The Bolivarian Revolution refers to a left-wing populism social movement and political process in Venezuela led by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, who founded the Fifth Republic Movement in 1997 and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela in 2007. The "Bolivarian Revolution" is named after Simón Bolívar, an early 19th-century Venezuelan and Latin American revolutionary leader, prominent in the Spanish American wars of independence in achieving the independence of most of northern South America from Spanish rule. According to Chávez and other supporters, the "Bolivarian Revolution" seeks to build a mass movement to implement Bolivarianism—popular democracy, economic independence, equitable distribution of revenues, and an end to political corruption—in Venezuela.
Bolivarian government: 1999–present
Venezuela
Venezuela | Bolivarian government: 1999–present
Hugo Chávez Simón Bolívar Yes, Hugo Chávez. Simón Bolívar.
what is the symbol of flag of ecuador?
user
It consists of horizontal bands of yellow (double width), blue and red.
assistant
who designed it?
user
Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
assistant
does it resemble any other flag?
user
Yes, Colombia and Venezuela
assistant
which pledge is related to it?
user
Juramento a la Bandera
assistant
does the above latter country face any kind of shortage?
user
Yes, products like milk, various meats, basic necessities etc.
assistant
is any rights suspended over there?
user
Yes, constitutional rights.
assistant
why?
user
The approval of the extension of States of emergency corresponds to the National Assembly.
assistant
which government is in power here during 1999 and onwards?
user
The Bolivarian government
assistant
can you name any person from this government form?
user
They interpret Bolívar's ideas from a populist perspective, using socialist rhetoric.
Venezuela | Bolivarian government: 1999–present
His critics referred to these government officials as the "Boliburguesía" or "Bolivarian bourgeoisie", and highlighted that it "included few people with experience in public administration". The number of his immediate family members in Venezuelan politics led to accusations of nepotism also. In June 2000 he separated from his wife Marisabel, and their divorce was finalised in January 2004.
Hugo Chávez | First presidential term: 2 February 1999 – 10 January 2001
Under the new Bolivarian 1999 Constitution, the legislative branch of Government in Venezuela is represented by a unicameral National Assembly. The Assembly is made up of 165 deputies "(diputados)", who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote on a national party-list proportional representation system. In addition, three deputies are returned on a state-by-state basis, and three seats were reserved for representatives of Venezuela's indigenous peoples. All deputies serve five-year terms. In 1999 a two-term limit of six years each was established for the President of Venezuela.
Elections in Venezuela | 1990–1999: Later constitutions
Since 15 March 2013, the remains of former president Hugo Chávez now rest in the Museum of the Bolivarian Revolution (Cuartel 4 de febrero), also known as the "Montaña Barracks", the very spot where the coup attempt of 1992 was launched.
23 de Enero | Bolivarian government
The Bolivarian Revolution refers to a left-wing populism social movement and political process in Venezuela led by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, who founded the Fifth Republic Movement in 1997 and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela in 2007. The "Bolivarian Revolution" is named after Simón Bolívar, an early 19th-century Venezuelan and Latin American revolutionary leader, prominent in the Spanish American wars of independence in achieving the independence of most of northern South America from Spanish rule. According to Chávez and other supporters, the "Bolivarian Revolution" seeks to build a mass movement to implement Bolivarianism—popular democracy, economic independence, equitable distribution of revenues, and an end to political corruption—in Venezuela.
Venezuela | Bolivarian government: 1999–present
Returning to Venezuela in 1898, that year Villegas Pulido headed of government of the state of Falcón. Afterwards, from 1900 until 1901 he led the government of the state of Guárico, followed by the state of Apure from 1903 until 1904. He was also appointed Attorney General of Venezuela in 1899, holding the role until 1909. From 1906 until 1907, he was Consul of Venezuela in the island of Trinidad, and in 1909 he served as president of the chamber of deputies (cámara de diputados). In 1912, he started a 22-year term as interim president of the Order of the Liberator (Orden del Libertador) that lasted until 1934.
Guillermo Tell Villegas Pulido | 1898-1949: State and federal positions
Under the current Bolivarian 1999 Constitution, the legislative branch of Government in Venezuela is represented by a unicameral National Assembly. The Assembly is made up of 165 deputies "(diputados)", who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote on a national party-list proportional representation system. In addition, three deputies are returned on a state-by-state basis, and three seats are reserved for representatives of Venezuela's indigenous peoples. All deputies serve five-year terms and must appoint a replacement "(suplente)" to stand in for them during periods of incapacity or absence (Art. 186). Under the 1999 constitution deputies could be reelected on up to two terms (Art.
National Assembly (Venezuela) | Structure and powers
Following the fall of Marcos Pérez Jiménez in 1958, Venezuelan politics were dominated by the Third Way Christian democratic COPEI and the center-left social democratic Democratic Action (AD) parties; this two-party system was formalized by the "puntofijismo" arrangement. Economic crises in the 1980s and 1990s led to a political crisis which resulted in hundreds dead in the Caracazo riots of 1989, two attempted coups in 1992, and impeachment of President Carlos Andrés Pérez for corruption in 1993. A collapse in confidence in the existing parties saw the 1998 election of Hugo Chávez, who had led the first of the 1992 coup attempts, and the launch of a "Bolivarian Revolution", beginning with a 1999 Constituent Assembly to write a new Constitution of Venezuela.
Venezuela | Government and politics
The Fifth Republic of Venezuela (), commonly known as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (), is the period in contemporary Venezuelan history from 1999 with the election of Hugo Chávez to the presidency and the installation of his Bolivarian Revolution, to the present day. Venezuela has been considered the Bolivarian Republic following the adoption of the new Constitution of 1999, when the state was renamed in honor of Simón Bolívar. Since Chávez's election into office, Venezuela developed into a dominant-party system, dominated by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and where numerous other parties exist. The 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election raised concerns of an emerging dictatorship.
