# Senate of Spain

The Senate (Spanish: Senado) is the upper house of the Cortes Generales, which along with the Congress of Deputies – the lower chamber – comprises the Parliament of the Kingdom of Spain. The Senate meets in the Palace of the Senate in Madrid. The presiding officer of the Senate is the president of the Senate, who is elected by the members at the first sitting after each national election.
The composition of the Senate is established in Part III of the Spanish Constitution. Each senator represents a province, an autonomous city or an autonomous community. Each mainland province, regardless of its population size, is equally represented by four senators; in the insular provinces, the larger islands are represented by three senators and the minor islands are represented by a single senator. Likewise, the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla elect two senators each. This direct election results in the election of 208 senators by the citizens. In addition, the regional legislatures also designate their own representatives, one senator for each autonomous community and another for every million residents, resulting in a total of 58 additional senators.
The Spanish Senate is constitutionally described as a territorial chamber. Consequently, although in general its powers are similar to those of the Congress of Deputies, it is endowed with exceptional powers such as authorising the Government to apply direct rule to a region or to dissolve local government councils.
Intensive debates about reforming the Senate's function and purpose have been going on for many years without any resolution.

## History

The first Spanish Constitution, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, established a unicameral legislative, therefore, an upper Chamber did not exist.
The Senate was first established under the Royal Statute of 1834 approved by Queen Regent Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies under the denomination of House of Peers but it did not last long and in 1837, under the Constitution of that year, the upper house acquired the denomination of Senate.
It remained under the regimes of the constitutions of 1845, 1856, 1869 and 1876. It was composed, at that latter time, of three main categories: senators by their own right, senators for life and elected senators. This house, along with the Congress of Deputies, was suppressed after the coup of General Miguel Primo de Rivera in 1923.
After the restoration of democracy during the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939) the new regime opted for a unicameral system, which was continued under the Francoist dictatorship.
Only after the Spanish transition to democracy in 1977 was it re-established.

## Role

The Spanish parliamentary system is bicameral but asymmetric. The Congress of Deputies has more independent functions, and it can also override most Senate measures. Only the Congress can grant or revoke confidence in the Prime Minister.
Either house may propose an ordinary law (or bill, Spanish: proyecto de ley). A bill passed by Congress can be amended or vetoed by the Senate in which case the bill is then sent back to the lower house, which can override these objections by an absolute majority vote. Organic laws, which govern basic civil rights and regional devolution, need an absolute majority of both congress and senate to pass.
The process for constitutional amendments is more complicated: the rule is to require a three fifths (60%) of both houses, but if the Senate does not achieve such a supermajority and a joint congress-senate committee fails to resolve the issues, the Congress may force the amendment through with a two-thirds vote as long as an absolute majority of the Senate was in favour. But for some specific types of amendments including those related to most clauses related to human rights, both houses must approve of the amendment by a two thirds vote, and an election must be held and the amendment must pass by a two thirds vote a second time, and if that is approved, the people must vote for the amendment in a referendum by majority vote.
The Senate has certain exclusive functions including
* the appointment of constitutional posts, such as judges of the Constitutional Court or the members of the General Council of the Judiciary;
* disciplining regional governments. It exercised this power in October 2017 over the region of Catalonia. This decision gave to prime minister Mariano Rajoy the power to remove the regional government and to dissolve the regional legislature, and govern directly from Madrid.
* suspending local governments. It exercised this power in April 2006, dissolving the Marbella city council when most of its members were found to have engaged in corrupt practices.
Senate reform has been a topic of discussion since the early days of Spanish democracy. One proposal would advance the federalization of Spain by remaking the Senate to represent the autonomous communities of Spain.

## Organization

Senators form groups along party lines. Parties with fewer than ten senators form the Mixed Group. If the membership of an existing group falls below six during a session, it is merged into the Mixed Group at the next session. For example, Coalición Canaria lost its senate caucus in 2008 after electoral losses reduced its group from six to two. The Basque Nationalist Party, falling from seven to four, "borrowed" senators from the ruling Socialist Party to form their group; in exchange, they supported the election of socialist Javier Rojo as President of the Senate.
Legally, 133 seats are required for an absolute majority, vacant seats notwithstanding.

