Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1420

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VENEZUELA.

(ESTADOS UNIDOS DE VENEZUELA.)

Constitution and Government.

The Republic of Venezuela was formed in 1830 by secession from the other members of the Republic of Colombia. The Constitution in force is that of June 13, 1914. Legislative authority is vested in a Congress of 2 chambers, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The former consists of 40 members elected for 3 years, 2 for each State, Venezuelans by birth and over 30 years of age. The latter is constituted as follows : Each State chooses by direct election for 3 years one deputy, a Venezuelan by birth and over 21 years of age, for every 35,000 inhabitants, and one more for an excess of 15,000. A State with fewer than 35,000 of population will have one deputy. The Federal District and the Territories which have, or may reach, the population fixed by law will also elect deputies.

The executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic in con- junction with the Cabinet Ministers through whom he acts. The President is elected by Congress for 7 years, must be a Venezuelan by birth and over 30 years of age ; by the new Constitution (1914) there is no restriction as to re-election. Failing the President, temporarily, the President can nominate any member of the Cabinet to act in his place.

President of the Reptcblic. — General Juan Vicente G6mez, elected May 3, 1915, for the period 1915 to 1922.

The President- Elect has not yet taken office, retaining his post of Com- mander-in-Chief. Accordingly the Provisional President, Dr. V. Marques Bustillos, elected April 19, 1914, continues to act as head of the State.

The Cabinet consists of 7 Ministers : the Ministers of the Interior, of Foreign Affairs, of Fiuance, of War and Marine, of Fomento, of Public Works, and of Public Instruction. The seat of the General Powers of the Nation is at the City of Caracas, but, when any unforeseen circumstance requires, the Executive Power may fix its residence at any other point of the Federal District.

The States are autonomous and politically equal. Each has a Legislative Assembly, whose members are chosen in accordance with their respective Con- stitutions. Each State lias a President and a general Secretary. The States are divided into districts and municipalities. Kadi district has a municipal council, and each municipio a communal junta. The Federal District and the Territories are administered by the Presideut of the Republic through Governors, who iu turn appoint secretaries.

Area and Population.

Venezuela has an area of about 398,594 square miles. According to the census of 1891, the latest taken in Venezuela, the population was 2,323,627. Official estimates for December 31, 19A8, place it at2, 852,614, the density for the entire country being 7 persons to tAie square mile. But the official figures have been very much questioned and it is said that 2J; millions is nearer actuality. It is now divided into u Federal District, 20 States and 2 Territories, as follows • —