The National Congress ( es, Congreso Nacional) is the

legislative branch A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as ...

of the government of

Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...

Organization

The Honduran Congress is a

unicameral Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature, which consists of one house or assembly, that legislates and votes as one. Unicameral legislatures exist when there is no widely perceived need for multic ...

legislature. The nominal President of the National Congress of Honduras is currently

Luis Redondo Luis Rolando Redondo Guifarro (born 20 January 1973) is a Honduran politician and engineer, serving as deputy and president of the National Congress of Honduras since 25 January 2022. Early life and career Redondo began as a businessman in San ...

. Its members are 128

deputies A legislator (also known as a deputy or lawmaker) is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people of the state. Legislatures may be supra-national (for ex ...

, who are elected on a

proportional representation Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to geographical (e.g. states, regions) and political divis ...

basis, by department, to serve four-year terms.

Meeting place

Congress meets in a purpose-built legislative palace ''(Palacio Legislativo)'' in the centre of

Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa (, , ), formally Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District ( es, Tegucigalpa, Municipio del Distrito Central or ''Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.''), and colloquially referred to as ''Tegus'' or ''Teguz'', is the capital and largest city ...

. Of a

modernist Modernism is both a philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new forms of art, philosophy, an ...

design, it is painted in an array of bright colours and rests on a series of concrete pillars that separate it from the ground.

Directive

2022–2026 legislative period

The current directive of the National Congress for the period 2022-2026: *

(President) ( PSH) *

Hugo Noé Pino Hugo Noé Pino is a Honduran economist, diplomat and politician from Liberty and Refoundation. He served as President of the Central Bank of Honduras from 1994 to 1997, Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations from 1998 to 1999, a ...

(1st Vice-President) (

LIBRE Libre may refer to: Computing * Libre software, free software * Libre Computer Project, developer of open-hardware single-board computers Medicine * FreeStyle Libre, a glucose monitoring device Media * Libre Times, news site which people can fr ...

) * Edgardo Casaña (2nd Vice-President) (

) *

Rasel Tomé Rasel may refer to: * Rasel (singer), (born Rafael Abad Anselmo), Spanish singer * Rasel (actor), Bangladeshi film actor *Syed Rasel Syed Rasel ( bn, সৈয়দ রাসেল) (born 3 July 1984) is a Bangladeshi cricketer, who plays all ...

(3rd Vice-President) (

) * Scherly Arriaga (4th Vice-President) (

) *

Iroshka Elvir Miss Honduras or Miss Honduras Universe (also, known as Señorita Honduras) is a national beauty pageant in Honduras. The pageant was founded in 1930, where the winners were sent to Miss Universe. History The first edition of Miss Honduras bega ...

(5th Vice-President) ( PSH) * Fátima Mena (6th Vice-President) ( PSH) * Ricardo Elencoff (7th Vice-President) ( PLH) *

Christian Josué Hernández Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρισ ...

(Alternate Vice-President) (

) * Kritza Pérez (Alternate Vice-President) ( PLH) * Issis Cuellar (Alternate Vice-President) (

) *

Carlos Alexis Raudales Carlos may refer to: Places ;Canada * Carlos, Alberta, a locality ;United States * Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County * Carlos, Minnesota, a small city * Carlos, West Virginia ;Elsewhere ...

(Alternate Vice-President) ( DC) *

Carlos Zelaya Carlos may refer to: Places ;Canada * Carlos, Alberta, a locality ;United States * Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County * Carlos, Minnesota, a small city * Carlos, West Virginia ;Elsewher ...

(General Secretary) (

) *

Luz Angelica Smith Luz ( ''Lūz'') is the name of two places in the Bible. Mentioned in Genesis Luz is the ancient name of a royal Canaanite city, connected with Bethel (Genesis 28:19; 35:6). It is debated among scholarsRashi on 28:17 whether Luz and Bethel repres ...

(2nd Secretary) (

) *

Fabricio Sandoval Fabricio () is a Spanish male given name. Fabrício () is the Portuguese equivalent. Among those with the first name are: *Fabricio Coloccini, Argentine footballer *Fabrício Guerreiro (born 1990), Brazilian mixed martial artist *Fabricio Oberto, A ...

(1st Pro-Secretary) (

) *

Linda Donaire Linda may refer to: As a name * Linda (given name), a female given name (including a list of people and fictional characters so named) * Linda (singer) (born 1977), stage name of Svetlana Geiman, a Russian singer * Anita Linda (born Alice Lake ...

(2nd Pro-Secretary) (

) *

Juan Barahona Juan Alfredo Barahona Peña (born 12 February 1996) is a Salvadoran professional footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association fo ...

(Alternate Secretary) (

) * Silvia Ayala (Alternate Secretary) (

)

2018–2022 legislative period

The directive of the National Congress for the period 2018-2022: * Mauricio Oliva (President) (

PNH PNH can stand for: * Police Nationale d’Haïti * Police Nationale d’Haïti Football Club * National Party of Honduras * Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria * Parelli Natural Horsemanship * IATA Airport Code for Phnom Penh International Airp ...