## Elections to the Senate

To date, senate elections have coincided with elections to the lower house, but the prime minister may advise the king to call elections for one house only. While the Congress of Deputies is chosen by party list proportional representation, the members of the senate are chosen in two distinct ways: popular election by limited voting and appointment from regional legislatures.

### Directly elected members

Most members of the senate (currently 208 of 266) are directly elected by the people. Each province elects four senators without regard to population. Insular provinces are treated specially. The larger islands of the Balearics (Baleares) and Canaries (Canarias)—Mallorca, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife—are assigned three seats each, and the smaller islands—Menorca, Ibiza–Formentera, Fuerteventura, Gomera, Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma—one each; Ceuta and Melilla are assigned two seats each. This allocation is heavily weighted in favor of small provinces; Madrid, with its 6.5 million people, and Soria, with 90,000 inhabitants, are each represented by four senators.
In non-insular constituencies, each party nominates three candidates. Candidates' names are organized in columns by party on a large (DIN A3 or larger) ochre-colored ballot called a sábana or bedsheet.
Each voter may mark up to three candidates' names, from any party. This is the only occasion when Spanish voters vote for individuals rather than a party list. Panachage is allowed, but typically voters cast all three votes for candidates of a single party. As a result, the four senators are usually the three candidates from the most popular party and the first placed candidate from the next most popular.
Before 2011, a party could not choose the order of its candidates on the ballot paper; candidates were sorted alphabetically by surname. When a party did not get all three of its candidates elected, this arrangement favored candidates with surnames early in the alphabet. This was the case for 2nd placed parties in every province and for both parties in tight races when voters did not vote for three candidates of the same party (panachage).
Key to parties
  EH Bildu
  EiFS
  ERC
  PSC
  PSE–EE
  PSOE
  ASG
  PNV
  Junts
  AHI
  UPN
  PP
  Ind.
  Vacant (*) :
| Autonomous Community | Provinces | Senators | Population (2023) | Senator/pop.-ratio | Distribution |
| Andalusia | 8 | 32 | 8,584,147 | 268,254 | 11 21 |
| Aragon | 3 | 12 | 1,341,289 | 111,774 | 3 9 |
| Asturias | 1 | 4 | 1,006,060 | 251,515 | 1 3 |
| Balearic Islands | 1* | 5 | 1,209,906 | 241,981 | 1 1 3 |
| Basque Country | 3 | 12 | 2,216,302 | 184,691 | 4 4 4 |
| Canary Islands | 2* | 11 | 2,213,016 | 201,183 | 7 1 1 2 |
| Cantabria | 1 | 4 | 588,387 | 147,096 | 1 3 |
| Castile and León | 9 | 36 | 2,383,703 | 66,213 | 9 27 |
| Castilla–La Mancha | 5 | 20 | 2,084,086 | 104,204 | 5 15 |
| Catalonia | 4 | 16 | 7,901,963 | 493,872 | 3 12 1 |
| Extremadura | 2 | 8 | 1,054,306 | 131,788 | 4 4 |
| Galicia | 4 | 16 | 2,699,424 | 168,714 | 4 12 |
| La Rioja | 1 | 4 | 322,282 | 80,570 | 1 3 |
| Madrid | 1 | 4 | 6,871,903 | 1,717,975 | 1 3 |
| Murcia | 1 | 4 | 1,551,692 | 387,923 | 1 3 |
| Navarre | 1 | 4 | 672,155 | 168,038 | 3 1 |
| Valencian Community | 3 | 12 | 5,216,195 | 434,682 | 4 8 |
| Ceuta | N/A | 2 | 83,052 | 41,526 | 2 |
| Melilla | N/A | 2 | 85,493 | 42,746 | 2 |
| Total | 50 | 208 | 48,085,361 | 276,039 | Source: |

