| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
13 December 1997
Last amendment: 02.10.1998 |
| Mode of designation |
Directly elected 164
Other 3 |
| Constituencies |
- 24 multi-member constituencies (2 seats or more) corresponding to the States and the Federal District
|
| Voting system |
Mixed:
Mixed system:
- simple majority vote in single-member constituencies
- closed party-lists with proportional representation and allocation of seats based on the d'Hondt method in multi-member constituencies
Moreover, a variable number of "additional seats" is distributed to compensate for cases of under-representation. According to this system, the Supreme Electoral Council establishes a national quotient by dividing the total number of valid votes cast throughout the country by the number of Deputies already directly elected. It then divides the number of votes obtained by each party by this quotient and allocates to each party a number of additional seats, not exceeding five for the Chamber of Deputies, corresponding to the difference between the result of this division and the overall number of seats already obtained. The additional Deputies are assigned to those constituencies in which the party concerned has received no seat at all or in which it is the most under-represented, on the basis of the number of votes won.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by the "next-in-line" candidate on the same party list.
Voting is compulsory, except in certain specific cases.
- Each body also elects three Deputies representing the indigenous peoples in accordance with their tradition and customs, pursuant to Article 186 of the Constitution.
|
| Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years
- Venezuelan citizenship by birth
|
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
Qualified elector
- age: 21 years
- Venezuelan citizenship by birth or naturalisation, with a minimum of 15 years residence in the country
- Residence in the region for four consecutive years.
|
| Incompatibilities |
- President of the Republic, Executive Vice-President, Ministers, Secretary to the Presidency, director of autonomous institute or of State enterprise, up to three months after separation from any such office
- Governors and secretaries of Governor's Offices, of states and similarly ranking authorities of the Capital City District up to three months after separation from such office
- Municipal, State and national officials, and those from autonomous institutes, when the election is held in their jurisdictions, except in cases where the position is temporary or subordinate or for teaching or academic purposes.
|
| Candidacy requirements |
- candidatures must be submitted independently on the individual's own initiative
-submitted by a political party
- candidates must be enrolled on the electoral register
- submitted by a number of citizens equal to had required by the Constitution or political party |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