Fifth Republic of Venezuela | Introduction
It added new environmental protections, and increased requirements for government transparency. It increased the presidential term from five to six years, allowed people to recall presidents by referendum, and added a new presidential two-term limit. It converted the bicameral legislature which consisted of a Congress with both a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies into a unicameral one that consisted only of a National Assembly. As a part of the new constitution, the country, which was then officially known as the Republic of Venezuela, was renamed the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela) at Chávez's request, thereby reflecting the government's ideology of Bolivarianism.
1999 Constituent National Assembly | Setting up the assembly
Venezuela became the "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" () with the adoption of the 1999 constitution, which renamed the country in honor of Simón Bolívar. The new constitution was promulgated by President Hugo Chávez, who served "de jure" from 1999 until his death in 2013. The new constitution augmented the presidential term from five years to six years. Chávez's presidency was interrupted shortly in 2002 following a failed coup d'état attempt that put Pedro Carmona in office for a day. After government-loyal forces ousted Carmona from Miraflores, Vice President Diosdado Cabello assumed executive control for a couple of hours until Chávez could be restored.
List of presidents of Venezuela | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1999–present)
Over 40 countries stated that they would not recognize the National Constituent Assembly. The European Union and the Holy See have also not recognized the legitimacy of the assembly. Following the establishment of the ANC, Argentina, Colombia, France, Peru, and the United States have characterized the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela as a dictatorship. President Nicolás Maduro's allies such as Bolivia, Cuba, China, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria discouraged foreign intervention in Venezuelan politics and congratulated the president and recognized the results of the election.
2017 Constituent National Assembly | Recognition
The municipality is governed by a mayor and a council, all of whom are elected and are affiliated with a national party. The current mayor is Héctor Frontado, who was previously the mayor of neighboring municipality Mejía from 2013-17. In 2017, Cabeza was arrested and later sentenced for a corruption scheme in which his used his office as mayor to illegally obtain expensive goods.
Bolívar Municipality, Sucre | Government
This ended the Punto Fijo Pact and ushered in the present-day Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
1999 Constituent National Assembly | Introduction
Since 1958, the country has had a series of democratic governments. Economic shocks in the 1980s and 1990s led to several political crises, including the deadly Caracazo riots of 1989, two attempted coups in 1992, and the impeachment of President Carlos Andrés Pérez for embezzlement of public funds in 1993. A collapse in confidence in the existing parties saw the 1998 election of former coup-involved career officer Hugo Chávez and the launch of the Bolivarian Revolution, beginning with a 1999 Constituent Assembly to write a new Constitution of Venezuela. This new constitution officially changed the name of the country to "República Bolivariana de Venezuela" (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).
History of Venezuela | Introduction
The State is autonomous and politically equal to the rest of the Federation. It organizes its administration and its public powers through the Constitution of the State of Bolivar, approved by the Legislative Council in Ciudad Bolivar on July 2, 2001.
Bolívar (state) | Politics and government
The president is elected by a plurality vote with direct and universal suffrage for a six-year term. A president may be re-elected perpetually (only in consecutive terms) as of 15 February 2009. The president appoints the Vice President. The president decides the size and composition of the cabinet and makes appointments to it with the involvement of the National Assembly. Former ministries include the Venezuelan Ministry of Infrastructure, which became the "Ministry of Public Works and Housing" and was split into the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Housing & Habitat in June 2010. The Ministry of Popular Economy became the "Ministry of Communal Economy" in 2007, and was merged into the Ministry of Communes and Social Protection on 3 March 2009, along with the Ministry of Participation and Social Protection.
Government of Venezuela | Executive power
General Juan Vicente Gómez seized power from President Castro in December 1908 while he was receiving medical treatment in Europe. Gómez would rule Venezuela as a powerful caudillo until his death in 1935. Márquez was chosen to be Secretary of Government of the Zulia state in 1909. In 1910, as provisional president of the Trujillo state, he distanced himself from Leopoldo Baptista after he refused to validate him in office again. Márquez would later serve as a senator for Trujillo state (1910–1914 ), governor of the Federal District (1911–1912) and Minister of War and Navy (1913–1914).
Victorino Márquez Bustillos | Gómez government
In the elections of November 1998 he was elected to the Venezuelan Senate, representing the state of Aragua. On 29 January 2000, he was appointed as the first executive vice president of Venezuela. Eleven months later, on December 26, with the majority vote of the National Assembly, he was appointed as Attorney General of the Republic, a position he held until November 2007. He was appointed Second Vice-President of the 2017 Constituent National Assembly on 4 August 2017 but he is replaced by Elvis Amoroso a month later.
Isaías Rodríguez | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
With the election of Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela in 1999, Rodríguez Chacín worked as his intelligence chief.
Ramón Rodríguez Chacín | Hugo Chávez government
Despite the initial reluctance of the constituent assembly's deputies, it changed the country's official name from the "Republic of Venezuela"” to the "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela".
Constitution of Venezuela | Name of the state
It is composed of the Governor of the State of Bolivar and a group of State Secretaries. The Governor is elected by the people through direct and secret vote for a period of four years and with the possibility of being reelected continuously, being in charge of the state administration. The current Governor is Justo Noguera Pietri of the PSUV. Like the other 23 federal entities of Venezuela, the State maintains its own police force, which is supported and complemented by the National Police and the Venezuelan National Guard.
