Observations On Perception

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Scope and Use

This entry forms part of the constitutional corpus presented in the Appendix, comprising the twenty-five constitutions of Venezuela and organized for consultation rather than sequential reading. Comparison proceeds by means of permanent rubric codes whose identities remain constant across the corpus; absent rubrics signify constitutional silence, while retired rubrics are not reassigned. Citations are anchored first on the article number and follow the CIDEP recension linked at the close of each entry. The full corpus definition, methodology, and citation convention are set forth in the Scope and Use note heading the 19th-Century Constitutions, which opens in the installment of “Unmasking Disappointment: Series XI.”

Ricardo F. Morín

September, 2026

Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

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11). The 1901 Constitution

The 1901 Constitución de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela [Constitution of the United States of Venezuela] was enacted by the Asamblea Nacional Constituyente [National Constituent Assembly] in Caracas on 26 March 1901. The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive], presided over by Cipriano Castro, directed its observance through the Cúmplase [order of execution] issued at the Palacio Federal [Federal Palace] on 29 March. Article 153 repealed the Constitution of 21 June 1893.

DOC-PRE—Preamble:

“The National Constituent Assembly, in the name of Almighty God and by the authority of the People of Venezuela, decrees:” (Preamble; cf. 1893, Preamble: “We, the representatives of the people of Venezuela, assembled by virtue of the convocation contained in the Executive Decree of 1 January of the present year, in Constituent Assembly, invoking the favor and inspiration of the Supreme Legislator of the Universe, decree the following.”).

FND-TER—Territory:

The Constitution declared that the territory of the Estados Unidos de Venezuela [United States of Venezuela] was the same as that which had corresponded in 1810 to the Capitanía General de Venezuela [Captaincy General of Venezuela], subject to the modifications resulting from public treaties (Art. 1; cf. 1893, Art. 3: “The territory of the United States of Venezuela is the same as that which in the year 1810 corresponded to the Captaincy General of Venezuela.”). It reconstituted as States the twenty entities that the Constitution of 1864 had declared independent and united, and determined their boundaries by reference to the provincial division of 1856, as modified by the creation of the Distrito Federal [Federal District] and the Territorios Federales [Federal Territories] (Arts. 2–3; cf. 1893, Arts. 1–2: “The States Los Andes, Bermúdez, Bolívar, Carabobo, Falcón, Lara, Miranda, Zamora, and Zulia continue united in forming the Nation under the denomination United States of Venezuela.”).

The States could unite and subsequently reassume their prior condition through a petition from two-thirds of the Concejos Municipales [Municipal Councils], agreement by the respective Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies], and a declaration by the Congreso Nacional [National Congress], with effect deferred until the succeeding period (Art. 4; cf. 1893, Art. 4: “The States […] reserve the power to unite two or more to form a single State.”). The national territory could not be alienated in any manner to a foreign power (Art. 5; cf. 1893, Art. 13, base 4: “Not to alienate to a foreign Power any part of their territory.”).

POW-LEG—Congress:

The Poder Legislativo [Legislative Power] was exercised by the Congreso de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela [Congress of the United States of Venezuela], composed of a Cámara del Senado [Senate] and a Cámara de Diputados [Chamber of Deputies] (Art. 31; cont. 1893, Art. 18: “The Congress of the United States of Venezuela shall consist of two Chambers, one of Senators and the other of Deputies.”).

Each State elected one Deputy for every forty thousand inhabitants and one additional Deputy for an excess of twenty thousand; a State whose population did not reach forty thousand elected one. Deputies served throughout the constitutional period (Art. 32; cf. 1893, Arts. 20 and 24: “Each State shall elect one for every thirty-five thousand inhabitants and another for an excess of not less than fifteen thousand”; “Deputies shall serve in their offices for four years.”). The Asamblea Legislativa [Legislative Assembly] of each State elected two principal Senators and two alternates; Senators served six years and one-half were renewed every three years (Art. 36; cf. 1893, Arts. 26 and 29: “Three principal Senators and three alternates”; “They shall serve in their offices for four years and shall be renewed in their entirety.”).

The Chambers convened annually on 20 February for eighty non-extendable days. The Constitution regulated quorum, sessions, immunity, incompatibilities, the powers of Congreso [Congress], and the formation of laws (Arts. 39–69; cf. 1893, Arts. 30–59: “The Legislative Chambers shall convene each year […] on 20 February […] The sessions shall last seventy days, extendable to ninety.”).

