First past the post mixed of a plurality and a transferable vote from the given to any same party deputies candidates in the Province.[clarification needed]
The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Third Title, Chapter 1 in the First Section of the Dominican Constitution. Each province, and the Distrito Nacional, regardless of population, is represented by one senator who serves for a four-year term, with possibility of reelection. The Senate Chamber is located in the west wing of the Congress Palace, in Santo Domingo. The Chamber of Deputies convenes in the east wing of the same building.
The Senate has several advice and consent powers not granted to the Chamber of Deputies, including consenting to treaties, loans and contracts as a precondition to their ratification and consenting to or confirming appointments the members of Chamber of Accounts, Central Electoral Board and ambassadors. The Senate is widely considered both a more deliberative and more prestigious body than the Chamber of Deputies. Due to its smaller size and statewide constituencies, the Senate has historically had a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere.
Membership
Qualifications
The constitution of the Dominican Republic states that to be a senator, one must be a Dominican in full exercise of civil and political rights, have attained twenty-five years old, and be a native of the territorial demarcation that choose or have resided there for at least five consecutive years. In consequence:
The senators must reside in the territorial demarcation from which they are elected during their elected terms of office;
Naturalized persons may be elected to the Senate ten years after having acquired Dominican nationality, provided they have resided in the territorial demarcation (jurisdiction) from which they seek election for a period of at least five years prior to their election.
Election and Terms
The members of the Senate in Dominican Republic are elected by the D'Hondt method in relationship with the deputies. The terms for serving as senator are unlimited, one term corresponds to four years.
Oath
The internal rules of procedure of the Senate requires that senators take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution. Congress has prescribed the following oath for all senators:
The oath to be provided is:
"I SWEAR TO GOD, THE HOMELAND AND MY HONOR, RESPECT CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND COMPLY WITH DIGNITY AND THE FAITHFULLY OTHER DUTIES OF MY OFFICE",
what will be answered as follows:
"IF I DO SO, GOD AND THE PEOPLE WHAT OS REWARD IF I NOT, THAT I DEMAND IT. "
Majority and minority parties
The "Majority party" is the political party that either has a majority of seats or can form a coalition or caucus with a majority of seats; if two or more parties are tied, the vice president's affiliation determines which party is the majority party. The next-largest party is known as the minority party.
Seating
The majority party or the party with more senators traditionally sits to the presiding officer's right, and the minority party or the party with less senator traditionally sits to the presiding officer's left, regardless which party has a majority of seats.
Functions and Powers
The exclusive powers of the Senate are:
Know the allegations made by the Chamber of Deputies against and public officials. The plea leaves the person removed from office, and may not perform any public function, whether or not popularly elected for a term of ten years. The destitute person shall be subject, if any, to be charged and tried by the ordinary courts, in accordance with the law. This decision shall be taken by a vote of two-thirds of enrollment;
To approve or disapprove the appointment of ambassadors and heads of permanent missions accredited abroad to submit to the President of the Republic;
To elect the members of the Chamber of Accounts of the lists presented by the Chamber of Deputies, with the vote of two thirds of the senators present;
To elect the members of the Central Electoral Board and their deputies, with the vote of two thirds of those present;
Choose the Ombudsman, their deputies and their deputies from the triads to submit to the House of Representatives, by a vote of two-thirds of those present;
To authorize, upon request of the President of the Republic, in the absence of agreement permitted, the presence of foreign troops in military exercises in the territory of the Republic, as well as determine the time and conditions of their stay;
To approve or disapprove of sending troops abroad in peacekeeping missions authorized by international organizations, setting the conditions and duration of the mission.
1 In 2010, the parliamentary term was extended to six years so that the elections could once again be held together with the presidential election. The presidential term had been shortened to two years in 1994, after the controversial election of Joaquín Balaguer against José Francisco Peña Gómez, after which the presidential and parliamentary elections were thus held separately, each every two years.[3]
2 After the electoral roll, Senators Bautista Rojas (Hermanas Mirabal), David Sosa (Dajabón) and Virgilio Cedano (La Altagracia) transferred from the PRSC to the FP; Senator Antonio Marte (Santiago Rodríguez), although not transferred from the PRSC, is also counted as part of the FP; the PRSC thus holds now 2 seats only (Carlos Gómez, Espaillat, and Ramón Genao, La Vega).[4]
3 After the elections, Senators Dionis Sánchez (Pedernales), Félix Bautista (San Juan)[5] and Franklin Peña (San Pedro de Macorís)[6] transferred from the PLD to the FP; the PLD thus now holds 3 seats only; the FP, also taking into account the transfers of PRSC and BIS and Antonio Marte (Santiago Rodríguez), now holds 9 seats.
4 After the transfer of Senator José Castillo (San José de Ocoa) from the BIS to the FP, the BIS now holds no seat anymore.
5 In 2001 and 2002 respectively, the provinces of Santo Domingo (by secession from the Distrito Nacional) and San José de Ocoa (by secession from the province of Peravia) were created, bringing the number of senators to 32.
