Chamber and Senate, the comparison of numbers in EU parliaments
2019-10-08T18:22:18.591Z
Currently the Chamber of Deputies, with 630 elected representatives, is among the 'Lower Chambers' in Europe the one in which the largest number of deputies sits. To date, in fact, only the German Bundestag has a greater number of elected representatives, equal to 709, as well as the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, with 650 members. With the final approval of the constitutional reform that reduces the number of Italian deputies from the current 630 to a total of 400, the Chamber of Deputies is in line with other similar European elective institutions, but always remaining among those with a higher number of elected representatives. This is what results from a comparison with the numbers of the other EU parliaments, elaborated by the Montecitorio studies service. More complicated comparison with regard to the Italian Senate with the 'High Chambers' of other European countries. Not only because several member states do not have a bicameral structure, but also because where the 'Upper House' is present, in some cases this is not directly elected by the citizens. With the cut of 115 senators (going from the current 315 to a total of 200), contained in the constitutional reform that received the last go-ahead, the Italian 'Upper Chamber' aligns itself with similar European institutions. Chamber of Deputies and 'Lower Chambers' in Europe In Italy the current 630 deputies are all directly elected by the citizens. The constitutional reform definitively approved reduces them to 400. In Europe there are few Lower Chambers with such a high number of elected representatives. However, the number of population and inhabitants per elected deputy should be considered, not always corresponding as some EU countries are less populous than Italy. In a decreasing picture, and given the fact that the Italian deputies made their cut, Germany stood at the top of the podium, with 709 elected to the Bundestag. However, it should be remembered that the Bundestag has a variable number of elected representatives, with a minimum mandatory number of 598 members. In second place is the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, with 650 members; followed by France, with 577 members, even if a reform to reduce the number to 404 is under consideration. Poland also has a Lower House with a high number of elected representatives, equal to 460. To follow, Spain and Sweden follow, with respectively 350 and 349 elected. Romania is just below, with 329 members. Finally, the Low Chambers of Greece (300 members), Bulgaria (240 members), Portugal (230), Czech Republic and Finland (200), Hungary (199), the Netherlands (150), Ireland (158), Denmark must be listed. (179). The Lower House with fewer members turns out to be Luxembourg with 60 deputies. But the comparison with the total number of the population must be made. Senate of the Republic and 'Upper Chambers' in Europe A separate speech must be made for the High Chambers. In fact, most European Union countries (15 out of 28) do not have a second chamber. Among the 12 countries of the European Union, besides Italy, which have a second Chamber (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia and Spain), only in 4 members are elected directly by the citizens (Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Spain). In Spain, moreover, a part of the members (58 out of 266) are designated by the Autonomous Communities. Furthermore, the functions assigned to the upper chambers are differently modulated compared to the lower chambers, depending on the respective regulations. It is therefore not possible to make a precise comparison. The constitutional reform reduces senators in Italy from the current 315 to 200 total. In Germany the 'limited' number of members of the Bundesrat - currently 69 members - is functional to the nature of that body, which Article 51 of the German Basic Law provides is composed of members of the Lander governments, who appoint and revoke them . At the opposite extreme in terms of numbers is the House of Lords - currently composed of 792 members - which responds to representativeness logics of a completely different nature. In the United Kingdom, in fact, there is no numerical limit for the appointment of the Lords, which is for life, by the Crown, on the advice of the Prime Minister. Then there are law Lords, members of the Anglican Church. And Lords still sit by hereditary right, which are 'exhaustion' since the inheritance of the seat was abolished, with the House of Lords Act of 1999. In France the Senate is second-class elective and is composed of 348 senators, elected by a college of more than 160,000 'great electors' (mostly made up of delegates from municipal councils) and half-renewed every three years. It provides, according to Article 24 of the Constitution, the representation of the territorial communities of the Republic. The reform under discussion in France envisages a reduction in the number of senators to 244. In Spain the Senate is a predominantly elective House. The Spanish senators are, for the most part, elected by direct universal suffrage while for a minor part they are members designated by the parliaments of the seventeen autonomous communities. There is therefore a 'mixed' composition, direct elective and indirect elective or second degree. The number of designated senators may vary. Of the 266 senators of the current legislature, 208 were directly elected by the people by universal suffrage, 58 were designated by the Parliaments of the 17 Autonomous Communities.
