Legislative Assembly of Macau

{{Short description|Parliament of Macau}} {{Expand Portuguese|topic=gov|Assembleia Legislativa de Macau|date=July 2012}} {{Use British English|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-Hant-HK|澳門特別行政區立法會}} {{small|{{lang|pt|Assembleia Legislativa da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau}}}}}} | legislature = 6th Legislative Assembly | coa_pic = Regional Emblem of Macau.svg | background_color = #008000 | session_room = Macau AL Meeting Room.jpg | house_type = Unicameral | houses = | foundation = {{ubl|{{Start date and age|1784|df=y}} ([[Portuguese Macau|colonial]])|{{Start date and age|1999|12|20|df=y}} ([[Special administrative regions of China|MSAR]])}} | leader1_type = [[President of the Legislative Assembly of Macau|President]] | leader1= [[Cheong Weng Chon]] | election1= 16 October 2025 | leader2_type = Vice President | leader2 = | election2 = | leader3_type = First Secretary | leader3 = Chan Hong | election3 = 30 July 2019 | leader4_type = Second Secretary | leader4 = Ho Ion Sang | election4 = 7 August 2019 | party1 = | members = 33 | structure1 = Macau Legislative Assembly 2025.svg | structure1_res = 260px | political_groups1 = {{glossary}} {{term|[[Pro-Beijing camp (Macau)|Pro-Beijing]] (30)}} {{defn|{{unbulleted list | {{Color box|{{party color|Macau United Citizens Association}}|border=darkgray}} [[Macau United Citizens Association|ACUM]] (3) | {{Color box|{{party color|Progress Promotion Union}}|border=darkgray}} [[General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau|UNIPRO]] (2) | {{Color box|{{party color|Union for Development}}|border=darkgray}} [[Macau Federation of Trade Unions|UPD]] (2) | {{Color box|{{party color|Macau-Guangdong Union}}|border=darkgray}} [[Macau-Guangdong Union|UGM]] (2) | {{Color box|{{party color|Women's General Association of Macau}}|border=darkgray}} [[Women's General Association of Macau|AGMM]] (2) | {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Indirectly elected member|Indirectly elected]] (12)}} | {{Color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Appointed members of the Legislative Assembly of Macau|Appointed]] (7)}} }} {{glossary end}} {{glossary}} {{term|[[Pro-democracy camp (Macau)|Pro-democracy]] (3)}} {{defn|{{unbulleted list | {{Color box|{{party color|New Hope (Macau)}}|border=darkgray}} [[New Hope (Macau)|NE]] (3)}}}} {{glossary end}} | last_election1 = [[2025 Macanese legislative election |14 September 2025]] | meeting_place = [[Macau Legislative Assembly Building]], 1 Praça da Assembleia Legislativa, [[Sé, Macau|Sé]], [[Macau Special Administrative Region]] | website = {{URL|https://al.gov.mo/}} | constitution = [[Basic Law of Macau]] and the [[Constitution of China|Constitution of the People's Republic of China]] }} {{Chinese | title = Legislative Assembly | t = 立法會 | s = 立法会 | j = laap6 faat3 wui5 | y = Laahpfaat Wúih | p = Lìfǎ Huì | j2 = laap6 faat3 guk6 | pt = Assembleia Legislativa | pic = Legislative Council of the Macau Special Administrative Region 05-02-2023.jpg | piccap = The [[Macau Legislative Assembly Building]] }} {{Politics of Macau}} {{geoGroup}}

The '''Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region'''{{efn|Sometimes translated in English as the Legislative Council, as in a translation provided by the Printing Bureau of the territory's Basic Law.<ref>{{cite web|author=FNunes |url=http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/leibasica/index_uk.asp |title=Translation of the Basic Law of Macao on Macao's government website |publisher=Bo.io.gov.mo |access-date=29 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205042947/http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/leibasica/index_uk.asp |archive-date= 5 February 2012 }}</ref>}}{{efn|{{Lang-zh|t=澳門特別行政區立法會}}; {{Langx|pt|Assembleia Legislativa da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau}}}} is the organ of the legislative branch of [[Macau]]. It follows [[People's Republic of China|China's]] [[one country, two systems]] constitutional arrangement, and is the power centre of Macau's [[hybrid regime|hybrid representative democracy]].