ECO-TES—Treasury:

The Congreso [Congress] could decree national taxes, determine all matters relating to the Deuda Nacional [National Debt] and its interest, authorize loans upon the credit of the Nation, and enact annually the Presupuesto General de Rentas y Gastos Públicos [General Budget of Public Revenues and Expenditures] (Art. 54, nos. 2, 9, 10, and 18; cont. 1893, Art. 44, nos. 2, 9, 10, and 17: “To decree national taxes”; “To determine exclusively all matters relating to the National Debt and its interest”; “To authorize loans upon the credit of the Nation”; “To prepare the general budget of public revenues and expenditures.”).

The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] was required to negotiate loans in accordance with the enactments of Congreso [Congress], supervise the collection of national revenues, and administer the public lands, mines, and salt works of the States (Art. 89, nos. 8, 9, and 19; cf. 1893, Art. 76, nos. 5, 15, and 16: “To administer the public lands, mines, and salt works of the States, in accordance with law”; “To negotiate the loans decreed by Congress”; “To supervise and oversee the collection of national revenues.”).

No expenditure could be made from the Tesoro Nacional [National Treasury] without an express appropriation by Congreso [Congress] in the budget; those who violated the rule incurred civil liability for the amounts paid, and ordinary expenditures took precedence over extraordinary expenditures (Art. 129; cont. 1893, Art. 138: “No expenditure shall be made from the National Treasury for which Congress has not expressly appropriated a sum.”). The issuance of paper money, the compulsory circulation of banknotes, and the importation of currency other than gold were prohibited; the governmental minting or importation of silver or nickel required legislative authorization and was subject to limits per inhabitant (Art. 130; cf. 1893, Art. 13, base 36, which obligated the States “not to coin money or issue paper money.”). Collection offices and payment offices were required to remain separate (Art. 131; cont. 1893, Art. 139: “The offices for the collection of national revenues and those for payment shall always remain separate.”).

POW-EXE—Executive:

The Administración General de la Nación [General Administration of the Nation] not assigned to another authority belonged to the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive], exercised by a magistrate styled Presidente de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela [President of the United States of Venezuela], together with the Ministros del Despacho [Ministers of the Cabinet], who were his organs (Art. 70; cf. 1893, Art. 60: “Everything relating to the General Administration of the Nation that is not assigned to another authority […] belongs to the competence of the National Executive.”). Its functions could not be exercised outside the Distrito Federal [Federal District], except for the constitutional provision permitting the transfer of the public powers during a foreign war (Art. 71; cf. 1893, Art. 61: “The functions of the National Executive cannot be exercised outside the Federal District.”).

The President was required to be Venezuelan by birth and at least thirty years of age. He served for six years, could not be reelected for the immediately succeeding period, and neither a person who had exercised the Presidency during the final year of the preceding period nor specified relatives of either could be elected (Arts. 72–73; cf. 1893, Arts. 63 and 73: “To be elected, one must be Venezuelan by birth and have attained thirty years of age”; “He may not be elected for the succeeding period.”). Presidential vacancies were supplied by a First and a Second Vice President and, in the absence of both, by the President of the Corte Federal [Federal Court], under the electoral rules governing an absolute vacancy (Arts. 75–77; cf. 1893, Arts. 70–72: “The temporary or absolute absences of the President of the Republic shall be supplied by the citizen presiding over the Council of Government.”).

The presidential election was no longer direct. The Concejos Municipales [Municipal Councils] voted for the President and Vice Presidents; each Asamblea Legislativa [Legislative Assembly] canvassed those votes and declared the candidates of the State; the Senado [Senate] conducted the general canvass; and, if no absolute majority existed or the vote was tied, the Chambers constituted themselves as a Cuerpo Electoral [Electoral Body] to perfect the election through the votes of the state delegations (Arts. 82–88; cf. 1893, Arts. 63–69: “The election of the President of the United States of Venezuela shall be made by the citizens of all the States and of the Federal District by direct and secret vote.”).

