Senate of Mexico
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Mexico

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Mexico

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The Senate (Spanish: Cámara de Senadores or Senado) is the upper house of Mexico's bicameral Congress.

After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:

• Two for each of the 31 states and two for the Federal District elected under the principle of relative majority;
• One for each of the 31 states and one for the Federal District, assigned under the principle of first minority (i.e. awarded to the party who had won the second highest number of votes within the state or Federal District);
• Thirty-two national senators-at-large, divided among the parties in proportion to their share of the national vote.

In a senatorial race, each party nominates two candidates who run and are elected together by direct vote. The party of the two candidates that won the second highest vote within the state or the Federal District then assigns a senator to occupy the third seat (first minority seat), according to the list of candidates that the party registered with the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE).

Term and current Composition

See main article: LX Legislature of the Mexican Congress

In Spanish, it is conventional to refer to each Legislature of the Senate by the Roman numeral of its term.

The current session (whose term lasts from 2006 to 2009) is known as the LX Legislatura (60th Legislature).

Senators are elected to serve during two legislatures of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. Thus, current Senators (who were elected in the general election of July 2, 2006) will serve during the 60th and 61st Legislatures of the Chamber of Deputies.

Gallery

Senate tribune.

Main Senate Chambers at corner of Donceles and Xicotencatl Streets in the historic center of Mexico City.

Senate offices on Donceles Street

Last election

External links

• (Spanish) Official Website of the Mexican Senate