256. This statistical data allows the observation of a progressive increase of the number of voters that support the Opposition Parties. These Parties obtained more than 520 thousand votes during the 2004 legislative elections. In 1999, they had only obtained 260 thousand votes. In 1994, the number of votes they obtained was not more than 60 thousand. The process is also progressing in the sense that there is a greater presence of Opposition Parties in relation to the number of seats. The seats of the Opposition Parties in the National Assembly amounted, in 2004, to 37 out of a total of 189 against 34 in 1999. The Opposition Parties had had better representation during the local council elections with 268 seats. All these progressive trends can only strengthen the future of the Opposition Parties, not only within the Parliament, but also in the regions and in the consolidation of the right to participation in public affairs. C) The Councillors’ Chamber 257. The fundamental amendment of the Constitution, by virtue of the constitutional law n° 2002-51 of 1st June 2002, created a second legislative Chamber, namely the Councillors’ Chamber, and this following the example of the most ancient democracies which adopted the bicameral system. Whilst consolidating the general representation through the direct election of the representatives of the people, this amendment endeavours to guarantee a broader representation of the regions and of the various components of the society and this with the objective of enriching the legislative role and political affairs generally. The participation of the citizens and their representatives in determining the objectives to be realised in the area of social, economic and cultural progress and the realization of these objectives becomes thus reinforced and broadened with the creation of the Councillors’ Chamber. The creation of the Councillors’ Chamber which is understood to be legislative space additional to the Chamber of Deputies (National Assembly) allows all the socio-professional categories and the representatives of all the regions to express themselves and to indicate the expectations of their regions and of the society and to enrich the pluralist and participative democracy. Thus, this new Chamber contributes to strengthening the democratic control. 258. It is in this same context that organic law n° 2004-48 of 14 June 2004, relative to the organization of the work of the National Assembly and of the Councillors’ Chamber and establishing the relations between the two Chambers had been promulgated to organize the functioning of the National Assembly and the Councillors’ Chamber whilst establishing the relationship between these two Chambers. The number of members of the Councillors’ Chamber should not be more than two thirds of the members of the National Assembly. The Councillors’ Chamber comprises representatives of the Governorates at the rate of one representative or two for each Governorate. 259. The seats are distributed equally between the sectors concerned. The Councillors’ Chamber, being empowered to exercise a legislative role, expresses, in this regard, the concerns of all the regions, the various professional sectors and the different social categories. 58