Guatemala

Congress of the Republic

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
18
(2023)

Notes:

Aside from parliament and the Executive, Article 174 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala grants the right to initiate legislation to the Supreme Court of Justice, the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

During the 2016-2020 legislature, five of the 115 laws adopted were initiated by the Supreme Court of Justice and the University of San Carlos de Guatemala.

Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
115
(2016-01 - 2020-01)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
73
(2016-01 - 2020-01)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
37
(2016-01 - 2020-01)
Percentage of laws initiated by parliament in the previous legislature
63%
(2016-01 - 2020-01)
Dates of the previous legislature
14 Jan 2016 to 14 Jan 2020
(2020-01 - 2020-12)
Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
No information available

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 183, al. e

Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
0
(2023)
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Parliament

Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation

Click for historical data

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No