### Regional legislatures-appointed members

The legislative assembly of each autonomous community of Spain appoints a senators to represent the community, with one senator per one million citizens, rounded up. Demographic growth increased the combined size of the regional appointed senators from 51 to 57 since 1983.
Conventionally, the proportions of the regional senators mimic their legislative assemblies. However, autonomous communities have considerable leeway, and a motion to appoint the regional senators often requires no more than a plurality:
Key to parties
  EH Bildu
  BNG
  Más Madrid
  Compromís
  ERC
  PSC
  PSE–EE
  PSOE
  GBai
  PNV
  Junts
  CC
  PP
  Vox
  Ind.
  Vacant (*) :
| Autonomous Community | Population (2023) | Senators | Senator/pop.-ratio | Election | Distribution |
| Andalusia | 8,584,147 | 9 | 953,794 | 2022 | 3 5 1 |
| Aragon | 1,341,289 | 2 | 670,644 | 2023 | 1 1 |
| Asturias | 1,006,060 | 2 | 503,030 | 2023 | 1 1 |
| Balearic Islands | 1,209,906 | 2 | 604,953 | 2023 | 1 1 |
| Basque Country | 2,216,302 | 3 | 738,767 | 2024 | 1 1 1 |
| Canary Islands | 2,213,016 | 3 | 737,672 | 2023 | 1 1 1 |
| Cantabria | 588,387 | 1 | 588,387 | 2023 | 1 |
| Castile and León | 2,383,703 | 3 | 794,567 | 2022 | 1 2 |
| Castilla–La Mancha | 2,084,086 | 3 | 694,695 | 2023 | 2 1 |
| Catalonia | 7,901,963 | 8 | 987,745 | 2024 | 1 3 3 1 |
| Extremadura | 1,054,306 | 2 | 527,153 | 2023 | 1 1 |
| Galicia | 2,699,424 | 3 | 899,808 | 2024 | 1 2 |
| La Rioja | 322,282 | 1 | 322,282 | 2023 | 1 |
| Madrid | 6,871,903 | 7 | 981,700 | 2023 | 1 1 5 |
| Murcia | 1,551,692 | 2 | 775,846 | 2023 | 1 1 |
| Navarre | 672,155 | 1 | 672,155 | 2023 | 1 |
| Valencian Community | 5,216,195 | 6 | 869,365 | 2023 | 1 2 2 1 |
| Total | 48,085,361 | 58 | 724,856 | | Source: |

## Composition

The last election was held on 23 July 2023. Following the election, the composition of the 15th Senate was:
| Parliamentary group | Elected | App. | Total |
| People's Party Group in the Senate | 120 | 24 | 144 |
| Socialist Group | 72 | 19 | 91 |
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | 53 | 14 | 67 |
| Socialists' Party of Catalonia | 12 | 3 | 15 |
| Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Socialists' Party of Galicia | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Republican Left–EH Bildu Group | Republican Left–EH Bildu Group | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| | Republican Left of Catalonia | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| | EH Bildu | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Plural Group in the Senate (JxCat–CC-AHI-BNG) | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Together for Catalonia | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Galician Nationalist Bloc | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Canarian Coalition | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent Herrenian Group | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Basque Group in the Senate | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Confederal Left Group | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Gomera Socialist Group | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Geroa Bai | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pacte Progressista | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| More Madrid | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Commitment Coalition | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mixed Group | Mixed Group | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| | Vox | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| | Navarrese People's Union | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Vacant | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 208 | 58 | 266 |

## Committees

| Committee | Chair(s) | Chair(s) | Term |
| Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | María Teresa Macías | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Foreign Affairs | Antonio Gutiérrez Limones | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Ibero-American Affairs | César Alejandro Mogo Zaro | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Science, Innovation and Universities | Francisco Javier de Lucas Martín | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Constitutional | Antonio Magdaleno Alegría | PSOE | 2019–present |
| International Cooperation for Development | Elena Diego | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Culture and Sport | Manuel Escarda Escarda | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Defence | Pilar Llop Cuenca | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Rights of Families, Childhood and Adolescence | María de los Ángeles Luna Morales | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Economy and Business | Javier Garcinuño Rama | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Education and Vocational Training | José Asensi Sabater | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Local Administrations | Miguel Carmelo Dalmau Blanco | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Public Works | José Fernández Blanco | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Civil Service | Salvador Vidal Varela | PSOE | 2019–present |
| General on Autonomous Communities | Joan Lerma Blasco | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Finance | Cosme Bonet Bonet | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Equality | Josefina Antonia Bueno Alonso | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Incompatibilities | Julia María Liberal Liberal | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Industry, Trade and Tourism | Marisa Bustinduy | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Home Affairs | María Jesús Castro Mateos | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Justice | Francisco Manuel Fajardo Palarea (PSOE) | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Nominations | Manuel Cruz | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Rules | Manuel Cruz | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Comprehensive Disability Policies | María Teresa Fernández Molina | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Petitions | Micaela Navarro | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Budget | José Antonio Monago | PP | 2019–present |
| Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare | Modesto Pose Mesura | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Petitions by a Court | Félix Ortega Fernández | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Labour, Migrations and Social Security | Antonio Armando Ferrer | PSOE | 2019–present |
| Ecological Transition | María Isabel Moreno Duque | PSOE | 2019–present |

