Front (FV) - PJ Radical Civic Union (UCR) Federal Peronist Civic Coalition Pro coalition' (Republican Proposal) Civic Front for Santiago Socialist Party Peronist GEN Project South Movement New Popular and Social Encounter Concordia Front for Renewal Poplular Unity Neuquino Popular Movement Union for Cordoba Federal Movement for Federal Thinking Dialogue Free citizens of the South Justicialist Party - La Pampa Civic and Social Front (FREPAM) Federal Consensus Democratic Party of Mendoza Front for All Salta "Somos Todos" Salta Renewal Values for my country Catamarca Civic and Social Front Federal Peronist Front Dialogue Party - Forja Corrientes Liberal Party Dialogue for Buenos Aires Progressive Democracy Fuegino Federal Peronism of Jujuy Progressive Project Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Seats 2009 Victory Front (FV) - PJ 87 36 Radical Civic Union (UCR) 43 27 Federal Peronist 29 20 Civic Coalition 19 7 Pro coalition' (Republican Proposal) 11 8 Civic Front for Santiago 7 3 Socialist Party 6 1 Peronist 6 1 GEN 5 2 Project South Movement 5 4 New Popular and Social Encounter 5 2 Concordia Front for Renewal 3 3 Poplular Unity 3 1 Neuquino Popular Movement 3 2 Union for Cordoba Federal 2 2 Movement for Federal Thinking 2 1 Dialogue 2 0 Free citizens of the South 2 0 Justicialist Party - La Pampa Civic and Social Front (FREPAM) 2 2 Federal Consensus 1 0 Democratic Party of Mendoza 1 1 Front for All 1 0 Salta "Somos Todos" 1 1 Salta Renewal 1 0 Values for my country 1 0 Catamarca Civic and Social Front 1 0 Federal Peronist Front 1 1 Dialogue Party - Forja 1 0 Corrientes Liberal Party 1 0 Dialogue for Buenos Aires 1 0 Progressive Democracy 1 1 Fuegino Federal 1 1 Peronism of Jujuy 1 0 Progressive Project 1 0 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 80 47 37.01% Distribution of seats according to age 21 to 30 years 31 to 40 years 41 to 50 years 51 to 60 years 61 to 70 years Over 70 years Unknown 1 21 78 105 42 6 4 Distribution of seats according to profession Legal profession Others Clerical, secretarial, administration Education profession Agriculture/farming Economist Architect, surveyor, engineer Entrepreneurs Physician, dentist Journalism, broadcasting, media Research/sciences Social worker Trade union official Finance, management or business Political party official International civil servant Writer, literary, artist IT/technology 64 36 31 28 20 15 15 13 11 6 6 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 Comments Note on the "Distribution of seats": The "Distribution of seats" above shows the final composition of the Chamber of Deputies. Sources: - National Congress (02.09.2009, 29.09.2009, 18.11.2009, 21.12.2009, 02.03.2010) - http://www.elecciones.gov.ar/cdmesas/cdmesas.htm

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso de la nación / National Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Chamber of Deputies Term - duration: 1 year (the expiry date coincides with the Preparatory Session), may be reelected - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, dissolution of Parliament, death Appointment - elected by all the Members of the House on November 29th (Preparatory Session) - after Members' mandates are validated and Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the House may be a candidate and notification is required Voting system - formal vote by public ballot (orally) in only one round - absolute majority is required Procedures / results - previous period authorities preside the Preparatory Session in order to elect the new authorities - authorities in charge of the Preparatory Session supervise the voting - the Parliamentary Secretary announces the results without delay - no challenge is possible STATUS Status - ranks third in the hierarchy of State after the Head of State and the President of the Senate - the President of the Senate precedes the President of the Chamber of Deputies and he/her presides over joint sittings of both Chambers - represents the House with the public authorities or in official ceremonies - may represent the House in international bodies and conferences - in the absence of the President, the 1st and 2nd Deputy Presidents assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities - monthly allowance paid by Public Treasure, as other Senators or Deputies FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - establishes and modifies the agenda throughout the Parliamentary Affairs Plenary - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - refers texts to a committee for study - examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Chamber - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Chamber - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Special powers - is responsible for establishing the Chamber's budget - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - appoints the Clerk - organizes only certain services of the Chamber - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - proposes bills or amendments, only as Deputy - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure - refers laws to the Executive Power to be promulgated - ensures the constitutionality of laws by checking and controlling the fulfillment of its provisions - may be consulted in certain circumstances

