|
total countries/territories: 117
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Afghanistan
|
e. Other
|
Members of the House of Elders shall be elected and appointed as follows:
1. From amongst each provincial council members, one individual shall be elected
by the respective council for a four year term;
2. From amongst district councils of each province, one individual, elected by the
respective councils, for a three year term;
3. The remaining one third of the members shall be appointed by the President, for a
five year term, from amongst experts and experienced personalities, including two
members from amongst the impaired and handicapped, as well as two from
nomads.
Source:
Constitution of Afghanistan, Ch.5 art. 84: http://www.afghanembassy.com.pl/afg/images/pliki/TheConstitution.pdf (2015).
|
2016/10/11
|
|
Algeria
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Source:
Electoral Law, art. 123
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/03/26
|
|
American Samoa
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Source:
Revised Constitution of American Samoa Article 2 section 2.
|
2005/02/16
|
|
Argentina
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Artículo 54.- El Senado se compondrá de tres senadores por cada provincia y tres por la ciudad de Buenos Aires, elegidos en forma directa y conjunta, correspondiendo dos bancas al partido político que obtenga el mayor número de votos, y la restante al partido político que le siga en número de votos. Cada senador tendrá un voto.
Source:
Constitution: “Constitución de la Nación Argentina — Ley 24430, texto oficial ordenado”, art. 54: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/AR/argentina-constitucion-nacional-reformas-1994/ (2019)
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Austria
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 34-
|
2003/09/12
|
|
Azerbaijan
|
d. Not applicable
|
N/A
|
2022/01/24
|
|
Bahamas
|
d. Not applicable
|
The Senate has 16 appointed members out of which nine are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister; four on the advice of the leader of the Opposition and three on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition.
Source:
C: 39.
|
2002/12/16
|
|
Bahrain
|
a. National level
|
The 40 members of the Consultative Council are appointed by the King.
Source:
Constitution 2002, chapter 4, part 3, section 1, article 33 (f) and 52.
The Law of the Shura Council and the Parliament issued by Decree no 14 for 2002.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/03/30
|
|
Bangladesh
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
S. M. Asaduzzaman; Public Relations Officer; Bangladesh Election Commission. Email: [email protected]
|
2006/05/23
|
|
Barbados
|
e. Other
|
Senators appointed by Governor General.
Source:
Constitution, Ch. 5, Section 36.
|
2003/06/10
|
|
Belarus
|
e. Other
|
56 members are elected indirectly in the regional councils and council of Minsk. 8 members are appointed by the President.
Source:
Constitution, article 91.
|
2002/09/09
|
|
Belgium
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Seats are allocated at the level of constituencies defined by linguistic criteria.
In addition, the King's children or the descendants of the royal family called to reign, are senators by right at the age of eighteen. They have voting rights at the age of twenty-one.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 67, 68, 72
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Belize
|
d. Not applicable
|
All senators are appointed.
Source:
Membership and Composition of The Senate (Amendments) Act No. 39 of 2001.
|
2003/11/25
|
|
Benin
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
voir 79 de la constitution
|
2005/01/16
|
|
Brazil
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Article 46:
The Federal Senate is composed of representatives of the states and the Federal District, elected according to the majority principle.
§ 1º Each state and the Federal District shall elect three senators, with a term of eight years.
§ 2º The representation of each state and the Federal District shall be renewed every four years, alternately by one-third and two-thirds.
§ 3º Each senator shall be elected with two alternates.
Source:
Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 46:
https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil
|
2024/10/22
|
|
Bulgaria
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution, articles 62-64.
|
2004/11/02
|
|
Cameroon
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
The Senate shall represent the regional and local authorities and Each region shall be represented in the Senate by 10 (ten) Senators of whom 7 (seven) shall be elected by indirect universal suffrage on a regional basis and 3 (three) appointed by the President of the Republic.
Source:
Constitution, Chapter II Article 20 (1): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/CM/cameroon-constitution-of-cameroon-2008
|
2018/11/07
|
|
Canada
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Senatorial seats are distributed by region, with each region sub-divided by province: Ontario (24); Quebec (24); Maritimes (24) Nova Scotia (10); New Brunswick (19); Prince Edward Island (4); Western Provinces (24) Manitoba (6); British Columbia (6); Saskatchewan (6); Alberta (6); plus additional seats for Newfoundland and Labrador (6), Yukon Territory (1), Northwest Territories (1) and Nunavut (1). Only in the province of Quebec do Senators represent a specific constituency. All other Senators represent the province or territory from which they were appointed. Four or eight additional Senators, equally representing the four regions, may be appointed. There may be no more than 113 Senators.