Bolívar (state) | Executive Power
Previously, the official name was "Estado de Venezuela" (1830–1856), "República de Venezuela" (1856–1864), "Estados Unidos de Venezuela" (1864–1953), and again "República de Venezuela" (1953–1999).
Venezuela | Etymology
This is a partial list of Governors of the Venezuelan state of Bolívar. Until 1989 they were appointed by the President of Venezuela. Starting from that year they were elected in universal, direct and secret elections.
List of governors of Bolívar | Introduction
After the separation in 1856 of the then Federal Territory Amazonas, the province of Guayana was renamed in 1864 as the Sovereign State of Guayana once the Federal Revolution came to power under the command of Juan Crisóstomo Falcón. In 1864 Guyana became one of the independent states of the United States of Venezuela. In 1879, it was one of the seven states of the Federation, without the territory corresponding to Amazonas which had become Federal Territory Amazonas. In 1881 it became one of the nine political entities into which the country was divided, receiving the name of Great State Bolivar formed by Guayana and Apure.
Bolívar (state) | 19th century
Juan Barreto entered the political scene with his election to the Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies in the November 1998 elections. On July 30, 2000, Barreto was elected to the newly created National Assembly (the legislative body that replaced the Chamber of Deputies), receiving 276,952 votes, or 53.98% of the total votes, and represented the Venezuelan Capital District. He resigned from this position when he was elected mayor of Caracas in October 2004.
Juan Barreto | Congressperson
The United States of Venezuela () was the official name of Venezuela, adopted in its 1864 constitution under the Juan Crisóstomo Falcón government. This remained the official name until 1953, when the constitution of that year renamed it the Republic of Venezuela. In 1999 under newly elected president Hugo Chavez and his modification to the Constitution, Venezuela's official name became the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
United States of Venezuela | Introduction
This includes A New Era (UNT) together with allied parties Project Venezuela, Justice First, Movement for Socialism (MAS) and others. Hugo Chávez, the central figure of the Venezuelan political landscape since his election to the presidency in 1998 as a political outsider, died in office in early 2013, and was succeeded by Nicolás Maduro (initially as interim president, before narrowly winning the 2013 Venezuelan presidential election).
Venezuela | Government and politics
In 2007 the leading Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) party dissolved and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) formed as the leading government party. On 15 August 2007, PSUV founder and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez proposed an amendment to 33 articles of Venezuela's 350-article Constitution. Chávez stated that the proposed constitutional reforms were needed to complete the transition to a socialist republic and to implement his Bolivarian Revolution. The proposal was narrowly defeated by 51 to 49 percent. In 2009 a constitutional referendum resulted in the abolition of term limits for the office of President of Venezuela. The 2010 parliamentary elections took place on 26 September 2010 to elect the 165 deputies to the National Assembly.
Elections in Venezuela | 2000–present: Recent elections
The Venezuelan constitution specifies that the municipal governments are divided by executive; governed by the mayor, and legislative branches; governed by the municipal council comprising thirteen members, both offices are elected through universal and secret suffrage. The Libertador Municipality does not belong to any state therefore it doesn't have a governor but instead a Head of Government of the Capital District which is appointed by the President of the Republic. Since August 2009 the municipality publishes a newspaper, "Ciudad CCS".
Libertador Bolivarian Municipality | Law and government
These actions have worsened tensions and sparked violence during protests against the Maduro administration over concerns that Maduro would eliminate or significantly erode the independence of Venezuela's democratic institutions and shift the country towards one-man rule.
List of presidents of Venezuela | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1999–present)
Didalco Bolívar is a Venezuelan politician, and was Governor of Aragua State from 1995 to 2008. His first three election victories (1995, 1998, 2000) were as a representative of the Movement for Socialism. In the 2004 elections he represented For Social Democracy (PODEMOS), a party he co-founded in 2003. In 2009 he fled to Peru after being charged with corruption allegedly committed while Governor. He was arrested on his return to Venezuela on 31 August 2011, and was released on probation in September. Shortly before his return he claimed that PODEMOS was selling nominations for governorships, and had concluded a $9m deal with a Miami-based businessman associated with the party.
Didalco Bolívar | Introduction
López González joined the Venezuelan cabinet in 2006 where he served as president of Metro de Caracas and Los Teques Metro. In December 2008, President Hugo Chávez appointed him commander of the 5th Jungle Infantry Division, Operation Theatre No. 5 and Garrison Ciudad Bolivar. He was made the commanding general of the Bolivarian Militia on 30 July 2011. He also served as secretary of the Security and Intelligence Unit Electric System.
Gustavo González López | Chávez government
Venezuela took the name of Republic of Venezuela () with the adoption of the 1953 constitution, written by the Constituent Assembly elected in November 1952. The Presidents of Venezuela under this constitution (as well as the 1961 Constitution, which kept the name) were officially styled as President of the Republic of Venezuela. This period of the history of Venezuela began with the presidency of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, widely perceived to be a dictator. After a short period of political instability following Pérez Jiménez's exile in 1958, democracy was restored in the country with the election of Democratic Action leader Rómulo Betancourt as President in 1959.
List of presidents of Venezuela | Republic of Venezuela (1953–1999)
This is the list of members elected in the 1999 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuela.
Members of the 1999 National Constituent Assembly of Venezuela | Introduction
Venezuela is a federal presidential republic. The chief executive is the President of Venezuela who is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the President. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly.
Government of Venezuela | Introduction
Hugo Chávez, the central figure of the Venezuelan political landscape since his election to the Presidency in 1998 as a political outsider, died in office in early 2013, and was succeeded by Nicolás Maduro (initially as interim President, before narrowly winning the 2013 Venezuelan presidential election). Venezuela has a presidential government.
