Senate of the Republic (Mexico)

The Senate of the Republic (Spanish: Senado de la República), also known as the 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. It plays an important role in making laws for the country.

Currently, the Senate has 128 members who are called senators. These senators are elected to serve for six years. Their job is to help create and approve laws that affect all people living in Mexico. The Senate works together with the lower house of Congress to make sure laws are fair and helpful for everyone.

History

The Senate of Mexico, part of the country's law-making body, started on October 4, 1824. It was stopped on September 7, 1857, but brought back on November 13, 1874. During a time called the Porfiriato, from 1876 to 1910, under a leader named Porfirio Díaz, many important and rich people who supported him were given seats in the Senate. Even during a big change called the Mexican Revolution, the Senate stayed the same, and some of these supporters blocked new rules that the president, Francisco I. Madero, wanted to make.

Composition

The Senate of Mexico has 128 members called senators. They come from all over the country.

Each of the 32 states in Mexico chooses two senators. One is chosen because they got the most votes, and another is chosen because they got the second most votes. There are also 32 senators who represent the whole country. These senators are chosen based on how many people voted for each party across Mexico.

Senators serve for six years at the same time as the president of Mexico. They can serve more than one term if people vote for them again.

Term

In Spanish, each group of lawmakers is called a legislature, and they use Roman numbers to name them. The current group, from 2024 to 2027, is called the LXVI Legislatura, which means the 66th Legislature.

Senators are chosen to work for six years, but this time is split into two parts, each lasting three years. The current senators were chosen in the election on June 2, 2024, and they will work for both the 66th and 67th Legislatures. The 66th Legislature started on September 1, 2024, and will finish on August 31, 2027.

Election of senators

Eligibility requirements

To become a senator in Mexico, a person must be a Mexican citizen by birth, be at least twenty-five years old on election day, and live in the state where they are running for at least six months before the election. They also cannot be actively serving in the military or holding certain government jobs close to the election date.

Election process

Senators serve for six years and can be reelected once right after. They are chosen in two ways: 96 senators are elected from groups of three in each state, and 32 are chosen from the whole country based on party votes. In the state groups, the two seats go to the party with the most votes, and one seat goes to the party with the second most votes.

Last election

The most recent election for the Senate took place during the 2024 Mexican general election. This election helped decide the members of the LXVI Legislature of the Mexican Congress.

Governing bodies

The Senate of Mexico has two main groups that help it run smoothly.

The first group is called the Board. It includes a leader, three helpers, and four secretaries who are chosen for each meeting of the Senate. The leader of this group is also the president of the Senate and represents the whole group.

The second group is the Political Coordination Board. This is the main group that makes decisions for the Senate. It has a leader and six members, including people from each political party that has members in the Senate.

Commissions

Senators work together in groups called commissions to handle different topics. Some of the main commissions are for issues like the country's rules, money, and safety. Each senator is part of at least three of these groups. In each group, members choose a leader and a few helpers to organize their tasks.

Sessions

The two parts of Mexico's Congress have two main meeting times each year. The first meeting runs from September 1st to December 15th, and the second meeting runs from February 1st to April 30th. If needed, extra meetings can be called for urgent issues.

The time when they are not in their regular meetings is called a break. There are two breaks: from December 16th to January 31st and from May 1st to August 31st. During these breaks, a special group of 37 members — 19 from the lower house and 18 senators — takes care of important tasks. This group meets in the Senate during the first break and in the lower house during the second break.

Functions

One key job of the Senate is to decide whether to approve or disapprove the president's suggestions for important positions. This includes choosing ministers for the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, the Attorney General of the Republic, leaders of independent groups, and representatives for other countries like ambassadors and consuls. The Senate also reviews and decides on treaties.