Note: These are already existing political entities and not specially delimitated constituencies
Source:
Constitution: Constitution Acts, art.22
|
2010/06/15
|
|
Cape Verde
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
Fernando Monteiro, member of the Electoral Commission, Cape Verde, fam(a)mailcvtelecom.cv
|
2002/06/19
|
|
Chile
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Source:
Electoral Law, art. 178
|
2002/06/17
|
|
Colombia
|
a. National level
|
100 members chosen in National Circumscription and 2 members chosen in Special Circumscrption.
Source:
Constitución, art. 171
|
2003/07/29
|
|
Croatia
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of only one chamber.
Source:
Constitution, articles 70 and 71.
|
2002/08/23
|
|
Cyprus
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 61
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Czech Republic
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
81 constituencies are established for each of the 81 seats in the Senate.
Source:
Schedule No.3 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended)
|
2002/06/12
|
|
Denmark
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
|
2015/06/08
|
|
Djibouti
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2023/07/11
|
|
Dominica
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
C: 30.
|
2003/01/21
|
|
Egypt
|
a. National level
|
The House of Representatives comprises 568 members, half elected through closed party lists and half in individual seats. The president has the right to appoint 28 additional members to the House.
Source:
Freedom House: Egypt. https://freedomhouse.org/country/egypt/freedom-world/2024#:~:text=The%202019%20amendments%20to%20the,additional%20members%20to%20the%20House.
|
2025/09/23
|
|
Eritrea
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2011/06/21
|
|
Fiji
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2003/06/29
|
|
Finland
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution, Section 24: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf (2012)
|
2012/05/21
|
|
France
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
c) By Departments
Source:
Electoral Code, Art. 274, 279
|
2012/05/02
|
|
French Polynesia
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Source:
Electoral Code, Article L.440.
|
2004/01/15
|
|
Georgia
|
d. Not applicable
|
The Georgian Parliament is unicameral.
Source:
Constitution of Georgia, chapter 3:
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Georgia_2018?lang=en
|
2024/07/24
|
|
Germany
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
The Bundesrat consists of members of the 16 Land governments. They are elected on Land-Level. The quantities of population in each of the 16 Länder determine the number of seats for each Land.
Source:
Constitution, Ch.4, Art.51 (1)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gg/englisch_gg.pdf
|
2021/11/15
|
|
Ghana
|
d. Not applicable
|
Ghana has only one Chamber
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana ( Article 93 )
|
2005/07/01
|
|
Guyana
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution, art. 51.
|
2004/09/03
|
|
Holy See (Vatican City State)
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001, Art. 3: http://www.vatican.va/vatican_city_state/legislation/documents/scv_doc_20001126_legge-fondamentale-scv_it.html (2012);
Official Website of the Vatican City State: http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/StateDepartments/Legislative_and_executive_bodies.htm (2012)
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Hungary
|
d. Not applicable
|
Hungarian parliament is unicameral.
Source:
Constitution art 19.
|
2002/07/05
|
|
Iceland
|
d. Not applicable
|
There is only one chamber in the Icelandic Parliament.
Source:
Björn Fridfinnsson, Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs, bjorn.fridfinnsson(a)dkm.stjr.is
|
2002/07/11
|
|
India
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Seats are distributed at the national level amongst states and union territories which are the constituency units of the federal republic of India.
Source:
Constitution, art. 80
|
2024/06/12
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2016/01/22
|
|
Ireland
|
e. Other
|
The Seanad is comprised of 60 members. Eleven members are nominated by the
Taoiseach (Prime Minister), 6 members are elected by university graduates and
43 are elected from panels of candidates representing specified vocational interests.
Source:
Constitution, Ch.4, Art. 18
|
2012/05/10
|
|
Italy
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
In the Senate, seats are distributed on a regional basis.
Source:
Legislative Act: Law of 20 December 1993, n. 533, as amended ("Testo unico delle leggi recanti norme per l'elezione del Senato della Repubblica"), Art. 1
|
2012/04/16
|
|
Jamaica
|
d. Not applicable
|
All senators are appointed.
