Chamber of Deputies (Tunisia)

The Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the Parliament of Tunisia. Its role and powers evolved significantly throughout Tunisia's history, reflecting the shifts in political systems from the pre-independence era through the post-Arab Spring period.

Prior to the 2011 Tunisian Revolution, the Chamber of Deputies was often criticized for being largely a rubber-stamp legislature under the authoritarian rule of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Elections were often considered neither free nor fair, and the ruling party dominated the chamber.

Following the revolution, a new constitution was drafted and adopted in 2014. This constitution established the Assembly of the Representatives of the People as the new parliament. The Chamber of Deputies was effectively superseded by this new legislative body.

The Chamber of Deputies, in its various iterations, historically held the power to enact legislation, approve the budget, and oversee the government. However, the actual influence of the chamber depended heavily on the political context and the distribution of power within the Tunisian state.

The electoral system used to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies also varied over time. Different systems, including proportional representation and single-member districts, were used at different points in Tunisia's history. The specific electoral system often had a significant impact on the composition of the chamber and the representation of different political parties and viewpoints.