) *Antonio César Rivera (1st Vice-President) (

) *Denis Armando Castro (2nd Vice-President) ( APH) *Milton Jesus Puerto Oseguera (3rd Vice-President) (

) *Mario Noé Villafranca (4th Vice-President) ( UD) *Felicito Ávila Ordóñez (5th Vice-President) ( DC) *

Gladis Aurora López Calderón Gladis Aurora López Calderón (born 25 January 1960) is a Honduran politician. She is currently the sixth vice president of the National Congress of Honduras. She served as President of the Central Executive Committee of the National Party betw ...

(6th Vice-President) (

) *Román Villeda Aguilar (7th Vice-President) (

) *Elden Vásquez (Alternate Vice-President) (

) *Walter Antonio Chávez Hernández (Alternate Vice-President) (

) *Olga Josefa Ayala Alvarenga (Alternate Vice-President) (

) *Dunia Lizzette Ortiz Cruz (Alternate Vice-President) ( APH) *José Tomás Zambrano Molina (1st Secretary) (

) *Salvador Valeriano Pineda (2nd Secretary) (

) *Teresa Concepción Cálix Raudales (1st Pro-Secretary) (

) *Rossel Renán Inestroza Martínez (2nd Pro-Secretary) (

) *Gerardo Tulio Martínez Pineda (Alternate Secretary) (

) *Wilmer Raynel Neal Velásquez (Alternate Secretary) (

)

2014–2018 legislative period

The directive of the National Congress for the period 2014-2018 is: * Mauricio Oliva (President) (

) *Gladis Aurora López (1st Vice-President) (

) *Lena Gutiérrez Arévalo (2nd Vice-President) (PNH) *Antonio Rivera Callejas (3rd Vice-President) (PNH) *Milton de Jesús Puerto (4th Vice-President) (PNH) *Miguel Edgardo Martínez (5th Vice-President) (PNH) *Augusto Cruz Ascensio (6th Vice-President) ( DC) *Edwin Roberto Pavón (7th Vice-President) ( UD) *Rolando Dubón Bueso (Alternate Vice-President) (PNH) *Ramón Antonio Leva Bulnes (Alternate Vice-President) (PNH) *Jose Vicente de León Rojas (Alternate Vice-President) (PNH) *Mario Alonso Perez (1st Secretary) (PNH) *Román Villeda Aguilar (2nd Secretary) (PNH) *José María Martínez (Alternate Secretary) (PNH) *Wilmer Neal Velásquez (Alternate Secretary) (PNH) *José Tomás Zambrano (1st Pro-Secretary) (PNH) *Sara Ismena Medina Galo (2nd Pro-Secretary) (PNH)

2010–2014 legislative period

The directive of the National Congress for the period 2010–2014 is: *

Juan Orlando Hernández Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado (; born 28 October 1968), also known as JOH, is a Honduran lawyer and politician who served as President of Honduras from 2014 to 2022. A member of the National Party, Hernández previously served as the presi ...

(President) (

) *Lena Gutiérrez Arévalo (1st Vice-President) (PNH) * Marlon Lara (2nd Vice-President) ( PLH) *Ramón Velásquez Názar (3rd Vice-President) ( DC) *Marvin Ponce (4th Vice-President) ( PUD) *Martha Concepción Guevara (5th Vice-President)(PNH) * Nora de Melgar (6th Vice-President) (PNH) *Rigoberto Chang Castillo (1st Secretary) (PNH) *Gladis Aurora López (2nd Secretary) (PNH) *Eliseo Noel Mejía (Pro-Secretary) (PNH) *Yariel Waldina Paz (Pro-Secretary) (PLH) *Óscar Orlando Burgos (Alternate Vice-President) (PNH) *Victoria Carrasco García (Alternate Vice-President) (PNH) *Ángel Banegas (Alternate Secretary) (PLH) *Milton de Jesús Puerto (Alternate Secretary) (PNH)

Elections

The most recent election was held November 2021.

2021 Legislative elections

Changes in political groups

Some of the opposition parties, particularly the

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

and PAC have faced internal division. This division had more impact on LIBRE, which led to the dismissal and the resignation of some of their congressional partisans. During the first week of session in 2014, Congressman Eduardo Cotto was expelled from LIBRE for voting in favor of the

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

/ DC/ PUD directive integration, which was also supported by the Liberals. On the following months, Cotto joined the DC. On February 21, 2015, Congresswoman Tatiana Canales announced her incorporation to the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

, after failed negotiations with PAC. Nonetheless, 3 days later, the authorities of LIBRE decided to expel her (even though she had already resigned) and three other congressmen after they voted against an electoral reform that was introduced to Congress by the former

