Congress of Guatemala
Encyclopedia
The Congress of the Republic is the unicameral
legislature
of the Republic of Guatemala
.
It comprises 158 deputies
, who are elected by direct universal suffrage
to serve four-year terms (the number was increased from 113 for the 2003 election). Twenty-nine of these are elected from nationwide lists, with the rest on a district list basis. Each of the country's 22 departments
serves as a district, with the exception of the department of Guatemala, containing the capital, which, on account of its size, is divided into two (distrito central and distrito Guatemala). It is not uncommon that Congress Members change parties during the legislature term, as well as Congress Members seceding from a party to create a new party or congressional block.
Guatemala also returns deputies to the supranational Central American Parliament
.
Unicameralism
In government, unicameralism is the practice of having one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Thus, a unicameral parliament or unicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of one chamber or house...
legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
of the Republic of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
It comprises 158 deputies
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
, who are elected by direct universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
to serve four-year terms (the number was increased from 113 for the 2003 election). Twenty-nine of these are elected from nationwide lists, with the rest on a district list basis. Each of the country's 22 departments
Departments of Guatemala
||Guatemala is divided into 22 departments :#Alta Verapaz#Baja Verapaz#Chimaltenango#Chiquimula#Petén#El Progreso#El Quiché#Escuintla#Guatemala#Huehuetenango#Izabal#Jalapa#Jutiapa#Quetzaltenango#Retalhuleu#Sacatepéquez...
serves as a district, with the exception of the department of Guatemala, containing the capital, which, on account of its size, is divided into two (distrito central and distrito Guatemala). It is not uncommon that Congress Members change parties during the legislature term, as well as Congress Members seceding from a party to create a new party or congressional block.
Guatemala also returns deputies to the supranational Central American Parliament
Central American Parliament
The Central American Parliament , also known as PARLACEN is a political institution devoted to the integration of the Central American countries. Its headquarters are in Guatemala City....
.