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JTJRUGUAY.

(Republica Oriental del Uruguay.)

Constitution and Government.

The republic of Uruguay, formerly a Brazilian province, declared its independence, August 25, 1825, and was recognised by the Treaty of Montevideo, signed August 27, 1828. The constitution of the republic was proclaimed July 18, 1831. By the terms of this charter, the legislative power is in a Parliament composed of two Houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, which meet in annual session, extending from February 15 to the end of June. In the interval of the session, a permanent committee of two senators and five members of the LoAver House assume the legislative power, as well as the general control of the administration.

The executive is given by the constitution to the President of the Republic, who is elected for the term of four years, and cannot be re-elected till after the lapse of four years. A vice-president, also elected for four years, is at the head of the senate, but has no other political power.

President of the Republic. — General Lorenzo Battle, born 1812; Minister of War under the government of General Flores, pro- visional President of Uruguay, 18G6-G8 ; elected President of the Republic after the assassination of General Flores, February 28, 1868.

The president is assisted in his executive functions by a council ot ministers divided into four departments, namely, the ' ministerio de gobierno,' or ministry of the interior; the ' ministerio de relaciones exteriores,' or department of foreign affairs ; the ' ministerio de haci- enda,' or department of finance ; and the ' ministerio de la guerra,' or department of army and navy.

Revenue, Army, and Population.

There have been no recent official returns of public revenue and expenditure, owing .to almost uninterrupted civil war. Unofficial statements give the total revenue for the year 1869 at 5,261,776