Argentina

The Argentine Republic adopts a representative, republican, and federal form of government.

It is structured into 24 jurisdictions: 23 provinces and one federal district (Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). The provinces are subdivided into partidos in the Province of Buenos Aires and departments in the rest of the provinces. Only the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires is divided into communes. These divisions represent the second level of territorial subdivision. Currently, there are a total of 379 departments, 135 partidos, and 15 communes. In the case of the provinces, each shall enact its own Constitution under the republican representative system, in accordance with the principles, declarations, and guarantees of the National Constitution, and shall ensure its own administration of justice, municipal regime, and primary education (Art. 5 of the Constitution of the Argentine Nation).

The National Congress is bicameral, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate representing the provinces and the City of Buenos Aires. Members of both chambers are elected directly by the people. The Chamber of Deputies consists of one representative for every 33,000 inhabitants, or a fraction thereof not less than 16,500. The Senate is composed of three members for each province and three for the City of Buenos Aires, elected directly and jointly.

Each municipality consists of a deliberative and an executive department. The deliberative branch is exercised by a City Council (Concejo Deliberante), and the executive branch by the Mayor (Intendente Municipal). There are a total of 2,311 local governments, of which 1,180 correspond to municipalities and 1,131 to other territorial entities (Federal Registry of Local Governments).

The President and Vice President serve four-year terms. Deputies also serve four-year terms, with half of the chamber renewed every two years. The same applies to municipal mayors and council members. Senators serve six-year terms and may be re-elected indefinitely, with one-third of Senate seats renewed every two years.

The President is elected by a majority system, whereby the most voted formula wins outright if it obtains more than 45% of valid votes or more than 40% with at least a 10-point lead over the runner-up. Otherwise, a runoff election is held. Deputies are elected nationwide through a proportional representation system using the D'Hondt method. Senators are elected directly and jointly, with two seats allocated to the political party receiving the most votes, and one seat to the runner-up.

Congress: closed and blocked lists, with gender parity criteria requiring alternating men and women. Local election rules depend on each province’s legislation.

The President and Vice President are elected in a single national constituency. The Chamber of Deputies is elected through 24 multi-member districts corresponding to each province and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The Senate is also elected in 24 multi-member districts (three seats each), one for each province and one for the federal capital. At the local level, mayors are elected in single-member constituencies, while municipal councilors are elected in multi-member constituencies.

Yes. Law No. 27.412 (2017) on gender parity in political representation modifies Article 60 bis of the Electoral Code, requiring the alternation of women and men on candidate lists for Senators, Deputies, and Mercosur Parliamentarians—from the first principal candidate to the last substitute. At the subnational level, 20 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires have established that all lists must include 50% women and 50% men, respecting the principle of alternation and sequencing. Lists that do not meet these criteria will not be validated.

National Constitution of Argentina. Each province enacts its own Constitution, ensuring municipal autonomy and regulating its institutional, political, administrative, economic, and financial scope (Art. 123 of the National Constitution). Municipalities also enact their own organic laws.

The National Electoral Chamber (CNE) is the highest authority for the enforcement of political-electoral legislation in Argentina and has jurisdiction throughout the national territory. It is part of the national electoral judiciary and is composed of 24 federal courts of first instance, each with jurisdiction over one of the country’s electoral districts (23 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires).