The territorial dimension of the Senate

Article 69.1 Spanish Constitution considers the Senate as a «Chamber of territorial representation». However, neither its composition nor its constitutionally recognized functions and powers currently fulfill this character. A constituent process dominated by consensus meant that the final regulatio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Alonso de Antonio, Ángel Luis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Asamblea de Madrid
Repositorio:Asamblea. Revista Parlamentaria de la Asamblea de Madrid
OAI Identifier:oai:revista.asambleamadrid.es:article/1032
Acceso en línea:https://revista.asambleamadrid.es/index.php/rvam/article/view/1032
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Senado
representación territorial
Comunidades Autónomas
composición
funciones
reforma constitucional
Senate
territorial representation
Autonomous Communities
composition
functions
constitutional reform
Descripción
Sumario:Article 69.1 Spanish Constitution considers the Senate as a «Chamber of territorial representation». However, neither its composition nor its constitutionally recognized functions and powers currently fulfill this character. A constituent process dominated by consensus meant that the final regulation of the Senate did not to specify the subject it represented from the point of view of the territorial organization of the State. Therefore, a constitutional reform of the regulation of the Senate is essential to clarify whether it is in fact the Chamber of representation of the Autonomous Communities and what model of the Upper Chamber is desired. In this regard, legal doctrine debates whether the Senate should remain a parliamentary chamber as it is currently, or whether, on the contrary, imitating the German model, it should be a representative body of the governments of the Autonomous Communities. Deciding on one model or another involves establishing the rules for constituting the Senate, the electoral system to be used, and the composition and functions of the Chamber.