Source:
C: 35.
|
2025/09/18
|
|
Japan
|
a. National level
|
Source:
Constitution, article 43.
|
2003/06/25
|
|
Jordan
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2016/07/28
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
The Senate shall be composed of deputies representing, in accordance with the procedure established by constitutional law, two deputies from each region, city of republican importance and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Ten deputies of the Senate shall be appointed by the President of the Republic, five of whom shall be appointed on the proposal of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
Source:
Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan as amended on March 10, 2017 art. 50:
https://www.election.gov.kz/eng/election-legal-framework/the-constitution-of-the-rk.php
|
2024/10/16
|
|
Kenya
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Members are derived from the regional/county level
Source:
The Constitution of Kenya Article 98
|
2024/12/06
|
|
Kiribati
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/01
|
|
Korea, Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of only one chamber.
Source:
Constitution, article 40.
|
2003/01/10
|
|
Lesotho
|
a. National level
|
(Senate seats are nominated/appointed by the King)
Source:
Constitution of Lesotho, art. 55: http://www.gov.ls/documents/Lesotho_Constitution.pdf
|
2015/03/03
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/23
|
|
Lithuania
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (1992) as amended on 25 April 2006, Art. 55
|
2016/02/02
|
|
Luxembourg
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 50, 51
|
2015/06/04
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
No second chamber existent.
|
2020/04/15
|
|
Malawi
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2025/04/14
|
|
Maldives
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution 1998, article 63.
|
2004/08/24
|
|
Malta
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/22
|
|
Marshall Islands
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/02/23
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/24
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Monaco
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 4, 53
|
2012/04/27
|
|
Montenegro
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2023/09/25
|
|
Morocco
|
a. National level
b. Specially delimited constituencies
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Based on constituencies and professions.
Source:
House of Counsellors Law, part 1, articles 1, 2 and 3.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Nepal
|
e. Other
|
Three different systems are adopted in selection of the total 60 members: a) nomination of 10 by the King, b) 35 members, including 3 women, are elected by the members of the HOR on the basis of PR by means of the single transferable vote, and c) 15 members, 3 from each of five development regions, are elected on the basis of the system of single transferable vote by an electoral college consisting of the Chief and Deputy Chief of Village Development Committee (VDC) and Municipalities and Chief, Deputy Chief and Members of District Development Committee (DDC).
Source:
Constitution 1990, article 46, 1(a-c).
|
2004/08/16
|
|
Netherlands
|
a. National level
|
Members of the Upper House are elected by the members of all provincial assemblies. The votes are weighed according to the number of citizens represented by the provincial assemblies (devide the provincial population by the number of seats in the provincial assembly).
Source:
Heemskerk, Ruud, Member of the National Election Board, stemid(a)worldonline.nl
|
2016/03/04
|
|
New Caledonia
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Source:
Electoral Code, Article L.440
|
2004/01/14
|
|
New Zealand
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2024/07/02
|
|
Niger
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/01/21
|
|
Nigeria
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
|
2015/02/14
|
|
Niue
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/02/22
|
|
Norway
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, Art.73
|
2002/06/26
|
|
Palestine
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/03/02
|
|
Paraguay
|
a. National level
|
Senators are elected directly by the people in one national constituency.
Source:
National Constitution of Paraguay, Article 223.
|
2003/11/26
|
|
Portugal
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2024/07/02
|
|
Romania
|
a. National level
|
Seats are also distributed at the regional/provincial level.
Source:
Law on Election of the Parliament, article 66.
|
2004/11/22
|
|
Russian Federation
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
According to the Law, the Federation Council consists of two delegates from each Russian constituent component, one representing the given region’s legislative assembly and the other representing the provincial executive authorities. There will be two different election procedures, one for each type of member. (art. 1.)
Source:
Federal Law on the Procedure to Form the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly as on December 3 2012.
|
2016/05/31
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2020/04/14
|
|
Saint Lucia
|
d. Not applicable
|
Senators are appointed.
Source:
C: 24.
|
2002/12/10
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
d. Not applicable
|
The Congress is unicameral.
Source:
Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1979, article 24.
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Samoa
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/04/09
|
|
San Marino
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/25
|
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/06/17
|
|
Serbia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2022/07/05
|
|
Seychelles
|
e. Other
|
N/A
Source:
N/A
|
2025/02/25
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/06/28
|
|
Slovakia
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
Mrs. Lívia Skultétyová, Head of the Election department, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, +421-7/4333 8662
|
2002/06/18
|
|
Slovenia
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Source:
Constitution, article 96.
|
2002/08/27
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2004/04/29
|
|
Somalia
|
d. Not applicable
|
one chamber
Source:
article 28 1997 constitution.
|
2005/04/06
|
|
South Africa
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2024/11/28
|
|
Spain
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
Directly elected Senators: 52 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the Spanish provinces as well as to Ceuta and Melilla.