Politics of Venezuela | Introduction
The current presidential term is for six years with the constitutionally guaranteed recourse of holding a popular recall referendum any time within the last three years of a presidential term. A 2009 referendum removed the previous restrictions which limited the President to 2 terms. From 1958 to 1999, the presidential term was set at five years. A sitting president was not only barred from immediate reelection, but could not run again for 10 years (equivalent to two full terms) after leaving office.
President of Venezuela | Term limits
The powers were extended again on 13 July 2017 for an additional 60 days. On 15 October The Bolivarian government Great Patriotic Pole won 18 of the 23 governorships while the opposition only 5 during the 2017 Venezuelan regional elections
Presidency of Nicolás Maduro | 2017–2018
The president of Venezuela (), officially known as the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (), is the head of state and head of government in Venezuela. The president leads the National Executive of the Venezuelan government and is the commander-in-chief of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces. Presidential terms were set at six years with the adoption of the 1999 Constitution of Venezuela, and presidential term limits were removed in 2009. The office of president in Venezuela has existed since the 1811 Venezuelan Declaration of Independence from the Spanish Crown; the first president was Cristóbal Mendoza. From 1821 to 1830, Venezuela was a member state of Gran Colombia, and the Venezuelan executive was absorbed by the Colombian government in Bogotá.
President of Venezuela | Introduction
Guillermo Tell Villegas (1 January 1823 in Valencia, Venezuela – 21 March 1907 in Valencia) was a Venezuelan politician, lawyer, and writer. Among other government positions, he served as interim President of Venezuela in 1868, 1870 and 1892. Starting his career in law, he became governor of Barinas in 1859 and afterwards held various roles in the government of Juan Crisostomo Falcon, including deputy in the Assembly of Victory, Minister of Interior and Justice, and interim Foreign Minister of Venezuela. In 1864 and in 1866 was appointed to the Federal High Court. Villegas participated in the revolution in 1867, and was elected president of the Chamber of Deputies in 1868, where he openly opposed the government of Falcón.
Guillermo Tell Villegas | Introduction
Owing to the profound confusion of the Venezuelan War of Independence and the period of Gran Colombia over what is now Venezuela, this page has gaps between 1813 and 1819. For this period in time, historians refer to the Republic of Venezuela as the Second Republic of Venezuela (1813–1814) and the Third Republic of Venezuela (1817–1819) as Simon Bolivar twice reestablished the republic. The Congress of Angostura appointed Simón Bolívar "Supreme Commander of the Republic of Venezuela" (Jefe Supremo de la República de Venezuela) from 1819 until 1830. In 1830, José Antonio Páez declared Venezuela independent from Gran Colombia and became president, taking office on January 13, 1830.
President of Venezuela | History
In the early 1950s, under the government of General Marcos Pérez Jiménez a Housing Unit apartments designed by architect Guido Bermúdez on the model of "Cité Radieuse" Swiss Le Corbusier, also used in the Unit was built Housing Tlatelolco (Mexico) with apartments that were granted to the population of middle and lower classes of Caracas. Initially "Urbanization December 2" would be called (in commemoration of the coup by Marcos Pérez Jiménez). However, the current name was assigned by his successor, Rómulo Betancourt, with the date January 23 (23 de enero) commemorating the overthrow of the general and marking beginning of democracy in Venezuela.
23 de Enero | Marcos Pérez Jiménez government
Legislation can be initiated by the executive branch, the legislative branch (either a committee of the National Assembly or three members of the latter), the judicial branch, the citizen branch (ombudsman, public prosecutor, and controller general) or a public petition signed by no fewer than 0.1% of registered voters. The voting age is 18, and voting is not compulsory.
Government of Venezuela | Legislative power
Chávez, a former paratroop lieutenant-colonel who had led an unsuccessful coup d'état in 1992, was elected President in December 1998 on a platform that called for the creation of a "Fifth Republic", a new constitution, a new name ("the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela"), and a new set of relations between socioeconomic classes. In 1999, voters approved a referendum on a new constitution and in 2000, re-elected Chávez, also placing many members of his Fifth Republic Movement party in the National Assembly. Supporters of Chávez call the process symbolised by him the Bolivarian Revolution and were organised into different government-funded groups, including the Bolivarian Circles.
History of Venezuela | Chávez and the Bolivarian Revolution
The legislature approved the Statute Governing the Transition to Democracy to Re-establish the Validity of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela () on 5 February, defining the timing of the transition.
President of Venezuela | 2019–2020 crisis
According to the different Constitutions that Venezuela has had:
Congress of Venezuela | Official names
Some members of the movement resigned in protest, holding too much at stake. In July 1997 Chávez registered the new Fifth Republic Movement with the National Electoral Council (the name had to be changed as Venezuelan law did not permit parties to use Simon Bolivar's name). The international media took little interest, citing opinion polls showing 8% support for Chávez.
Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 | Chávez' participation in the 1998 election
Páez ruled either as president or as the man-behind-the-throne from 1830 to 1846; and later, from 1860 to 1863, as dictator. A distinguished military leader in the independence war and a colleague of Bolívar, Páez had a strong claim to the Presidency, especially as, despite his pardo origins, the white oligarchy in Caracas supported him enthusiastically. Although the 1830 Constitution prescribed democracy, tradition and practical difficulties militated against the actual working of a republican form of government, and in practice an oligarchy governed the nation. During his first year in office Páez created a three-man Office of Foreign Relations within the Ministry of Finance.
