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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Cámara de Diputados (Chamber of Deputies)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic
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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) 1979 - 1992
2005 -
LEADERSHIP
President Radhamés Camacho (M) 
Notes Elected on 16 Aug. 2018.
Secretary General Ruth Helen Paniagua (F) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 190 / 190
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 51 (26.84%)
Mode of designation directly elected 190
Term 4 years
Last renewal dates 15 May 2016
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Congreso Nacional de la República
Ave. Jiménez Moya esq. Paul Harris
Centro de los Héroes
SANTO DOMINGO
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (1809) 535 2626 ext. 3361, 3591
Fax (1809) 535 0390
E-mail rrii@camaradediputados.gob.do (International Affairs Department)
pgalan@camaradediputados.gob.do (Mr. Pablo Valdez Galán, Coordinator, International Affairs Department)
Website
http://www.camaradediputados.gob.do/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic
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 26 January 2010
(2010 Constitution)
Mode of designation directly elected 190
Constituencies - 32 multi-member constituencies in the country (31 constituencies corresponding to the provinces and one to the National District). Each province is represented by no less than two deputies. One member is elected for every 50,000 inhabitants in the constituency. One further member is elected for each additional 25,000 inhabitants in the constituency.
- 3 multi-member constituencies abroad.
Voting system Proportional:
- 178 members are elected under List Proportional Representation (List PR) from constituencies in the National District and provinces.
- Five additional seats are allotted to the parties that obtained at least one percent of valid votes nationwide, preferably those that did not win any of the 178 initial seats.
- In addition, seven members represent the Dominican community abroad, who also are elected under List PR.

If vacancies arise between general elections, the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies chooses a replacement from among three candidates nominated by the party whose member vacated his/her seat.
Voting is compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years or married
- Dominican Republic citizenship
- disqualifications: members of the armed forces and police, irrevocable conviction for treason, espionage or conspiracy against the Republic, conviction for taking up arms or lending aid or participating in any attack against the country; right suspended in cases of irrevocable sentence to criminal punishment (until rehabilitation), legally declared judicial interdiction (while in effect) and acceptance, while in the country, of an office or employment from a foreign government without prior authorization from the executive branch
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - qualified electors
- age: 25 years
- Dominican Republic citizenship
- full enjoyment of civil and political rights
- native of the territorial district where elected or residence therein for at least five consecutive years
Incompatibilities - any other public office or position
Candidacy requirements - nomination by a political party recognized by the Central Electoral Board; candidates are chosen by a convention of their party, which then submits these names to the competent electoral board
- support by a political group which has an organization and a programme similar to that of a political party for independent candidates

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic
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) 15 May 2016
Timing and scope of renewal President Danilo Medina, elected in 2012, led the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and its allies to a fourth consecutive victory in the 190-member Chamber of Deputies (see note 1) and the 32-member Senate. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), led by Mr. Andrés Bautista García, came second. The PRM was formed in 2014 by members expelled from the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), which was the second largest party in the 2010 elections.

In the presidential elections, the incumbent President (see note 2) defeated Mr. Luis Abinader (PRM). During the election campaign, the major parties focused on measures to counter crime and address illegal immigration.

Note 1:
The May 2010 elections were held for 183 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (up from 178) and 32 seats in the Senate. In accordance with transitional measures in the 2010 Constitution, seven members representing Dominicans abroad were elected in May 2012. The number of members in the Chamber of Deputies has thus increased from 183 to 190.

Note 2:
The 2010 Constitution prohibited consecutive presidential terms. On 12 June 2015, the National Revisory Assembly, composing senators and deputies and tasked with reviewing amendments to the Constitution, adopted constitutional amendments to allow consecutive re-election for the presidency, as was the case before 2010.
Date of previous elections: 16 May 2010

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry*
*Under the new Constitution, which came into effect in January 2010, the statutory term of the Congress of the Republic remains four years. However, those members elected in 2010 served a six-year term in order to synchronize presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 2016.

Expected date of next elections: May 2020

Number of seats at stake: 190 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 1,423 (863 men, 560 women)

Percentage of women candidates: 39.4%

Number of parties contesting the election: 18

Number of parties winning seats: 10

Alternation of power: No

Number of parties in government: 2

Names of parties in government: Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 16 August 2016

Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Lucía Medina Sánchez (Dominican Liberation Party, PLD)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 115 May 2016
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
6'765'245
4'708'746 (69.6%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM)
Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC)
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)
Liberal Reformist Party (PLR)
National Alliance (ALPAIS)
Christian People's Party (PPC)
Broad Front (FRENTE)
Quisqueyano Christian Democratic Party (PQDC)
Alternative Democratic Movement (MODA)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) 106
Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) 42
Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) 18
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) 16
Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) 3
National Alliance (ALPAIS) 1
Christian People's Party (PPC) 1
Broad Front (FRENTE) 1
Quisqueyano Christian Democratic Party (PQDC) 1
Alternative Democratic Movement (MODA) 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
139

51

26.84%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
Chamber of Deputies (14.07.2016, 17.08.2016)
Junta Central Electoral (02.06.2016)
http://www.ifes.org
http://www.dominicantoday.com/
http://www.dr1.com/

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congreso Nacional de la República / National Congress of the Republic
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: 2 years
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
Appointment - elected by all the Deputies
- after validation of mandates
- before Deputies are sworn in
Eligibility - any Deputy can be a candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority in the first round, relative majority in the second round : in the event of a tie in the second round : lots will be drawn
Procedures / results - the outgoing President, or the eldest Deputy in the case of a newly elected Assembly, presides over the Chamber during the voting
STATUS
Status - in the absence of the President, the Vice President can assume his/her role and functions
Board - consists of the President, a Vice President and two Secretaries
- elected for one year
Material facilities NA (no information received)
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes extraordinary sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- 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
Special powers - is responsible for establishing the budget
- heads up and oversees all of the Senate Departments
- 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, provided that he leaves his/her seat and does not resume it until the debate has ended
NA (no information received)

This page was last updated on 17 September 2018
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