How a shift in electoral math changed Chile's lower house
In short: For years, Chile's Chamber of Deputies operated under a unique binomial system designed to reward large coalitions. Today, the landscape of the National Congress looks entirely different, following a massive structural reform that transformed how power is distributed across the nation's 28 electoral districts.
The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, recently underwent a profound structural evolution. Under the 1980 Constitution, the chamber originally consisted of 120 members elected from 60 districts using a 'binomial' formula. This system was highly specific: each coalition could run two candidates per district, and seats were typically split one per coalition. A single coalition could only sweep both seats if they outperformed their rival by more than a two-to-one margin.
Following a 2015 reform, this system was replaced by open-list proportional representation using the D'Hondt method. This change, which took effect in 2017, significantly altered the political map by reducing the number of electoral districts from 60 to 28. This shift moved the chamber away from rewarding massive, stable coalitions and toward a more fragmented, proportional landscape.
Beyond electoral mechanics, the chamber's identity has also shifted. In 2019, the institution adopted a gender-inclusive name, 'Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de Chile,' to promote non-sexist language, even though the original name remains in the constitutional text. As of March 2026, the chamber reached a historic milestone in representation, with women making up 33.5 percent of the 155 deputies—the highest level of female representation in its history. Despite these structural changes, the chamber's core powers remain centered on oversight and accountability. It holds the exclusive authority to initiate 'constitutional accusations'—a process similar to impeachment—against high-ranking officials, including the President, Ministers, and judges. While the chamber initiates these charges, the Senate serves as the jury for the final trial.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Chamber of Deputies of Chile
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