Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1413

 [561

URUGUAY.

(Rkpublica Oriental dil Urcgtat. |

Constitution and Government.

The Republic of Uruguay, formerly a part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, and subsequently a province of Brazil, declared it;- independence August 25, 1825, which was recognised by the Treaty of Montevideo, signed August 27, 1828. The Constitution of the Republic was last amended on January 3, 1918, and came into force on March 1, 1919. The franchise is universal for males over 18 years of age ; voting is secret, and the principle of proportional representation operates. The legislative power is vested in a Parliament of two Houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, which meet in annual session, extending from March 15 to December 15. In the interval of the session, a permanent committee of two senators and five members of the Lower House assumes the control of the executive power. The representatives are chosen for three years, in the proportion of 1 to every 12,000 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 90 representatives and 19 senators.

The executive is divided between the President of the Republic and a National Administrative Council. The President is elected for four years by the direct vote of the people, and may be re-elected after au interval of 8 years since his last holding office. The National Administrative Council consists of nine members, six of the majority party, and three of the largest minority ; three retiring every two years. The election is by direct popular vote. The President appoints the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of War and Marine, and of the Interior, and has supreme control of these departments. The other ministers — of Finance, Public Works, Industry and Education — are appointed by the Council, which is the controlling power of these departments. The President receives a salary of 24,000 pesos per annum.

President of the Republic. — Dr. Baltasar Brum (March 1, 1919, to February 28, 1923).

President of the Administrative Council. — Dr. Feliciano Viera.

Area and Population.

The following table shows the area and the estimated population of the departments (capitals in brackets) on December 31, 1919 : —

Departments

Area, square miles

Population Dee. 1919

Pop. per square mile

Artigas (Artigas)

4,394

39,660

8-6

Canelones (Guadalupe)

1,834

119,634

63-1

Cerro- Largo (Melo).

5,763

B9,SM

9-9

Colonia (Colonia)

2,193

87,974

87-0

Durazno (Durazno).

5,525

57,219

9-9

Flores (Trinidad)

1,744

24,284

13-3

Florida (Florida)

4,673

64,203

181

Maldonado (Maldonado)

1,587

41,885

26-:

Minas (Minas) ....

4,819

68,858

13-y

Montevideo ....

387,890

1.4S04

Paysandu (Paysandii)

5.115

73,511

13-4

Rio Negro (Fray Bentos)

8,269

37,840

111

Rivera (Rivera).

3,793

47,156

12 tl

Rocha(Rocha)

4,280

48,796

1*8 4 ■