The Senate is the central legislative and supervisory body of the Republic. It serves as the institutional bridge between the people and the state, ensuring that governance remains lawful, accountable, and representative. Under the Pi Bon Ayiti framework, the Senate is not merely a lawmaking chamber—it is a constitutional filter, a civic tribunal, and a stabilizing force that protects the Republic from abuse, disorder, and political excess.
Core Functions of the Senate:
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📜 Legislative Review and Approval: Reviews, amends, and approves laws proposed by the government or ADN, ensuring alignment with the LPN and constitutional principles.
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🧾 Oversight of Appointments: Confirms nominations for Secretaries of State and General Managers of National Agencies.
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🛑 Dismissal Authority: Reviews dismissal requests for Secretaries of State submitted by the Prime Minister. If approved, the Senate forwards the recommendation to the ADN for final confirmation.
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🧑🏽⚖️ Tribunal of Defense: If the Senate rejects a dismissal request, it must summon the Secretary to publicly defend their performance. The Senate may then grant a grace period of up to 12 months, after which dismissal becomes automatic. The Secretary cannot be rehired for the same position under the same government.
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🗳️ Presidential Candidate Selection: Reviews all presidential candidacies submitted by citizens. After a preliminary vote, the Senate forwards the three candidates with the highest support to the ADN for final selection.
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🕵🏽 Government Accountability: May summon members of government to explain shortcomings identified in agency reports. This includes initiating corrective actions based on annual audits.
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🧮 Institutional Reporting: Receives and reviews reports from the President, Prime Minister, and National Agencies, ensuring transparency and performance across all branches of government.
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🧭 Constitutional Safeguard: Acts as a stabilizing force during transitions, crises, or disputes, ensuring that all decisions respect the legal framework and the sovereignty of the Republic.
Senate Composition and Electoral Structure
The Senate is composed of 30 senators, elected through general elections. Each department in the country is guaranteed at least one senator, with additional seats allocated based on population size. This ensures both territorial equity and demographic representation.
Senators are elected by the people but do not represent political parties. Their mandate is to serve the Republic, not partisan interests. Like Prime Ministers, senators may be reelected once, allowing for continuity while preventing entrenchment. This structure promotes civic responsibility, institutional renewal, and nonpartisan leadership.
Why the Senate Matters
The Senate is the Republic’s institutional conscience. It ensures that executive power is exercised with restraint, that appointments are based on merit, and that dismissals are justified and lawful. By managing presidential candidacies, supervising agency performance, and filtering government actions, the Senate protects the Republic from instability, populism, and corruption. It is the chamber where law meets justice, and where the voice of the people is translated into institutional integrity.