It is a 33-member body comprising 14 directly elected members, 12 indirectly elected members representing [[Functional constituency (Macau)|functional constituencies]] and 7 [[Nominated Member of Legislative Assembly|members appointed]] by the [[Chief Executive of Macau|chief executive]]. It is located at [[Sé, Macau|Sé]].

The functions of the Legislative Assembly are to enact, amend or repeal laws; examine and approve budgets, taxation and public expenditure; and raise questions on the work of the government. In addition, the Legislative Assembly has the power to endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the [[Macau Court of Final Appeal]] and the Chief Judge of the [[High Court of Macau|High Court]], as well as the power to impeach the [[Chief Executive of Macau]].<ref>https://www.al.gov.mo/en/</ref>

== Charter == The assembly has the following charter:

# To enact, amend, suspend or repeal laws # To examine and approve budgets; and examine the report on audit # To decide on taxation and approve debts to be undertaken by the government # To debate the policy addresses by the Chief Executive # To debate any issue concerning public interests # To receive and handle complaints from Macau residents

==Legislative assembly buildings== The assembly sits at a special [[Macau Legislative Assembly Building|Legislative Assembly building]], a modern three-storey structure located in the [[Nam Van (area)|Nam Van]] area.

From 1784 to 1999, the Assembly met at the [[Leal Senado|Leal Senado Building]].

==Selection methods== According to Annex II of the [[Basic Law of Macau]], the first Legislative Assembly following the establishment of the special administrative region would be constituted in accordance with the Decision of the National People's Congress on the Methodology for the Formation of the First Government, the First Legislative Assembly and the Judicial Bodies of the Macau Special Administrative Region – i.e., 23 members: 8 directly elected, 8 indirectly elected and 7 appointed members.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:全国人民代表大会关于澳门特别行政区第一届政府、立法会和司法机关产生办法的决定 |trans-title=Decision of the National People's Congress on the Methods for the Formation of the First Government, Legislative Assembly and Judicial Organs of the Macau Special Administrative Region |url=http://www.npc.gov.cn/wxzl/gongbao/2000-12/05/content_5004591.htm |access-date=2021-02-06 |language=zh |via=www.npc.gov.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Decisão da Assembleia Popular Nacional relativa à Metodologia para a Formação do Primeiro Governo, da Primeira Assembleia Legislativa e dos Órgãos Judiciais da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau |trans-title=Decision of the National People's Congress on the Methodology for the Formation of the First Government, the First Legislative Assembly and the Judicial Bodies of the Macau Special Administrative Region |url=https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/aviso05.asp?printer=1#4 |language=pt |via=Imprensa Oficial}}</ref>

The second Legislative Assembly would be composed of 27 members: 10 directly elected, 10 indirectly elected and 7 appointed members.<ref>Basic Law, Annex II</ref>

In accordance with Annex II, the number of directly elected legislators for the third Legislative Assembly increased from 10 to 12 in 2005, bringing the number of legislators to 29. After 2009, the selection of the Chief Executive may be changed with a vote of two-thirds of the Legislative Assembly and approval by the [[National People's Congress Standing Committee]]. Following 2012 reforms, the Legislative Assembly is now composed of 33 members: 14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected and 7 appointed members.