The President possessed exclusive powers of appointment, diplomatic representation, direction of war, command of the Army, and temporary departure from the capital (Art. 79). The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] executed the laws, issued regulations, organized the Army and militia, conducted foreign relations, administered the enumerated revenues and resources, exercised the powers of war and restoration of constitutional order, and concluded contracts of national interest subject to legislative approval (Art. 89). The Ministros del Despacho [Ministers of the Cabinet] were the legal, sole, and necessary organs of the President; their countersignature was a requisite for the efficacy of presidential acts, and a written presidential order did not extinguish their personal responsibility (Arts. 90–98; cont. 1893, Arts. 90–99: “The Ministers are the legal, sole, and necessary organs of the President […] and without this requisite the acts shall have no effect”; “Their personal responsibility is not relieved by the order of the President.”).

POW-JUD—Judiciary:

The Poder Judicial [Judicial Power] resided in the Corte Federal [Federal Court], the Corte de Casación [Court of Cassation], and the other courts and tribunals established by law (Art. 99; cont. 1893, Art. 100: “The Judicial Power of the United States of Venezuela resides in the Federal High Court, the Court of Cassation, and such other courts and tribunals as the Law shall establish.”). The Constitution retained two separate high courts. The Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies] proposed candidates, the Senado [Senate] conducted the election according to groupings of States, and the members served six years (Arts. 101–110; cf. 1893, Arts. 102–115: “The Federal High Court shall be composed of nine Justices”; “The Court of Cassation […] shall be composed of nine Justices.”).

The Corte Federal [Federal Court] possessed jurisdiction, among other matters, over constitutional accusations against the President, Ministers, the Procurador General de la Nación [Attorney General of the Nation], the Governor of the Distrito Federal [Federal District], and its own members; federal controversies; conflicts of laws; the nullity of acts contrary to the Constitution; controversies arising from contracts of the Nation; and the recognition of foreign judgments (Art. 106). The Corte de Casación [Court of Cassation] heard proceedings against high state officials, appeals in cassation, and conflicts of judicial competence (Art. 110).

The Ministerio Público [Public Ministry] was entrusted to the Procurador General de la Nación [Attorney General of the Nation], elected by the Cámara de Diputados [Chamber of Deputies] for two years. He was charged with promoting the execution of the laws, supervising the performance of federal officials, instituting accusations, exercising the prosecutorial ministry, and representing the Nation in judicial proceedings (Arts. 111–114; cf. 1893, Art. 25, no. 2: “To elect every two years […] the Attorney General of the Nation and two alternates”; the antecedent charter contained no equivalent autonomous section).

POW-SUB—Subnational Government:

The States forming the Union were autonomous and equal as political entities and assumed the obligations of the Bases de la Unión [Bases of the Union] (Art. 6; cont. 1893, Art. 13: “The States forming the Venezuelan Union are autonomous and equal as political entities.”). They were required to organize themselves according to the principles of popular, elective, federal, representative, alternating, and responsible government; recognize municipal autonomy; comply with the Constitution, laws, and legitimate acts of the national powers; abstain from political relations with foreign powers; organize state justice under uniform substantive and procedural legislation; and submit their controversies to the federal tribunals (Art. 6, bases 1–30).

Residual competence remained in the States: “Everything not expressly assigned by this Constitution to the General Administration of the Nation belongs to the competence of the States.” (Art. 115; cont. 1893, Art. 116: “Everything not expressly assigned by this Constitution to the General Administration of the Nation belongs to the competence of the States.”). The States determined in their constitutions the duration and qualifications of their high officials.

CON-AMD—Amending the Constitution:

The Constitution admitted amendments or additions, but the Congreso Nacional [National Congress] could enact them only in ordinary sessions and upon the request of three-fourths of the Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies] of the States, themselves meeting in ordinary sessions. They could not enter into force until after the renewal of the public powers that had requested or enacted them (Art. 141; cont. 1893, Art. 151: “This Constitution may be amended or supplemented […] but neither may be put into force until after the renewal of the Public Powers of the Nation that requested or enacted them.”).

Amendments and additions followed the ordinary legislative procedure; once adopted by the national legislature, they were remitted to the Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies] for definitive ratification. Congreso [Congress] could also initiate them, but they required ratification by three-fourths of the Assemblies and took effect only in the succeeding period. In every case the definitive vote returned to the Congreso Nacional [National Congress] for canvass and promulgation (Arts. 142–145; cont. 1893, Arts. 152–155: “Constitutional amendments or additions shall be made through the same procedure established for the enactment of laws”; “The definitive vote of the States shall always return to the National Congress.”).

