Senate (Portugal)

The Senate of the Portuguese Republic, alternatively translatable as the House of Councillors, (Portuguese: Senado da República Portuguesa) was the upper house of the Congress of the Republic, the legislature of the First Portuguese Republic. The Senate was Elected for a Six Year term, but the terms of senators were staggered to allow elections every three years (Alongside elections to the Chamber of Deputies). The First Senate was Elected by the National Consistuent Assembly, but later Senates were elected by the People, first with Senators representing Nationwide Party Lists and Senators representaing Districts and Portuguese Colonies and, since 1918, additional Senators representing special interests (Agriculture, Industry, Commerce, Public Services, "Liberal Professions" and Arts and Sciences). Although the Chamber of Deputies was the Dominant House of Congress, the Senate had the power of approving or rejecting nominations of Colonial Governors and High Commisioners.^[1]

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