State of Venezuela | Páez government
Victorino Márquez Bustillos (2 November 1858 – 10 January 1941), was a Venezuelan lawyer and politician, and was provisional President of Venezuela from 1914 to 1922. Although Bustillos was elected by Congress, General Juan Vicente Gómez remained the real power behind the presidency. Victorino Márquez died in Caracas on 10 January 1941, aged 82.
Victorino Márquez Bustillos | Introduction
Graduated with honors from the faculty of law of the Central University of Venezuela, Escarrá was previously a member of the COPEI party. After the victory of Hugo Chávez in the 1998 elections, he became a member of the 1999 Constituent National Assembly representing the Fifth Republic Movement. Unlike his brother Carlos Escarrá, who was a militant of the ruling party, Escarrá strongly criticized Chavez in the coming years, filing appeals in the Supreme Tribunal of Justice against the president's actions, calling to ignore the government in December 2007 with a march no return to Miraflores, calling for an indefinite strike as parliamentarian after the expropriations in the South of the Lake of 2010 and describing in 2010 the Communes Law and the Communal Parliament as "a coup d'etat to the Constitution."
Hermann Escarrá | Education and opposition to Bolivarian government
Chávez gained popularity amid the financial turmoil and was elected president in 1998. His administration promoted a new constitution, which was approved by referendum in December 1999. The adoption of the new constitution in 1999 ended the Puntofijismo, establishing the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Republic of Venezuela | Second Caldera administration (1994-1999)
The basis for its public law is the 1999 Constitution. The 1999 Constitution made significant changes to the separation of powers. Instead of the usual three branches of government, the new Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has five: The electoral branch is headed by the National Electoral Council (CNE) and is responsible for the independent oversight of all municipal, state, and federal elections in the country. The citizens' branch is constituted by the "(defensor del pueblo)" (ombudsman or "defender of the people"), the Chief Public Prosecutor "(fiscal general)", and the comptroller general "(contralor general)". It is responsible for representing and defending the citizens in their dealings with powers of the Venezuelan state.
Law of Venezuela | Public law
It was first established in 1901 under the name of Libertador Department; with the Department of Vargas (now Vargas Municipality, it formed the "Federal District of Venezuela". In 1986, its name was changed to Libertador District. Following the creation of the Vargas State in 1998, it became the sole administrative division of the Federal District. Under the 1999 constitution, the Federal District ceased to exist and the Capital District was created. Under the new terms of administrative divisions, Libertador became a municipality, consisting of 22 parishes.
Libertador Bolivarian Municipality | History
In the 1998 presidential elections, one of candidate Hugo Chávez's electoral promises was to organize a referendum asking the people if they wanted to convene a National Constituent Assembly. His first decree as president was thus to order such a referendum, which took place on 19 April. The electorate were asked two questionswhether a constituent assembly should be convened, and whether it should follow the mechanisms proposed by the president. The "yes" vote in response to these two question totalled 92% and 86%, respectively. The 1998 parliamentary elections were on 8 November 1998. There were 207 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 54 seats in the Senate.
Elections in Venezuela | 1990–1999: Later constitutions
On July 21, 1903, in the vicinity of Ciudad Bolivar, the last battle of the Liberating Revolution was fought where the government army under the command of Juan Vicente Gómez defeated the opposition forces of General Nicolás Rolando. The defeat of the Liberating Revolution marked the end of the 19th century in Venezuela, which was characterized by political instability and great civil wars, giving way to a period of consolidation of the central government under the rule of the Andean people. The state gained more autonomy in 1989 when the first elections for governor and legislative assembly were held and the practice of appointments from the central government in Caracas was ended.
Bolívar (state) | 20th century
"The Act" declares the formation of a democratic and national unity transition government, according to the following articles: Article I Designated Pedro Carmona Estanga President of Venezuela in charge of the Executive Branch. Article II Re-established the country's name as "República de Venezuela", eliminating the name "Bolivarian".
Carmona Decree | Articles
He appointed new figures to government posts, adding leftist allies to key positions and "army colleagues were given a far bigger say in the day-to-day running of the country". For instance, he put Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 founder in charge of the National Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services and made , one of the 1992 coup leaders, governor of the Federal District of Caracas. Chávez appointed conservative, centrist and centre-right figures to government positions as well. He reappointed Caldera's economy minister, Maritza Izaquirre, to her previous position and appointed businessman Roberto Mandini president of the state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela.
Hugo Chávez | First presidential term: 2 February 1999 – 10 January 2001
Venezuela saw ten years of military dictatorship from 1948 to 1958. After the 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état brought an end to a three-year experiment in democracy (), a triumvirate of military personnel controlled the government until 1952, when it held presidential elections. These were free enough to produce results unacceptable to the government, leading them to be falsified and to one of the three leaders, Marcos Pérez Jiménez, assuming the Presidency. His government was brought to an end by the 1958 Venezuelan coup d'état, which saw the advent of democracy with a transitional government under Admiral Wolfgang Larrazábal in place until the December 1958 elections.
Republic of Venezuela | Introduction
Under the governments of Hugo Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro, the armed forces have undergone significant changes, including in its name (from National Armed Forces to National Bolivarian Armed Forces). There has also been a political change in partnerships switching from cooperation with the United States and its allies to expanded cooperations with Russia as the biggest of those new military allies.
National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela | Bolivarian government
The mayor of the Bolívar Municipality is Iván Dario Maldonado, elected on October 31, 2004 with 49% of the vote. He replaced Alberto Melean shortly after the elections. The municipality is divided into three parishes; Barinitas, Altamira, and Calderas.