CIV-SUF—Suffrage:

Venezuelans over twenty-one years of age were electors and eligible for public office, subject to the conditions established by the Constitution and laws (Art. 10; cf. 1893, Art. 6: “Venezuelan males over twenty-one years of age are eligible for office.”). Among the guaranteed rights, suffrage belonged exclusively to Venezuelan males over twenty-one, except those under interdiction declared by a final judgment (Art. 17, no. 11; cf. 1893, Art. 14, no. 11: “Freedom of suffrage, subject to no restriction other than being under twenty-one years of age.”).

The Bases de la Unión [Bases of the Union] required direct and secret voting for the Concejos Municipales [Municipal Councils], Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies], and Cámara de Diputados [Chamber of Deputies], and permitted either direct or delegated voting for the remaining popularly elected officials (Art. 6, base 21; cf. 1893, Art. 13, base 24: “To establish direct and secret suffrage in popular elections.”). The Presidency, however, was elected through the indirect sequence of Articles 82–88.

CIV-CIT—Nationality:

Venezuelans were such either by birth or by naturalization (Art. 8; cont. 1893, Art. 5: “Venezuelans are such either by birth or by naturalization.”). The Constitution defined both categories and required that a declaration of intention be made before the Registrador Principal [Principal Registrar] of the State of domicile, entered into the protocol, and published in the Gaceta Oficial [Official Gazette] (Arts. 8–9; cf. 1893, Art. 5, which contained no autonomous registration procedure: “They are Venezuelans by naturalization […] who have established their residence within the territory of the Republic and declared their intention to be Venezuelans.”).

All Venezuelans had the duty to serve the Nation and enjoyed equal rights and bore equal duties throughout the territory (Arts. 11–12; cont. 1893, Arts. 7–8: “All Venezuelans have the duty to serve the Nation”; “They shall enjoy […] the same rights and shall bear the same duties.”). Foreigners enjoyed the civil rights of nationals but incurred the responsibilities of Venezuelans if they participated in political conflicts. Neither nationals nor foreigners could demand indemnification for damages, injuries, or expropriations not effected by legitimate authorities acting in their public capacity, and the Government could not conclude treaties that impaired those principles (Arts. 13–16; cf. 1893, Arts. 9–12: “Foreigners enjoy all the civil rights enjoyed by nationals”; “The law shall determine the rights and duties corresponding to foreigners who are not domiciled.”).

RTS-GAR—Rights:

The Nation guaranteed the inviolability of life and abolished capital punishment; protected property, correspondence, private papers, and the home; and recognized personal liberty, the proscription of slavery, freedom of thought, movement, industry, assembly, association, petition, suffrage, education, and religion, together with individual security and equality (Art. 17; cf. 1893, Art. 14: “The Nation guarantees to Venezuelans the effective enjoyment of the following rights.”).

The 1901 formulation introduced material changes. In freedom of expression it required a final judgment before detention for calumny or insult; in freedom of movement it inserted the limitation “in time of peace”; in individual security it increased the maximum corporal sentence from ten to fifteen years and reformulated the guarantees governing deprivation of liberty for political causes (Art. 17, nos. 6, 7, and 14; cf. 1893, Art. 14, nos. 6, 7, and 14: “The accused may not be detained or imprisoned […] except after the competent Tribunal has rendered the judgment condemning him”; “Nor be sentenced to corporal punishment for more than ten years.”).

The enumeration did not prevent the States from recognizing additional rights. Those who violated the guarantees outside the cases of exception incurred responsibility, and laws impairing the rights were to be declared unconstitutional and without effect (Arts. 18–20; cont. 1893, Arts. 15–17: “The preceding enumeration does not restrict the power of the States to grant other rights to their inhabitants”; “Laws that do so shall be held unconstitutional and shall have no effect.”).

REG-MIL—The Military:

The Fuerza Pública Nacional [National Public Force] was divided into naval and land forces and composed of the citizen militias organized according to law. Each State furnished a contingent proportionate to its population, which could be increased in time of war (Arts. 120–122; cf. 1893, Arts. 125–127: “The National Public Force is divided into naval and land forces and shall be composed of the citizen militias organized by the States.”). Military and civil authority could not be exercised simultaneously by the same person or corporation (Art. 123; cont. 1893, Art. 129: “Military and civil authority shall never be exercised simultaneously by the same person or corporation.”).

