Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1260

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PERU.

(Republica del Peru.) Constitution and Government.

The Republic of Peru, formerly the most important of the Spanish Viceroyalties in South America, issued its declaration of independence July 28, 1821 ; but it was not till after a war, protracted till 1824, that the country gained its actual freedom from Spanish rule. The Republic is politically divided into departments, and the departments into provinces. According to the Constitution proclaimed on November 10, 1860, the legislative power is vested in a Senate (52 members) and a House of Representatives, (116 members) the latter composed of deputies of the provinces, in the proportion of one for every 30,000 inhabitants or fraction exceeding 15,000 and the former of representatives in the proportion of four senators for each department which has more than eight provinces ; three for each department which has less than eight provinces and more than four; two for each department which has less than five and more than one ; one for a department having only one province ; and one for the littoral province of Callao. Senators must have an income of 1,000 soles (lOOZ.) a year or belong to a scientific profession; and deputies 500 soles {601.) a year, or belong to a scientific profession. Both senators and deputies are elected by a direct vote. Every two years one-third of the members of each chamber, as decided by lot, retire. Congress meets annually on July 28, and sits for 90 days only. It may be summoned as often as necessary, but no extraordi- nary session may last more than 45 days.

The executive power is entrusted to a President, elected for 4 years and not re-eligible till after another 4 years. He receives 30,000 soles (3,000Z.) a year and 18,000 soles (1,800Z.) for expenses. There are two Vice-Presidents, who take the place of the President only in case of his death or incapacity, and they are elected for four years The Vice- Presidents receive no salary as such. The President and Vice-Presidents are elected by direct vote. „.„., . • i. n j

President of the Eepitblic—^ehoi Gmllermo Bilhnghurst ; installed September 24, 1912 until 1916. ^ x.- \

The President exercises his executive functions through a Cabinet of six ministers, holding office at his pleasure. The ministers are those of the Interior, War and Marine, Foreign Affairs, Justice, with Worship and Instruction, Finance and Public Works. Each minister receives 6,000 soles (600Z.) a year. None of the President's acts has any value without the signature of a minister.

The departments are divided into provinces (98 m all), and these are subdivided into districts (801 in all). Each department is administered by a Prefect, and each province by a Sub-Prefect. Municipal councillors are elected by direct vote, and foreigners are eligible.

Area and Population.

There has been no enumeration of the population in recent years The census returns of 1876 put the number of inhabitants at 2,660,881, of whom about 13-8 per cent, were white, 1-9 per cent, negroes. 57-6 per cent. Indian, 24-8 per cent, mestizos (Cholos and Zambos), and 1*9 per cent. Asiatic, chiefly Chinese. An estimate in 1908 gives the population in that year as 4,500,000. The population of the capital, Lima, according to the municipal