The functioning of the Senate
The Senate is an institution that may be unknown to many citizens. Unlike the Congress of Deputies, the Senate does not have as much media prominence. However, it plays an important role in the Spanish political system.
The Senate is made up of 266 senators, the majority of whom are elected by direct universal suffrage. However, there is a smaller group of senators who are appointed by the regional parliaments. These regionally appointed senators represent the different autonomous communities of Spain.
Senators by autonomous designation
Of the 266 senators, 58 are appointed by the regional parliaments. The formula for their election is as follows: each autonomous community has the right to a permanent senator, and an additional senator is also appointed for every million inhabitants of its territory.
It is important to highlight that these senators by autonomous appointment are not elected directly by the population, but by the political representatives who emerge from the regional elections. Therefore, your choice is indirect.
The role of the Senate
The Senate has several functions in the Spanish political system. Among them are territorial representation, participation in the drafting of laws and government oversight.
Regarding territorial representation, the Senate guarantees the presence of all the autonomous communities in the legislative sphere. In addition, it plays an important role in the approval of laws, since it must give its approval to legislative proposals before they are enacted.
Finally, the Senate also has the function of supervising the Government. This means that it can control and supervise the actions of the Government, ensuring that they comply with the law and respond to the interests of citizens.