The National Congress of Nicaragua () was the
legislature
A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial power ...
of
Nicaragua
Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...
before the
Nicaraguan Revolution
The Nicaraguan Revolution () began with rising opposition to the Somoza dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s, the ouster of the dictatorship in 1978–79, and fighting between the government and the Contras from 1981 to 1990. The revolution r ...
of 1979.
The congress was
bicameral
Bicameralism is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate Deliberative assembly, assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate ...
, and consisted of
Chamber of Deputies
The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures.
Description
Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...
() and
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
().
The Chamber of Deputies had 42 members (in 1968). They were popularly elected at-large, with one deputy for each 30 000 citizens. The
Chamber of Deputies
The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures.
Description
Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...
was the stronger chamber, all legislation was introduced there. The Senate was able block bills from the Chamber of Deputies with two-thirds majority.
The Senate had 18 senators (in 1968). There was one senator for each of the 16 national departments, and senators-for-life (former
Presidents of the Republic), and one senator who was the runner-up in the latest presidential elections.
One-third representation of the major opposition party was guaranteed in both houses.
The congress met in the
National Palace Buildings called National Palace include:
*National Palace (Dominican Republic), in Santo Domingo
* National Palace (El Salvador), in San Salvador
* National Palace (Ethiopia), in Addis Ababa; also known as the Jubilee Palace
* National Palace (Guat ...
.
Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies before 1979
Presidents of the Senate before 1979
Presidents of the Legislature during Federal Republic of Central America
See also
*
National Assembly (Nicaragua)
The National Assembly () is the legislature, legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua founded in January 1985.
History
The unicameral National Assembly replaced the bicameral National Congress of Nicaragua which was disbanded follow ...
– Unicameral legislature since 1986
*
History of Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a nation in Central America. It is located about midway between Mexico and Colombia, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Nicaragua ranges from the Caribbean Sea on the nation's east coast, and the Pacific Oc ...
References
{{Nicaragua topics
Defunct bicameral legislatures
Politics of Nicaragua
Political organizations based in Nicaragua
1979 disestablishments in Nicaragua