Voters from a provincial constituency may give their vote to a maximum of 3 Senators; Voters from some islands (Gran Canaria, Mallorca, Tenerife) as well as from Ceuta and Melilla can elect up to 2 Senators each; the rest of island constituencies can only elect one Senator.
Indirectly elected Senators: In each of the 17 Autonomous Communities the Legislative Assembly elects one Senator, plus one more for each 1,000,000 inhabitants.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 69(2);
Electoral Law 5/1985 of 19 June, Art. 161, 165, 166
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution 1978, article 62(1); http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/LK/sri-lanka-constitution-as-amended-up-to-9/at_download/file
|
2016/01/28
|
|
Sudan
|
d. Not applicable
|
The unicameral parliament is composed of the National Assembly (al-Majlis al-Watani).
Source:
http://www.pogar.org/
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Sweden
|
d. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
The Instrument of Government, Ch. 3, Art. 2: Official Website of the Parliament: http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Start/Bestall/Sprakversioner/English---engelska1/Sveriges-grundlagar-och-riksdagsordningen1/ (2012)
|
2014/08/04
|
|
Switzerland
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
6 cantons elect one senator each, the rest of the 25 cantons elect 2 senators each.
Election procedure is determined by cantonal law and varies from canton to canton. 1 canton uses the proportional system. All the other 25 cantons use a form of majority system.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 150
|
2012/05/11
|
|
Tanzania, United Republic of
|
a. National level
|
|
2025/12/01
|
|
Timor-Leste
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2001/09/14
|
|
Tonga
|
d. Not applicable
|
Unicameral Legislature
Source:
IPU Parline Database: https://data.ipu.org/node/174/basic-information?chamber_id=13543 (2021)
|
2021/09/13
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
a. National level
|
The Senate shall consist of thirty-one members (in this Constitution referred to as “Senators”) who shall be appointed by the President in accordance with this section.
Source:
Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, Article 40 [1]
|
2015/05/21
|
|
Tunisia
|
d. Not applicable
|
The unicameral parliament is composed of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (Majlis Nawwāb esh-Sha‘b).
Source:
The Constitution of 26 January 2014, art. 75: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/TN/tunisia-constitution-of-26-january-2014/view (2014)
|
2019/08/05
|
|
Turkey
|
d. Not applicable
|
The Parliament is unicameral.
Source:
Turkish Constitution, art. 7: https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf
|
2016/01/21
|
|
Tuvalu
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2003/07/28
|
|
Ukraine
|
d. Not applicable
|
The Parliament in Ukraine is unicameral.
Source:
Constitution, article 75
|
2014/05/23
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
d. Not applicable
|
Members of the House of Lords are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. Some non-party-political members are recommended by an independent body, the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Source:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/whos-in-the-house-of-lords/
|
2016/04/11
|
|
United States of America
|
c. Regional or provincial level
|
There are two senators from each of the 50 states in the United States.
Source:
Article I, Section, United States Constitution
|
2016/02/12
|
|
Uruguay
|
a. National level
|
The Chamber of Senators is composed of 30 members appointed at a national level by an integral, proportional representation system.<
Source:
Constitution, art. 88
|
2002/07/05
|
|
Vanuatu
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution of the republic of Vanuatu, art. 15: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/VU/vanuatu-constitution-of-the-republic-of-vanuatu/at_download/file
|
2016/01/26
|
|
Venezuela
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitución, art. 186
|
2003/09/26
|
|
Viet Nam
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, article 83
|
2021/03/23
|
|
Wallis and Futuna
|
b. Specially delimited constituencies
|
Source:
Electoral Code, Article L.440.
|
2004/01/15
|
|
Yemen
|
d. Not applicable
|
The Consultative Council or Shura Council is composed of 111 seats, as of April 28, 2001, and are appointed by the President.
Source:
Constitution, chapter 3, part 2, section 1, article 125.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/08
|
|
Zanzibar
|
d. Not applicable
|
The parliment of Zanzibar has one chamber.
Source:
Constitution of Zanzibar. Translated from Kiswahili by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.
|
2002/09/20
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
e. Other
|
|
2018/10/30
|