Bolívar Municipality, Barinas | Government
Owing to the profound confusion of the Venezuelan War of Independence and the period of Gran Colombia over what is now Venezuela, this page has gaps between 1813 and 1819. For this period in time, historians refer to the Republic of Venezuela as the Second Republic of Venezuela (1813–1814) and the Third Republic of Venezuela (1817–1819) as Simon Bolivar twice reestablished the republic. The Congress of Angostura appointed Simón Bolívar "Supreme Commander of the Republic of Venezuela" (Jefe Supremo de la República de Venezuela) from 1819 until 1830. In 1830, José Antonio Páez declared Venezuela independent from Gran Colombia and became president, taking office on January 13, 1830.
List of presidents of Venezuela | History
This tradition of indirect elections through local councils would last in Venezuela until 1945. While President, Monagas broke with the Conservative Party. In 1848, his supporters assaulted parliament and he imposed personal rule and sent Páez into exile. His younger brother, José Gregorio Monagas, won election as President for the 1851–1855 term and also governed dictatorially. José Tadeo returned as President in 1855 but resigned in March 1858 in the face of an insurrection in Valencia which was led by Julián Castro and included elite members of both the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.
State of Venezuela | Monagas government
Gallegos governed until overthrown by a military junta led by the triumvirate Luis Felipe Llovera Páez, Marcos Pérez Jiménez, and Gallegos' Defense Minister, Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, in the 1948 Venezuelan "coup d'état".
Venezuela | 20th century
In February 2010 the Ministry of Planning and Development was merged with the Ministry of Finance to form the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
Government of Venezuela | Executive power
"The Head of Government of the Capital District was created in 2009. The Head is appointed by the President of Venezuela."
List of Venezuela governors | Heads of Government of the Distrito Capital
From 1810 up to the 1819 Angostura Congress that created Gran Colombia, and into the era of national independence since 1831, the National Armed Forces helped shaped the political, economical, social and national affairs of Venezuela, with so many military led-governments that led the nation until the late 1950s (with a brief break in the 1940s), several of them under strong military dictators. After Marcos Perez Jimenez left in 1958, the military role in government affairs ended with the framing of the 1961 Constitution and the replacement by civilian leaders of the military anti-Jimenez government that took power after the 1958 coup.
National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela | Role of the military in Venezuelan politics
The Puntofijo Pact ended in 2000 when a new constitution entered in force.
List of presidents of Venezuela | Republic of Venezuela (1953–1999)
Formerly it had its own local government with a governor, but the constitutional reform of 1999 abolished the district government and created instead the Metropolitan District of Caracas, with jurisdiction over the territory of the District and also four adjacent "municipios" (Baruta, Chacao, el Hatillo and Sucre) in Miranda which all together form the city. On 13 April 2009, the National Assembly passed a law creating the figure of a head of government for the district which would be designated by the President. On 14 April 2009, Jacqueline Faría became the first Head of Government of the Capital District. During the 2017 Venezuelan protests, General Antonio José Benavides Torres of the National Guard was appointed to be the Head of Government of the Capital District by disputed President Maduro.
Capital District (Venezuela) | Government
Significant changes were made to the separation of powers. Instead of the usual three branches of government, the new Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has five (Article 136): The electoral branch is headed by the National Electoral Council (CNE) and is responsible for the independent oversight of all elections in the country, municipal, state, and federal. The citizens' branch is constituted by the "(defensor del pueblo)" (ombudsman or "defender of the people"), the Chief Public Prosecutor "(fiscal general)", and the comptroller general "(contralor general)". It is responsible for representing and defending the citizens in their dealings with powers of the Venezuelan state.
Constitution of Venezuela | Five branches of government
Following the vacuum of power left by the resignation of Bolívar, the dissolution of the Gran Colombia, the struggle of power between Urdaneta and Caycedo, and the larger contention between federalists and Centralists, a National Constituent Assembly was convened on November 15, 1831 to draft a new constitution for the nation. Vice President Caycedo, who had been the Acting President after the resignation of Bolívar, proceeded to submit his resignation to the assembly on the same day it first convened; the assembly postponed the matter until it was decided whether or not to establish a provisional government. Finally the constituent assembly voted to implement a provisional government while a new constitution was drafted, for this purpose they elected José María Obando as Vice President, office which given the absence of a President made him the Acting President as well, and Obando was sworn in on November 23, 1831.
José María Obando | Vice presidency 1831–1832
José Antonio Páez was called backed from exile in the United States, and ruled as dictator from 1861–1863; but could no longer rule as a powerful caudillo and was forced to surrender to the leader of the federalists, Juan Crisóstomo Falcón.
State of Venezuela | Federal War and fate
By the time Hugo Chávez assumed the presidency in 1999, retired armed forces personnel who served with him were appointed to several cabinet posts and were given seats in the National Assembly. Chávez only allowed retired military personnel to run for elective posts at all levels as well as to serve in appointive government positions except for the Ministries of Defense and the Interior, per tradition led by active generals of the armed forces (the latter since the early 21st century). One of the advances achieved in the new Bolivarian Constitution of 1999 was to allow the right to vote in the elections to all service personnel of the armed forces without any limitation whatsoever, thus bringing it in line with other countries that allow the practice.
National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela | Role of the military in Venezuelan politics
192); under the 2009 Venezuelan constitutional referendum these term limits were removed. Deputies must be Venezuelan citizens by birth, or naturalized Venezuelans with a period of residency in excess of 15 years; older than 21 on the day of the election; and have lived in the state for which they seek election during the previous four years (Art. 188). Beyond passing legislation (and being able to block any of the president's legislative initiatives), the Assembly has a number of specific powers outlined in Article 187, including approving the budget, initiating impeachment proceedings against most government officials (including ministers and the Vice President, but not the President, who can only be removed through a recall referendum) and appointing the members of the electoral, judicial, and prosecutor's branches of government.
