Since 1974, the year of the Carnation Revolution, thirteen legislative elections were held in Portugal.
The parliament is usually elected to a four-year term, and currently (as of 2011[update]) there are 230 Members of the Parliament, elected in Party's lists in 22 constituencies, corresponding to the 18 continental districts, 2 autonomous regions and one constituence to the Portuguese living abroad in Europe and a last one to the Portuguese living abroad in the rest of the World.
Each constituence elects a number of MPs proportional to its population, ranging from the 47 MPs in Lisbon to the 2 in Portalegre.