During electoral periods, the national public force and the forces of the States were required to remain quartered (Art. 132; cont. 1893, Art. 140: “The national public force or that of the States shall remain quartered during the period of popular elections.”). The armed force could not deliberate; it was passive and obedient and could demand assistance only from the civil authorities in the manner established by law (Art. 137; cont. 1893, Art. 145: “The armed force cannot deliberate; it is passive and obedient.”).

REG-REL—Religion:

The Constitution guaranteed libertad religiosa [freedom of religion] without further qualification (Art. 17, no. 13; cont. 1893, Art. 14, no. 13: “Freedom of religion.”). The Nation, possessing the derecho de patronato eclesiástico [right of ecclesiastical patronage], was to exercise it in accordance with the law of 28 July 1824 (Art. 124; cf. 1893, Art. 130: “It shall exercise it as determined by the law governing the matter.”).

ECO-INF—Infrastructure:

The States were required to cede to the Government of the Nation the territory necessary for forts, wharves, warehouses, shipyards, and buildings indispensable to the Administración General [General Administration] (Art. 6, base 8; cf. 1893, Art. 13, base 7: “The territory necessary to erect forts, warehouses, construction shipyards, and other buildings indispensable to the General Administration.”). They reserved to the Poder Federal [Federal Power] legislative and executive jurisdiction over maritime, coastal, and river navigation, wharves, and national roads, defined by their passage among States, the Distrito Federal [Federal District], or a Territorio Federal [Federal Territory] (Art. 6, base 10; cf. 1893, Art. 13, bases 9–10: “All legislative and executive jurisdiction concerning maritime, coastal, and river navigation and national roads.”).

The Congreso [Congress] regulated the habilitation and security of ports and coasts, the geographical chart, statistics, the census, the posts, and national telegraphs (Art. 54, nos. 3, 11, and 24; cf. 1893, Art. 44, nos. 3, 4, and 11: “To determine all matters relating to the habilitation and security of maritime and river ports and coasts”; “To create and organize the offices of national posts and telegraphs.”). The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] regulated the federal posts, telegraphs, and telephones and could urgently create or suppress stations or offices, subject to a report to the legislature at its next meeting (Art. 89, no. 13; new as to the constitutional mention of the telephone).

CON-FIN—Final Provisions:

The constitutional periods lasted six years, and the first began on 20 February 1902 (Art. 146; new). At the conclusion of each period, precisely on 20 February, the President ceased to exercise his functions and the President of the Corte Federal [Federal Court], or the person acting in his place, assumed the Presidency to effect the transfer of power (Art. 147; new).

The Constitution established the census approved by Congreso [Congress] as the population basis for the civil and political life of the States; retained the official computation of Independence from 5 July 1811 and of the Federation from 20 February 1859; ordered its promulgation following the Cúmplase [order of execution] of the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive]; regulated electoral dates; and repealed the Constitution of 21 June 1893 (Arts. 149–153; cf. 1893, Arts. 157–162: “The population basis shall be that determined by the latest Census of the Republic approved by Congress”; “This Constitution shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation.”).

• Source: original Castilian text of the 1901 Constitution, CIDEP recension: https://cidep.online/files/constituciones/1901.pdf

• Antecedent: original Castilian text of the 1893 Constitution, CIDEP recension: https://cidep.online/files/constituciones/1893.pdf

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12). The 1904 Constitution

The 1904 Constitución de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela [Constitution of the United States of Venezuela] was enacted by the Congreso Constituyente [Constituent Congress] in Caracas on 27 April 1904. The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive], presided over by Cipriano Castro, issued the Cúmplase [order of execution] on the same date. Article 137 repealed the Constitution of 29 March 1901.

DOC-PRE—Preamble:

“The Constituent Congress of the United States of Venezuela, in the name of Almighty God and by the authority of the Peoples of Venezuela, decrees the following Constitution.” (Preamble; cf. 1901, Preamble: “The National Constituent Assembly, in the name of Almighty God and by the authority of the People of Venezuela, decrees.”).

