Cortes

kor'tes, the parliament or representative assembly--the congress--of Spain or of Portugal. The Cortes of Spain is an ancient body which has undergone many changes. Under the constitution, proclaimed in 1876, the present cortes consists of two independent houses--the Senate and the Congress. The Senate is composed of wealthy men in their own right--of 100 members appointed for life by the crown and 180 elected members. The Congress includes one member for each 50,000 people. A measure must pass both houses before it can become a law. See Parliament; Congress