National Assembly (Venezuela) | Structure and powers
The mayor of the Bolívar Municipality is Freddy Arenas, elected on November 23, 2008 with 61% of the vote. He replaced César Augusto Barrera Ramirez shortly after the elections. The municipality is divided into one parish; Capital Bolívar.
Bolívar Municipality, Aragua | Government
Independence-war general Carlos Soublette, a Conservative, became president in 1837. Páez succeeded him in 1839, but Soublette took the reins from Páez again in 1843, and governed until 1847. Soublette proved an honest but lackluster president, in some ways a foil to Páez, and he could not prevent the "election" of Monagas to the presidency in 1847. It is the accepted wisdom that all the "elections" that are mentioned as occurring in the Venezuelan 19th century were a sham or non-existent, but this is not exactly accurate. There were elections, but these were held at the municipal level and of course the pardos had no vote.
State of Venezuela | Monagas government
Aside from that, all heads of state of the country since 1811 have held the title of "President of Venezuela."
Elections in Venezuela | 1811–1889: First congress and presidents
Representatives in the National Assembly were elected under a mixed member proportional representation, with 60% elected in single seat districts and the remainder by closed party lists.
2000 Venezuelan general election | Electoral system
In 1898, President Crespo left office and was later killed in battle while defending his successor, President Ignacio Andrade. A year later in 1899, President Andrade was overthrown by Cipriano Castro, who named himself President of Venezuela and supreme military commander. From 1902 to 1904, Márquez served as Secretary of the Trujillo State Government and was also a deputy of the Trujillo District to the State Assembly between 1904 and 1906.
Victorino Márquez Bustillos | Castro government
Following the elections where the opposition only won five of twenty-three governorships, disillusionment with the opposition movement grew, especially after four of five opposition governors elected belonging to Democratic Action decided to be sworn in under the Bolivarian government-led National Constituent Assembly despite promises to never recognize the body.
2017 Venezuelan regional elections | Aftermath
In 1830, Páez declared Venezuela independent from Gran Colombia and became president. Although he was not the first president of Venezuela (which declared its independence from Spain in 1811 and named Cristóbal Mendoza as president), he was the first head of government after the dissolution of Gran Colombia. From 1830 to 1847, Páez was the most powerful man in Venezuela. He served as president only twice during this time (1830–1835 and 1839–1842), but ruled as the power behind puppet presidents when he was not in office. The government, dominated by the oligarchy, followed a constitution that had largely been written by Páez in 1830.
José Antonio Páez | President
He was then exiled to Spain. In 1968, he was elected to the Senate of Venezuela for the Nationalist Civic Crusade, but his election was contested, and he was kept from taking office. A quick law was passed whereby former prisoners were excluded from participating in the governmental process. He died in Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain, at the age of 87 on 20 September 2001.
Marcos Pérez Jiménez | Post-presidency
The State Legislature is the responsibility of the unicameral Legislative Council of the State of Bolivar, elected by the people through direct and secret vote every four years, with the possibility of continuous re-election, under a system of proportional representation of the population of the State and its municipalities. The State has 15 deputies, of which 4 belong to the opposition and 11 to the ruling party, including a representation of the indigenous peoples and communities of the State of Bolivar.
Bolívar (state) | Legislative power
Former President of Colombia Andrés Pastrana, former President of Bolivia Jorge Quiroga and former Presidents of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla and Miguel Ángel Rodríguez were banned on July 18. Foreign Minister Samuel Moncada said the Latin American leaders invited as observers were "political sicarios", "clowns" and "mercenaries" that "sell themselves to the highest bidder to go to various destinations and repeat what they are told"
2017 Venezuelan referendum | Governments
The legislative branch was changed from a bicameral system to a unicameral system.
Constitution of Venezuela | Five branches of government
Following the death of Gómez in 1935, Minister of the Army and Navy Eleazar López Contreras took power of Venezuela. That year, President Lopez Contreras appointed Márquez to be Secretary of State, though Márquez would resign shortly after when anti-Gómez movements placed pressure upon him. In 1940, Lopez Contreras attempts to appoint Márquez, this time nominating him to be run for the presidency in the 1941 presidential elections, though Venezuelans did not approve of this because of Márquez's ties with Gómez and Isaías Medina Angarita was later named President of Venezuela instead. Márquez would die shortly after on 10 January 1941, before he would have been possibly sworn in as President of Venezuela if he were to participate in elections.
Victorino Márquez Bustillos | Lopez Contreras government
Some members of the movement resigned in protest, holding too much at stake. In July 1997 Chávez registered the new Fifth Republic Movement with the National Electoral Council (the name had to be changed as Venezuelan law did not permit parties to use Simón Bolívar's name). The international media took little interest, citing opinion polls showing 8% support for Chávez.
1998 Venezuelan presidential election | Chávez's participation
Elections for the new unicameral National Assembly were held on 30 July 2000. During this same election, Chávez himself stood for reelection. Going into the elections, Chávez had control of all three branches of government. Chávez's coalition also garnered a commanding two-thirds majority of seats in the National Assembly while Chávez was reelected with 60% of the votes. The Carter Center monitored the 2000 presidential election; their report on that election stated that, due to lack of transparency, CNE partiality, and political pressure from the Chávez government that resulted in early elections, it was unable to validate the official CNE results.
History of Venezuela (1999–present) | 2000–2001: Re-election, rule by decree, land reform
At one point, Trujillo was the general secretary in the government of Zulia, and then became the deputy for Zulia in Venezuela's National Assembly, serving between 1914 and 1939. He was a deputy over five periods, and for two of these was the Vice President of the National Assembly. He also held various positions overseeing and inspecting trade and highways in Venezuela.