- Pass the reform of the Chambers, cut 315 MPs, in favor of 553 votes out of 569
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08 October 2019The Chamber of Deputies, with 630 elected officials, is the one in Europe where the largest number of deputies sits. To date, in fact, only the German Bundestag has a greater number of elected representatives, equal to 709, as well as the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, with 650 members. With the final approval of the constitutional reform that reduces the number of Italian deputies from the current 630 to a total of 400, the Chamber of Deputies is in line with other similar European elective institutions, but always remaining among those with a higher number of elected representatives. This is what results from a comparison with the numbers of the other EU parliaments, elaborated by the Montecitorio studies service. More complicated comparison with regard to the Italian Senate with the 'High Chambers' of other European countries. Not only because several member states do not have a bicameral structure, but also because where the 'Upper House' is present, in some cases this is not directly elected by the citizens. With the cut of 115 senators (going from the current 315 to a total of 200), contained in the constitutional reform that received the last go-ahead, the Italian 'Upper Chamber' aligns itself with similar European institutions. Chamber of Deputies and 'Lower Chambers' in Europe In Italy the 630 current deputies are all elected directly by the citizens. The constitutional reform definitively approved reduces them to 400. In Europe there are few Lower Chambers with such a high number of elected representatives. However, the number of population and inhabitants per elected deputy should be considered, not always corresponding as some EU countries are less populous than Italy. In a decreasing picture, and given the fact that the Italian deputies made their cut, Germany stood at the top of the podium, with 709 elected to the Bundestag. However, it should be remembered that the Bundestag has a variable number of elected representatives, with a minimum mandatory number of 598 members. In second place is the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, with 650 members; followed by France, with 577 members, even if a reform to reduce the number to 404 is under consideration. Poland also has a Lower House with a high number of elected representatives, equal to 460. To follow, Spain and Sweden follow, with respectively 350 and 349 elected. Romania is just below, with 329 members. Finally, the Low Chambers of Greece (300 members), Bulgaria (240 members), Portugal (230), Czech Republic and Finland (200), Hungary (199), the Netherlands (150), Ireland (158), Denmark must be listed. (179). The Lower House with fewer members turns out to be Luxembourg with 60 deputies. But the comparison with the total number of the population must be made. Senate of the Republic and 'High Chambers' in Europe Separate speech must be made for the High Chambers. In fact, most European Union countries (15 out of 28) do not have a second chamber. Among the 12 countries of the European Union, besides Italy, which have a second Chamber (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia and Spain), only in 4 members are elected directly by the citizens (Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Spain). In Spain, moreover, a part of the members (58 out of 266) are designated by the Autonomous Communities. Furthermore, the functions assigned to the upper chambers are differently modulated compared to the lower chambers, depending on the respective regulations. It is therefore not possible to make a precise comparison. The constitutional reform reduces senators in Italy from the current 315 to 200 total. In Germany the 'limited' number of members of the Bundesrat - currently 69 members - is functional to the nature of that body, which Article 51 of the German Basic Law provides is composed of members of the Lander governments, who appoint and revoke them . At the opposite extreme in terms of numbers is the House of Lords - currently composed of 792 members - which responds to representativeness logics of a completely different nature. In the United Kingdom, in fact, there is no numerical limit for the appointment of the Lords, which is for life, by the Crown, on the advice of the Prime Minister. Then there are law Lords, members of the Anglican Church. And Lords still sit by hereditary right, which are 'exhaustion' since the inheritance of the seat was abolished, with the House of Lords Act of 1999. In France the Senate is second-class elective and is composed of 348 senators, elected by a college of more than 160,000 'great electors' (mostly made up of delegates from municipal councils) and half-renewed every three years. It provides, according to Article 24 of the Constitution, the representation of the territorial communities of the Republic. The reform under discussion in France envisages a reduction in the number of senators to 244. In Spain the Senate is a predominantly elective House. The Spanish senators are, for the most part, elected by direct universal suffrage while for a minor part they are members designated by the parliaments of the seventeen autonomous communities. There is therefore a 'mixed' composition, direct elective and indirect elective or second degree. The number of designated senators may vary. Of the 266 senators of the current legislature, 208 were directly elected by the people by universal suffrage, 58 were designated by the Parliaments of the 17 Autonomous Communities.
