National Congress (Ecuador) facts for kids

The National Congress (Spanish: Congreso Nacional) was the main law-making group in the government of Ecuador until November 2007. It was a unicameral body, meaning it had only one chamber or group of lawmakers. This group was responsible for creating and passing laws for the country.

How the Congress Worked

Under the 1998 Constitution, the National Congress met in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. It was made up of 100 elected representatives called diputados (deputies).

Each of Ecuador's 22 provinces sent at least two deputies to the Congress. On top of that, provinces with more people got extra deputies. For every 200,000 people in a province, one more deputy was added. This system made sure that both smaller and larger provinces had a voice in the government.

Why the Congress Changed

The National Congress was dissolved, or officially ended, on November 29, 2007. This happened because of a new group called the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly. This Assembly was created to write a new constitution for Ecuador.

The Congress had faced some challenges and problems, which led to its replacement. After it was dissolved, a new law-making body was created. This new body is called the National Assembly of Ecuador. It was established under the 2008 Constitution and continues to make laws for Ecuador today.

See Also

In Spanish: Congreso Nacional del Ecuador para niños