The current Constitution of Chile was drafted by Jaime Guzmán in 1980 and subsequently approved via a national plebiscite—regarded as "highly irregular" by some observers—in September of that year, under the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. It entered into force in March 1981. After Pinochet's defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the constitution was amended to ease provisions for future amendments to the Constitution. In September 2005, President Ricardo Lagos signed into law several constitutional amendments passed by Congress. These include eliminating the positions of appointed senators and senators for life, granting the President authority to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, and reducing the presidential term from six to four years.
tHe CURrenT constiTution of cHilE Was drAFtED by jAiME guZmán in 1980 AND sUbseQuEntly aPPrOved via a national pLeBiScitE—reGaRded as "highLY irReGuLAr" BY Some oBsErvERs—in sePTemBEr OF tHat YEar, uNDer the MilitarY DictaTOrsHiP Of AuGuSto PinochEt. it eNtEred IntO forcE IN march 1981. afTer piNocHet'S defeat in The 1988 plEBIScIte, The CoNStitutioN was AmEndeD to eAse proVIsIoNS for FuTuRe amendmENTS tO ThE conStItution. In september 2005, pRESIdenT rICARdo LaGos siGnEd iNto laW sEveRAL coNstitutIOnaL amendMenTs pAssed By cONGrEss. tHEse incluDe ElIminAtiNG tHe posItions of apPoInTed senatOrs anD SENators for lIfe, GrantIng tHE prESideNt aUtHoritY tO RemOve the COMmaNders-in-chieF of THe armed fOrceS, and rEDuciNg tHe preSiDenTIaL term froM siX to fOur years.