Constitution of Venezuela

Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Overview
Original title(in Spanish) Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela
JurisdictionBolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Created17 November 1999 (1999-11-17)
Presented15 December 1999 (1999-12-15)
Ratified19 December 1999 (1999-12-19)
Date effective20 December 1999 (1999-12-20)
SystemFederal presidential constitutional republic
Government structure
BranchesFive (executive, legislature, judiciary, electoral, citizens')
ChambersOne
ExecutivePresident
Vice President
JudiciarySupreme Tribunal of Justice
FederalismFederation
Electoral collegeNo
First legislature2000
First executive2000
Last amended2009
Signatories128 deputees
SupersedesConstitution of Venezuela (1961)
Full text
Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at Wikisource

The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (CRBV)) is the current and twenty-sixth constitution of Venezuela.[1] It was drafted in mid-1999 by a constituent assembly that had been created by popular referendum. Adopted in December 1999, it replaced the 1961 Constitution, the longest-serving in Venezuelan history.[2] It was primarily promoted by then President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez and thereafter received strong backing from diverse sectors, including figures involved in promulgating the 1961 constitution such as Luis Miquilena and Carlos Andrés Pérez. Chávez and his followers (chavistas) refer to the 1999 document as the "Constitución Bolivariana" (the "Bolivarian Constitution") because they assert that it is ideologically descended from the thinking and political philosophy of Simón Bolívar and Bolivarianism. Since the creation of the Constituent National Assembly in August 2017, the Bolivarian government has declared the 1999 constitution suspended until a new constitution is created.[3][needs update]

The Constitution of 1999 was the first constitution approved by popular referendum in Venezuelan history, and summarily inaugurated the so-called "Fifth Republic of Venezuela" due to the socioeconomic changes foretold in its pages, as well as the official change in Venezuela's name from the República de Venezuela ("Republic of Venezuela") to the República Bolivariana de Venezuela ("Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela"). Major changes are made to the structure of Venezuela's government and responsibilities, while a much greater number of human rights are enshrined in the document as guaranteed to all Venezuelans – including free education up to tertiary level, free health care, access to a clean environment, right of minorities (especially indigenous peoples) to uphold their own traditional cultures, religions, and languages, among others. The 1999 Constitution, with 350 articles, is among the world's longest, most complicated, and most comprehensive constitutions.

One of the outstanding differences between Venezuelan and most of the other constitutions of the Americas is the lack of the possibility of impeachment of the president by the national parliament. Instead, the president can be removed from office either by citizens through a recall referendum or by decision of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.[4]

  1. ^ Planchart Manrique, Gustavo. "Constituciones de Venezuela" in Diccionario de Historia de Venezuela. Caracas: Fundación Polar, 1997. ISBN 980-6397-37-1
  2. ^ Elkins, Zachary, Tom Ginsburg, and James Melton (2009). The Endurance of National Constitutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ Sonneland, Holly K. (9 August 2018). "Venezuela Update: 10 Ways Maduro Could Leave Office". AS/COA. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  4. ^ Article 233, Section II of the Constitution of Venezuela (1999)

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