## Presidents of the Senate of Spain

This is a list of the Presidents of the Senate since the reestablishment of the upper house in 1977. To see previous presidents, look the full list of presidents of the Senate.
$^{Ref.}$ :
| Antonio Fontán President of the Senate (1923–2010) | 13 July 1977 — 2 January 1979 | 1 year, 173 days | Union of the Democratic Centre | Constituent (1977) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Cecilio Valverde President of the Senate (1927–2001) | 27 April 1979 — 31 August 1982 | 3 years, 126 days | Union of the Democratic Centre | I (1979) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| José Federico de Carvajal President of the Senate (1930–2015) | 18 November 1982 — 2 September 1989 | 6 years, 349 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | II (1982) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| José Federico de Carvajal President of the Senate (1930–2015) | 18 November 1982 — 2 September 1989 | 6 years, 349 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | III (1986) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Juan José Laborda President of the Senate (born 1947) | 21 November 1989 — 9 January 1996 | 6 years, 49 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | IV (1989) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Juan José Laborda President of the Senate (born 1947) | 21 November 1989 — 9 January 1996 | 6 years, 49 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | V (1993) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Juan Ignacio Barrero President of the Senate (born 1943) | 27 March 1996 — 8 February 1999 | 2 years, 318 days | People's Party | VI (1996) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Esperanza Aguirre Countess consort of Murillo President of the Senate (born 1952) | 8 February 1999 — 21 October 2002 | 3 years, 255 days | People's Party | VI (1996) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Esperanza Aguirre Countess consort of Murillo President of the Senate (born 1952) | 8 February 1999 — 21 October 2002 | 3 years, 255 days | People's Party | VII (2000) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Juan José Lucas President of the Senate (born 1944) | 22 October 2002 — 20 January 2004 | 1 year, 90 days | People's Party | VII (2000) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Javier Rojo President of the Senate (born 1949) | 2 April 2004 — 27 September 2011 | 7 years, 178 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | VIII (2004) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Javier Rojo President of the Senate (born 1949) | 2 April 2004 — 27 September 2011 | 7 years, 178 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | IX (2008) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Pío García-Escudero 4th Count of Badarán President of the Senate (born 1952) | 13 December 2011 — 20 May 2019 | 7 years, 158 days | People's Party | X (2011) | Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) |
| Pío García-Escudero 4th Count of Badarán President of the Senate (born 1952) | 13 December 2011 — 20 May 2019 | 7 years, 158 days | People's Party | X (2011) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |
| Pío García-Escudero 4th Count of Badarán President of the Senate (born 1952) | 13 December 2011 — 20 May 2019 | 7 years, 158 days | People's Party | XI (2015) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |
| Pío García-Escudero 4th Count of Badarán President of the Senate (born 1952) | 13 December 2011 — 20 May 2019 | 7 years, 158 days | People's Party | XII (2016) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |
| Manuel Cruz President of the Senate (born 1951) | 21 May 2019 — 2 December 2019 | 195 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | XIII (2019) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |
| Pilar Llop President of the Senate (born 1973) | 3 December 2019 — 8 July 2021 | 1 year, 217 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | XIV (2019) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |
| Ander Gil President of the Senate (born 1974) | 12 July 2021 — 16 August 2023 | 2 years, 35 days | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | XIV (2019) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |
| Pedro Rollán President of the Senate (born 1974) | 17 August 2023 — Incumbent | 1 year, 174 days | People's Party | XV (2023) | Felipe VI (2014–present) |