FND-TER—Territory:

The national territory continued to be defined as that which had corresponded in 1810 to the Capitanía General de Venezuela [Captaincy General of Venezuela], subject to the modifications resulting from public treaties (Art. 1; cont. 1901, Art. 1: “The territory of the United States of Venezuela is the same as that which in the year 1810 corresponded to the Captaincy General of Venezuela, subject to the modifications resulting from public Treaties.”).

The Constitution replaced the 1901 enumeration of twenty States with a division of the territory into Districts and Federal Territories, grouped the Districts into thirteen States, and enumerated the district composition of each (Arts. 2–3; cf. 1901, Arts. 2–4: “The States Apure, Aragua, Bolívar […] which the Constitution of 28 March 1864 declared independent and united, form the Nation.”). The enumerated boundary controversies and those subsequently arising among Districts were to be resolved by the arbitral tribunal prescribed in Article 126.

It recognized Amazonas, Cristóbal Colón, Colón, Delta-Amacuro, and Yuruari as Territorios Federales [Federal Territories] and permitted them to attain statehood if they possessed one hundred thousand inhabitants and demonstrated the capacity to sustain their public services (Art. 4; cf. 1901, Arts. 4 and 6, base 9: “The Federal Territories Yuruary, Colón, Amazonas, and Delta Amacuro.”). It organized the Distrito Federal [Federal District] from the Departments Libertador, Vargas, Guaicaipuro, and Sucre and the island of Margarita, and established the Department Libertador as the seat of the general powers, subject to temporary relocation within the District by the Poder Ejecutivo [Executive Power] (Art. 5; cf. 1901, Art. 6, base 7: “The city of Caracas, which shall be the Capital of the Union, and the parishes El Valle, La Vega, Antímano, Macarao, La Guaira, Maiquetía, and Macuto.”). The territory of the Nation could not be alienated in any manner to a foreign power (Art. 6; cont. 1901, Art. 5: “The national territory may not be alienated in any manner to a foreign power.”).

POW-LEG—Congress:

The Poder Legislativo [Legislative Power] remained vested in the Congreso de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela [Congress of the United States of Venezuela], composed of a Chamber of Senators and a Chamber of Deputies (Art. 30; cont. 1901, Art. 31: “The Legislative Power is exercised by an Assembly denominated the Congress of the United States of Venezuela, composed of two Chambers.”).

Each State directly elected one Deputy for every forty thousand inhabitants and one additional Deputy for an excess of twenty thousand, and Deputies served six years. The requirement that a Deputy be a native or domiciliary of the electing State was eliminated and replaced by Venezuelan nationality by birth and a minimum age of twenty-one (Arts. 31–33; cf. 1901, Arts. 32–34: “To be Venezuelan, a native of the State that elects him or domiciled therein, and to have attained twenty-five years of age.”). Each Asamblea Legislativa [Legislative Assembly] elected two principal Senators and two alternates; Senators served six years, but renewal of one-half every three years was no longer prescribed (Arts. 35–36; cf. 1901, Arts. 36–37: “The Senators shall serve in their functions for six years and shall be renewed by one-half every three years.”).

The Chambers passed from annual sessions beginning on 20 February and lasting eighty days to biennial sessions beginning on 23 May and lasting ninety non-extendable days (Art. 38; cf. 1901, Art. 39: “The Legislative Chambers shall meet each year […] on 20 February […] The sessions shall last eighty non-extendable days.”). The Constitution retained bicameral organization and the regimes governing quorum, immunity, incompatibilities, and legislative procedure, subject to the modifications contained in Articles 38–67.

The powers of Congreso [Congress] were concentrated in eighteen paragraphs. They included receiving presidential resignations, examining ministerial accounts, organizing the Distrito Federal [Federal District] and the Territorios Federales [Federal Territories], decreeing taxes, enacting codes, regulating the currency, national debt, and public credit, approving treaties and contracts of national interest, enacting the budget, electing the Cuerpo Electoral [Electoral Body], and electing the Corte Federal y de Casación [Federal Court and Court of Cassation] (Art. 52; cf. 1901, Art. 54: “The Congress of the United States of Venezuela has the following powers,” distributed among thirty-two paragraphs).

