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URUGUAY.

(Republica Oriental del Uruguay.)

Constitution and Government.

The Republic of Uruguay, formerly a part of the viceroyalty of Spain, and subsequently a province of Brazil, declared its inde- pendence August 25, 1825, which was recognised by the Treaty of Montevideo, signed August 27, 1828. The Constitution of the Republic was sworn July 18, 1830. 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 July 15. In the interval of the session, a permanent committee of two senators and five members of the Lower House assume the legislative power, as well as the general control of the administration. The representatives are chosen for three years, in the proportion of 1 to every 3,000 inhabitants of male adults who can read and write. The senators are chosen by an Electoral College, whose members are directly elected by the people ; there is one senator for each department, chosen for six years, one-third retiring every two years. There are (1893) 69 representatives and 19 senators.

The executive is given by the Constitution to the President of the Republic, elected for the term of four years.

President of the Republic. — Juan L. Cuestas, formerly Yice- President ; assumed the duties of President on the assassination of Senor Idiarte Borda, August 25, 1897 ; elected President, March 1, 1899.

The President is assisted in his executive functions by a council of ministers divided into five departments, namely, that of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Finance, War and Marine, and Instruction and Public Works.

Area and Population.

The area of Uruguay is estimated at 72,110 English square miles, with a population estimated in 1898 at 840,725. The estimated population in 1879 was 438,245. No regular census has ever been taken. The country is divided into 19 departments, of which 6 have been formed since 1880.