Regional councils of Chile

Regional councils of Chile (Spanish: consejos regionales) are collegiate public bodies with normative, decision-making, and oversight functions within the regional governments of Chile. They operate in each of the Regions of Chile and, together with the regional governor, form the regional government structure.[1]

Regional councils ensure citizen participation in regional administration and exercise powers established by the Organic Constitutional Law on Government and Regional Administration (Law No. 19,175).[1]

History

Regional councils were created through a constitutional reform in 1991 and implemented by Law No. 19,175 in 1992.[2][3]

Until 2013, regional councillors were indirectly elected by municipal councillors. Following a constitutional reform, councillors began to be elected by direct popular vote for four-year terms.[4]

Since 2021, each regional council is chaired by the regional governor.[5]

Composition

The number of councillors in each region varies according to population:

  • 14 councillors in regions with up to 400,000 inhabitants
  • 16 councillors in regions with 400,001 to 800,000 inhabitants
  • 20 councillors in regions with 800,001 to 1,500,000 inhabitants
  • 28 councillors in regions with more than 1,500,000 inhabitants
  • 34 councillors in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago[1]

Councillors are elected by province or provincial constituency, with each province represented by at least two members.[1]

Functions

Regional councils exercise planning, regulatory, and oversight functions, including approving regional development plans and budgets; allocating regional investment funds; approving land-use planning instruments; supervising the regional governor and regional administration; approving regional tourism development plans; and issuing opinions on regional administrative changes.[1]

Operation

Regional councils operate through public ordinary and extraordinary sessions. Decisions are generally adopted by majority vote, subject to legal quorum requirements.[1]

List of regional councils

Region Regional council

Arica y Parinacota 		Regional Council of Arica and Parinacota

Tarapacá 		Regional Council of Tarapacá

Antofagasta 		Regional Council of Antofagasta

Atacama 		Regional Council of Atacama

Coquimbo 		Regional Council of Coquimbo

Valparaíso 		Regional Council of Valparaíso

Metropolitan Region of Santiago 		Metropolitan Regional Council of Santiago

O'Higgins 		Regional Council of O'Higgins

Maule 		Regional Council of Maule

Ñuble 		Regional Council of Ñuble

Biobío 		Regional Council of Biobío

La Araucanía 		Regional Council of La Araucanía

Los Ríos 		Regional Council of Los Ríos

Los Lagos 		Regional Council of Los Lagos

Aysén 		Regional Council of Aysén

Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica 		Regional Council of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Organic Constitutional Law on Government and Regional Administration". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile.
  2. ^ "Law No. 19,097: Constitutional reform on regional government". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile.
  3. ^ "Law No. 19,175: Organic Constitutional Law on Government and Regional Administration". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile.
  4. ^ "Chamber approves mechanism for election of regional councillors". Chamber of Deputies of Chile.
  5. ^ "Law on regional government leadership". Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile.
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