Page:Constitution of the Bolivarian republic of Venezuela.djvu/114

116 as of all public and private law natural and juridical persons within the geographical limits of Venezuela.

Article 323: The National Defense Council is the highest consultative organ for planning and advising the Public Power as to matters relating to the overall defense of the Nation, its sovereignty and the integrity of its geographical space. To this end, it is also charged with establishing the Nation's strategic concept. Presided over by the President of the Republic, it also includes the Executive Vice-President, the President of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, the Chairman of the Republican Ethic Council and the Ministers of Defense, Internal Security, Foreign Relations and Planning, and any others whose participation may be deemed appropriate. The pertinent organic law shall determine the organization and attributions of the National Defense Council.

Article 324: Only the State shall be permitted to possess and use weapons of war; any such weapons which now exist or are manufacturesmanufactured [sic] in or imported into the country shall become the property of the Republic, without compensation or proceedings. The National Armed Forces shall be the institution of competence to regulate and control, in accordance with the pertinent legislation, the manufacture, importing, exporting, storage, transit, registration, control, inspection, marketing, possession and use or other weapons, munitions and explosives.

Article 325: The National Executive reserves the right to classify and control disclosure of matters directly relating to the planning and execution of operations concerning national security, on such terms as may be established by law.