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso de la nación / National Congress Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate NATURE Nature of the mandate . Free representation Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath (Art. 67 of the Constitution of 22.08.1994). . Procedure (Art. 67 of the Constitution of 22.08.1994, Rules 2 (3), 10, and 11 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies). Validation of mandates · Validation by the Chamber of Deputies (Art. 64 of the Constitution) · Procedure (Art. 64 of the Constitution, Rules 2 (2) and (5), and 3 to 9 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends (Art. 50 of the Constitution) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will · Procedure (Art. 66 of the Constitution) · Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Chamber of Deputies Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. 66 of the Constitution): - Physical or moral disability - Expulsion STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The President 2. The members of the Board 3. The other Members Indemnities, facilities and services · No diplomatic passport · Basic salary (see Art. 74 of the Constitution, see also Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) + Additional allowance · Exemption from tax · Pension scheme . Other facilities: (a) Secretariat (b) Assistants (see also Rules 190 to 194 of the Rules of Procedure (c) Official housing (d) Official car (e) Security guards (f) Postal and telephone services (g) Travel and transport Obligation to declare personal assets No Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 68 of the Constitution). · Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs in the exercise of their functions both within and outside Parliament. · Derogations: offence or insult (Art. 66 of the Constitution, Rule 165, 167, and 170 to 173 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies; see Discipline) · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 69 of the Constitution). · It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, and from the execution of a judgement providing for the detention of an MP. It does not protect them from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched (Decision of the Commission on Constitutional Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies; Decision of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (case of the senator Nicasio Oroño, Fallos, Vol. 14, p. 223). However, a deputy can be suspended from Parliament in case of a written charge presented before the ordinary courts (Art. 70 of the Constitution). · Derogations: in cases of flagrante delicto, when caught in the commission of a capital or other infamous or grave crime, MPs can be arrested. A summary report of the facts shall be made to the Chamber of Deputies (Art. 69 of the Constitution). · Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate. Since it does not cover judicial proceedings in general, it does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted: - Competent authority: the Chamber of Deputies EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings, and other meetings (Rules 15 and 163 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies). For leave of absence, see Rules 16 to 18, and 22 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies. · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Art. 64 of the Constitution): - Denial of further leave of absence (Rule 17 (2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Loss of salary (Rules 18 (1), 19, 22 (2), 23, and 25 (2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Other measures (Rule 24 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) · Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: - Denial of further leave of absence, other measures: the Chamber of Deputies Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 66 of the Constitution, Rules 39, No. 4, and 165, and 167 to 173 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Interruption (Rule 167 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Warning for irrelevance (Rules 168 and 169 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Call to order (Rules 170 and 171 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Prohibition to speak for the rest of the sitting (Rule 172 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Other measures (Art. 66 of the Constitution, Rule 173 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) · Specific cases: - Offence or insult (Art. 66 of the Constitution, Rule 165, 167, and 170 to 173 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies): interruption, call to order, prohibition to speak for the rest of the sitting, other measures · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Rule 39, No. 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies): - Interruption, call to order, offence or insult: the President - Warning for irrelevance: the President, the Chamber of Deputies - Prohibition to speak for the rest of the sitting, other measures, offence or insult: the Chamber of Deputies · Procedure: - Interruption, offence of insult (Rule 167 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Warning for irrelevance (Rules 168 and 169 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Call to order, offence or insult (Rules 170 and 171 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Prohibition to speak for the rest of the sitting, offence or insult (Rule 172 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) - Other measures, offence or insult (Art. 66 of the Constitution, Rule 173 of the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there is one relevant provision (Art. 66 of the Constitution). See also Parliamentary inviolability - suspension of an MP. . Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Chamber of Deputies Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 9 March 2010
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