Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/891

 7(3U ECUADOR.

(Republica del Ecuador.) Constitution and Government.

The Kc]»ublic of Ecuador was constituted May 11, 1830, in consequence of a civil war which separated the members of the original Republic of Colombia, founded by Simon Bolivar, by uniting the Presidency of Quito to the Vice-Royalty of New Grenada, and the Captaincy-General of Venezuela, when they threw off the Spanish yoke. Under the present Constitution, promulgated December 23, 1906, the executive is vested in a President, elected for the term of four years, while the legislative power is given to a Congress of two Houses : the first consisting of thirty-two senators, two for each province (chosen for four years), and the second of 48 deputies, on the basis of one deputy for every 30,000 inhabitants, chosen for two years ; both elected by adults who can read and write. The Congress meets on the 10th of August of every year at Quito, the capital, without being summoned b}^ the Government. The election ot the President takes place in a direct manner by the people. Under the present constitution there is no election for Vice-President. In case of death, or other cause of vacancy in the office of President, he is replaced. (1) by the President of the Senate of the Last Congress, and (2) if he should also fail, by the President of the Chamber of Deputies.

President of the Ilcjniblic. — General Leonidas Plaza (elected April 1, 1912).

The President, who receives a salary of 24,000 sucres a year, theoretically exercises his functions through a Cabinet of five ministers (Interior, Foreign attairs, public instruction, fiuauce and war) who, together with himself, may be impeached by Congress, and who, with seven other members, form a Council of State. Each minister receives a salary of 2,880 sucres a year. The President has the power of veto, but if Congress insist on a vetoed bill becoming law, he has no alternative but to give his assent to it. He may summon an Extraordinary Congress for a specified purpose, but he cannot dissolve tlui Chambers or shorten their sittings. By the terms of the Constitution privileges of rank and race are not allowed to exist within the Republic, but most of the Indians are virtually in bondage. By an edict of 1896, the Indians are exempted from paying tribute, and are admitted to citizenship.

The Provinces are administered by Governors, appointed by the Govern- ment ; their subdivisions, or cantons, by political chiefs ; and the parishes by political lieutenants. The Galapagos Archipelago is under a local adminis- trator.

Area and Population.

The area of Ecuador is aljout 116, 000 si^uare miles, divided into sixteen provinces and one territory, with about 1,205,600 inhabitants, or if uncivilised Indians be included, about 1, 100. 000. The bulk of the po})ulation is Indian ; inhabitants of ]>urp Eurojiean blood are \v\v ; these of mixed blood are estiniatuil iit about 400,000. Included in the above statement arc the

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