The senate house which is the Council of the Nation is also known as the upper house of the Algerian Parliament. It is composed of 144 members, 2/3 of which are elected indirectly and 1/3 of which are appointed by the president of Algeria.
The head of state is the President of the republic who is elected to a 5-year term which is renewable once (changed by the 2008 Constitution to an infinite mandate but reinstated in 2016). Algeria has universal suffrage. The President is the head of the Council of Ministers and of the High Security Council. He appoints the Prime Minister who also is the head of government. The Prime Minister appoints the Council of Ministers.
They were last elected on 5 February 2022.
Abdelkader Bensalah was elected as President of the Council of the Nation on July 2, 2002, re-elected on January 11, 2007 and January 10, 2008. zohra Drif was elected as Vice President of the Council of the Nation on September 10, 2002, re-elected on March 7, 2007 and March 8, 2008.
COMPOSITION
The Council has 144 members:
- 96 indirectly elected in secret ballot (2/3)
- 48 appointed by the President of the Republic (1/3)
ELECTIONS
There are 48 dual-member constituencies (two seats) corresponding to the number of wilayas (departments) of the country.
The election shall be by majority vote in two rounds by and from an electoral college composed of elected popular wilaya assemblies and communal people’s assemblies (approx. 15,000 members).
Eligibility:
- Be at least 40 years old.
The term of office is six years. The Chamber is renewed by half every three years.
Board member commits himself before his peers who can revoke his mandate by a majority of its members, if it commits a shameful action for his mission.
PRESIDENCY
- President: Salah Goudjil
- Vice President: Djamel Ould Abbes
BUILDING
Palace of the Council of the Nation (Algiers)