Guillermo Trujillo Durán | Politics
The citizens branch consists of three components the prosecutor commander ("fiscal general"), the "defender of the people" or ombudsman, and the comptroller private. These officers, in addition to fulfilling their specific functions, also act collectively as the "Republican Moral Council" to submit to the Supreme Tribunal actions they believe are illegal, particularly those which violate the Constitution. The holders of the "citizen power" offices are selected for terms of seven years by the National Assembly.
Government of Venezuela | Citizens branch
In April 1999, a national referendum was held, the question being whether to create an elected assembly to draw up a new Constitution of Venezuela. The result of the referendum was 71.8% in favour. Consequently, in July 1999, elections were held to choose delegates to the assembly. In these elections, Chávez's slate of candidates received 52% of the vote but won 95% of the seats, 125 of the 131 seats, due to the voting procedures decided by the government beforehand. Fifty-four per cent of the eligible electorate did not vote. The job of the assembly, which was called the "Assemblea Nacional Constituyente" (ANC), was to come up with a new constitution in six months or less.
History of Venezuela (1999–present) | New constitution
The candidates chosen included Maria Corina Machado (of Sumate) and Manuel Rosales, the opposition's candidate in the 2006 presidential election and now in exile in Peru (due to corruption charges, which he denies). In addition, a number of the nine police officials imprisoned for participating in the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt, regarded by the MUD as political prisoners, were also nominated, in districts with a real chance of opposition success; winning would require their release due to parliamentary immunity.
2010 Venezuelan parliamentary election | Opposition
On 30 May 1985, the Constituent Assembly finished drafting a new constitution, which took effect immediately. General elections were scheduled, and civilian candidate Vinicio Cerezo was elected President. Revival of democratic government did not end the "disappearances" and death squad killings, as extrajudicial state violence had become an integral part of the political culture.
Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores | Return to democratic appearances
Following the end of the Cold War and the fall of the military dictatorships in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, social movements including labor and indigenous currents opposed the austerity and called for debt forgiveness, sometimes resulting in clashes with the state (see Caracazo and 2000 Ecuadorian coup d'état). It was in this context that Chávez and MBR-200 (as the Fifth Republic Movement) won the 1998 elections and initiated the constituent process that resulted in the Venezuelan Constitution of 1999.
Bolivarian Revolution | Background
The president of the National Assembly () is the presiding officer (speaker) of the National Assembly, Venezuela's unicameral legislature. The president's term coincides with the term of the legislature (five years as per constitutional convention). The post has existed since the election of the first National Assembly in 2000. Before the creation of the National Assembly with the adoption of the 1999 constitution, the country's legislature was the bicameral Congress, which contained the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The last president of the Senate was Luis Alfonso Dávila, and the last president of the Chamber of Deputies was Henrique Capriles Radonski.
President of the National Assembly of Venezuela | Introduction
Villegas was politically active in the days of the Venezuelan Federal War (1859–1863). He became the governor of Barinas in 1859, at the age of 35. In 1863, he became a deputy in the Assembly of Victory (Asamblea de La Victoria). In July 1863, he became the undersecretary of Interior and Justice (Interior y Justicia) during the government of Juan Crisostomo Falcon. In August 1863, he was appointed Minister of Interior and Justice in the Ministry of Interior Justice (Ministerio de Interior y Justicia). As Minister of Interior and Justice, he drafted the decree of Constitutional Guarantees (Constitución Federal) which removed the death penalty, exile, and confinement for political enemies of the government.
Guillermo Tell Villegas | 1859-1868: Early positions
Following the resignation of president Guillermo Tell Villegas during the crisis of the , Villegas Pulido was selected by the Federal Council as the provisional president of Venezuela in August 1892. During his short tenure, he helped establish the Psychiatric Hospital of Caracas. After Joaquín Crespo established himself as president by force in October 1892, Villegas Pulido left the country. Returning to Venezuela in 1898, until 1904 he headed three state governments, starting with Falcón and followed by Guárico and Apure. He first served as Attorney General of Venezuela from 1899 until 1909, holding the role a total of three times.
Guillermo Tell Villegas Pulido | Introduction
The list below includes interim "caretaker" as well as regular serving presidents, and democratically installed presidents as well as those installed by other means (e.g.; Marcos Pérez Jiménez).
List of presidents of Venezuela | Presidents of Venezuela since independence (1830–present)
When the State of Venezuela became independent from Gran Colombia, the office of the president was restored under José Antonio Páez. Every head of state of Venezuela since then has held the title of president. As of July 2020, the Venezuelan presidential crisis is unresolved and who holds the office is disputed since 10 January 2019, when the opposition-majority National Assembly declared that incumbent Nicolás Maduro's 2018 re-election was invalid and the body declared its president, Juan Guaidó, to be acting president of the country.
President of Venezuela | Introduction
A collapse in confidence in the existing parties led to Chávez being elected president in 1998 and the subsequent launch of a "Bolivarian Revolution", beginning with a 1999 Constituent Assembly to write a new Constitution of Venezuela. Chávez also initiated Bolivarian missions, programs aimed at helping the poor. In April 2002, Chávez was briefly ousted from power in the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt following popular demonstrations by his opponents, but he returned to power after two days as a result of demonstrations by poor Chávez supporters in Caracas and actions by the military. Chávez also remained in power after an all-out national strike that lasted from December 2002 to February 2003, including a strike/lockout in the state oil company PDVSA.
Venezuela | Hugo Chávez: 1999–2013