==Compositions==

{| class="wikitable" |+ Composition of the Legislative Council (2013-) |- ! !! Number of Members !! Returned by !! Voting Method !! Number of Voters ([[2021 Macanese legislative election|2021]]) |- | [[Directly elected member (Macau)|Direct Suffrage]] || 14|| Popular Vote || rowspan="2"|[[Closed list]] pseudo-[[party-list proportional representation|proportional]] ([[highest averages method]]<ref>While [[D'Hondt method|D'Hondt]] uses 1,2,3,4,... as divisors, Macau instead uses 1,2,4,8,... as divisors, see article 17, 2) of the [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2001/10/lei03.asp electoral law]. Their method ''dis''advantages large parties, which is highly unusual among electoral systems.</ref>) || 305,615 |- | [[Indirectly elected member|Indirect Suffrage]] || 12 || Electors nominated by legal persons of specified sectors || 6,275 |- | Nominated Members|| 7 || Nominated by the [[Chief Executive of Macau|Chief Executive]] || colspan="2"{{N/A}} |}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:center" |- align=center !colspan="2"|Term (Election) !Diagram !Composition (at commencement) !Speaker ! style="background:red; width:30px;"| [[Pro-Beijing camp (Macau)|Pro-Beijing]] !! style="background:green; width:30px;"| [[Pro-democracy camp (Macau)|Pro-democracy]] !! style="background:#DDDDDD; width:30px;"| Centrist |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''1st''' (''[[Handover of Macau|1999]]'') | | 1:22 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 23 |party2 = 22 |partycolor2 = Red |party1 = 1 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left| [[Susana Chou]] | '''22''' | 1 | – |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''2nd''' ([[2001 Macanese legislative election|2001]]) | | 2:25 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 27 |party2 = 25 |partycolor2 = Red |party1 = 2 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left| [[Susana Chou]] | '''25''' | 2 | – |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''3rd''' ([[2005 Macanese legislative election|2005]]) | | 3:26 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 29 |party2 = 26 |partycolor2 = Red |party1 = 3 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left| [[Susana Chou]] | '''26''' | 3 | – |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''4th''' ([[2009 Macanese legislative election|2009]]) | | 4:25 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 29 |party2 = 25 |partycolor2 = Red |party1 = 4 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left| [[Lau Cheok-vá]] | '''25''' | 4 | – |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''5th''' ([[2013 Macanese legislative election|2013]]) | [[File:Macau Legislative Assembly 2013.svg|120px]] | 4:29 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 33 |party2 = 29 |partycolor2 = Red |party1 = 4 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left| [[Ho Iat-seng]] | '''29''' | 4 | – |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''6th''' ([[2017 Macanese legislative election|2017]]) | [[File:Macau Legislative Assembly 2017.svg|120px]] | 4:1:28 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 33 |party3 = 28 |partycolor3 = Red |party2 = 1 |partycolor2 = #DDDDDD |party1 = 4 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left| [[Ho Iat-seng]] {{small|(2017–19)}} [[Chui Sai-cheong]] {{small|(2019)}} [[Kou Hoi In|Kou Hoi-in]] {{small|(2019–)}} | '''28''' | 4 | 1 |- | colspan="2" align=center| '''7th''' ([[2021 Macanese legislative election|2021]]) | [[File:Macau Legislative Assembly 2021.svg|120px]] | 2:1:30 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 33 |party3 = 30 |partycolor3 = Red |party2 = 1 |partycolor2 = #DDDDDD |party1 = 2 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align=left|[[Kou Hoi In|Kou Hoi-in]] | '''30''' | 2 | 1 |- | colspan="2" align="center" |'''8th''' ([[2025 Macanese legislative election|2025]]) |[[File:Macau Legislative Assembly 2025.svg|120x120px]] |3:30 {{Composition_bar/advanced |divisionname = |boxwidth = 150 |total = 33 |party2 = 30 |partycolor2 = Red |party1 = 3 |partycolor1 = Green }} | align="left" |[[Cheong Weng Chon]] |'''30''' |3 |– |}

==See also== *[[Chief Executive of Macau]] *[[Executive Council of Macau]] *[[Municipal Council of Macau]] *[[List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Macau]] *[[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]]

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Reflist|group=nb}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Legislative Assembly of Macau}} * {{Official website|https://www.al.gov.mo}} * [https://www.al.gov.mo/pt/deputies Members of the Assembly of Macau] {{in lang|pt}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080105011110/http://www.imprensa.macau.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/leibasica/index_uk.asp#c4s3 The Basic Law of Macau: The Legislature (Government website)] [http://www.umac.mo/basiclaw/english/ch4.html#sect3 University of Macau] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910134118/http://www.umac.mo/basiclaw/english/ch4.html#sect3 |date=10 September 2017 }} * Regulations of the Legislative Assembly (Approved by Legislative Assembly Resolution No. 1/1999, as amended): [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/resolu01_cn.asp in Chinese], [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/resolu01.asp in Portuguese] * Legislative Session of the Legislative Assembly and the Member Statute (Law No. 3/2000, as amended) [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2000/16/lei03_cn.asp in Chinese], [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2000/16/lei03.asp in Portuguese] * Organic Law of the Legislative Assembly (Law No. 11/2000, as amended): [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2000/49/lei11_cn.asp in Chinese], [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2000/49/lei11.asp in Portuguese] * Electoral Law (Law No. 3/2001): [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2001/10/lei03_cn.asp in Chinese], [https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2001/10/lei03.asp in Portuguese]

[[Category:Legislative Assembly of Macau| ]] [[Category:Politics of Macau]] [[Category:Legislatures of dependent territories|Macau]] [[Category:Unicameral legislatures|Macau]]