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

and current party leader of LIBRE, Manuel Zelaya Rosales. Together, the three expelled congressmen and Canales formed an independent bloc headed by Congresswoman Jenny Murillo. On April 9, 2015 the National Congress of Honduras processed the resignations of Congressman Hector Enrique Padilla from LIBRE and Substitute Congresswoman Claudia Patricia Molina from the Liberal Party. Since Molina is a substitute congresswoman, this change does not affect the number of members of the Liberal caucus, nonetheless Padilla's resignation reduced the number of LIBRE congressmen to 32. Later on, Padilla joined the independent group formed by former members of LIBRE The total number of members of the LIBRE caucus was reduced to 31 after Atlántida congresswoman, Audelia Rodriguez resigned from that party and joined the independent group on May 5, 2015. Rodriguez stated that the lack of direction in LIBRE has led to the impossibility of giving response to the people that elected her, but later she joined to the Christian Democratic Party The Deputy of the independent group Hector Padilla has joined to the Christian Democratic Group, and with the new deputy now they have 3 deputies in the group. In the later months the congresswoman Audelia Rodriguez has joined to the Christian Democratic Party now counting with 4 deputies Also in February 2016, LIBRE has expelled the deputies Esdras Amado López and Dennis Antonio Sánchez of Francisco Morazán and Santa Bárbara respectively, based on the reason that they have voted in favour of a new Supreme Court of Justice. Since 4 of PAC's congressmen did not make their vote public during the Supreme Court election, Salvador Nasralla accused them of being now congressmen of the National Party, nonetheless, they have not been formally expelled of the party. But later, on March 18, the leaders of PAC finally decided to "temporarily suspend" the membership of the 4 of the deputies that participated in the election of a new Supreme Court of Justice. The 4 suspended congressmen are Ana Joselina Fortín,

Marlene Alvarenga Marlene Alvarenga (born 14 February 1985), is a Honduran politician and pastor, current president of Anti-Corruption Party since 22 May 2017 and candidate to president in 2017 general election and member of the National Congress since 2013. Marl ...

, Kritza Perez and Oscar Palacios. In April 2016, the deputy of the independent group Tatiana Canales, finally has decided to return to the Liberal Party of Honduras, with the reason that they have expressed differences with Libre, and its return means that the Liberal caucus has officially 28 deputies. Also on the half of May 2016, the deputy of the independent group Omar Rodríguez has decided to return to the Liberal Party now with 29 deputies on the caucus. On the final days of the month of May the deputy Dennis Antonio Sánchez has decided to return to the Liberal Party now with 30 deputies on their caucus, now the party is the second largest political group in the congress. In July 2016, the deputy of the independent group Yenny Murillo has decided to return to the National Party of Honduras, with the reason that she is feeling changes in the form of life in Honduras, also had said that she is in favour of the reelection but with a regulation that will be established on the Constitution of the Republic, to limit how many times a president can be reelected. Also in the final week of September 2016, the deputy of the independent group Kritza Pérez has decided finally to be a member of the Liberal Party of Honduras based on the reason that in his first party PAC, they don't allow the pluralism of ideas and discrimination against women that they have announced several times on the national media. On the first days of November 2016, the deputy of the independent group Ana Joselina Fortín has decided to join to the National Party of Honduras based on the reason that she wants the reelection of the current president and to establish limits on how many times a president can be reelected. On the first days of December 2016, the deputy of the department of Cortés Jaime Enrique Villegas has decided to resign from the Anticorruption Party based on the reasons that they had differences with the leaders of the party and they don't allow him to participate on decisions of importance. But later in July 2017 he decided to be a member of the National Party of Honduras and to be candidate for the general election in 2017 Also on the same month of December 2016 the deputy of Comayagua Liliam Villatoro has decided to resign from the Anticorruption Party because she has expressed with the leader of the party Salvador Nasralla and they don't allow her to participate on the sessions of the party with new ideas. On the half days of July 2017, the deputies Rafael Padilla and David Reyes of the departments of Francisco Morazán and Choluteca respectively, have joined to the Innovation and Unity Party, based on the reason that the two deputies they don't want their original party, the Anticorruption Party to be led by the congresswoman

. On the first days of August 2017, the deputies of Cortés Fátima Mena and Anibal Cálix has decided to join as deputies of the Innovation and Unity party, based on the reason that they don't want to be members of the Anticorruption Party led now by congresswoman

. As of August 2017, none of the elected congressmen of the National Party, PINU, and UD have resigned from their respective party affiliation On the last days of September 2017, the deputies of the independent group Walter Banegas and Lilian Villatoro of the departments of Cortés and Comayagua respectively has decided to join as members of the Liberal Party of Honduras based on the reason that their original party, the Anticorruption Party no longer exists thus, increasing the Liberal caucus to 33. On the last days of October 2017, the deputy of Cortés Luis Redondo has decided to join as deputy of the Innovation and Unity party, based on the reason that he won't be a member of the Anticorruption party led by congresswoman

. Honduras also returns deputies to the supranational

Central American Parliament The Central American Parliament ( es, Parlamento Centroamericano), also known as PARLACEN, is the political institution and parliamentary body of the Central American Integration System (SICA). Its headquarters are in Guatemala City. History ...

President

The President of the National Congress of Honduras is the presiding officer (

speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

) of the National Congress of Honduras.

Presidents of the Congress 1900-1982

List of presidents since 1982

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:National Congress Of Honduras Government of Honduras