ECO-TES—Treasury:

The Congreso [Congress] retained the powers to decree national taxes, determine matters relating to the Deuda Nacional [National Debt], authorize loans, and enact the Presupuesto General de Rentas y Gastos Públicos [General Budget of Public Revenues and Expenditures] (Art. 52, nos. 5, 9, 10, and 14; cont. 1901, Art. 54, nos. 2, 9, 10, and 18: “To decree national taxes”; “To determine exclusively all matters relating to the national debt and its interest”; “To authorize loans upon the credit of the Nation”; “To debate and enact the General Budget of Public Revenues and Expenditures.”).

The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] negotiated the loans authorized by Congreso [Congress], supervised the collection of revenues, and administered public lands, mines, salt works, and the tobacco and spirits revenues (Art. 80, nos. 12–14; cf. 1901, Art. 89, nos. 8, 9, and 19: “To negotiate loans authorized by Congress”; “To supervise and oversee the collection of national revenues”; “To administer the public lands, mines, and salt works of the States.”). The Ministers presented reasoned and documented reports every two years, together with the general budget and the accounts for the preceding two years (Art. 86; cf. 1901, Art. 96: “The Ministers shall render account to the Chambers each year.”).

No expenditure could be made from the Tesoro Nacional [National Treasury] without an express appropriation by Congreso [Congress]; violators incurred civil liability, and ordinary expenditures took precedence over extraordinary expenditures (Art. 116; cont. 1901, Art. 129: “No expenditure shall be made from the National Treasury for which Congress has not expressly appropriated a sum.”). The prohibition of paper money and compulsory circulation of banknotes, the requirement of congressional authorization for acceptance of silver or nickel currency, and the separation of collection from payment offices persisted (Arts. 117–118; cf. 1901, Arts. 130–131: “It may not issue […] paper money or declare any class of Bank Notes to be of compulsory circulation”; “The offices for collection […] and those for payment shall always remain separate.”).

POW-EXE—Executive:

The Administración General de la Nación [General Administration of the Nation] not assigned to another authority belonged to the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive], exercised by the Presidente de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela [President of the United States of Venezuela] in union with the Ministros del Despacho [Ministers of the Cabinet] (Arts. 68–69; cont. 1901, Arts. 70–71: “Everything relating to the General Administration of the Nation […] belongs to the competence of the Federal Executive”; “The functions of the National Executive cannot be exercised outside the Federal District.”).

The Constitution abandoned the electoral sequence initiated in the Concejos Municipales [Municipal Councils]. During the first fifteen days of its session, Congreso [Congress] elected a Cuerpo Electoral [Electoral Body] of fourteen members of Congress, one from each political entity and an additional Deputy for the Distrito Federal [Federal District]. That body elected the President and two Vice Presidents by an absolute majority of its entire membership (Arts. 70–72; cf. 1901, Arts. 82–88: “The Municipal Councils of each State shall assemble and vote for President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President”; “The general canvass shall be conducted by the Senate of the Republic.”).

The President was required to be Venezuelan by birth and over thirty years of age, took the legal oath before Congreso [Congress], and could not be reelected for the immediately succeeding period (Arts. 73 and 77; cont. 1901, Arts. 72–74: “To be President of the Republic, one must be Venezuelan by birth and have attained thirty years of age”; “He may not be reelected for the immediately succeeding constitutional period.”). Presidential vacancies were supplied by the First and Second Vice Presidents; if the Second Vice President assumed office upon the absolute absence of the first two officeholders, he was required to convene the Senado [Senate] to elect a substitute (Art. 74; cf. 1901, Arts. 75–77: “The temporary or absolute absences of the President […] shall be supplied by a First Vice President and those of the latter by a Second Vice President”; in the absence of both, “by the President of the Federal Court.”).

The President appointed and removed Ministers, received foreign public ministers, administered the Distrito Federal [Federal District] and Territorios Federales [Federal Territories], directed war and the Army, and could absent himself temporarily from the capital or from the exercise of office (Art. 75). He was required to present Congreso [Congress] with a concise message concerning his acts, the condition of the Republic, and advisable legislative reforms (Art. 76; cf. 1901, Art. 79, no. 7, and Art. 96: “To address to the Congress of the Union […] a concise message concerning the political and administrative course of the country.”).

The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] executed the Constitution and laws, issued regulations, convened Congreso [Congress], organized the Army and militia, exercised powers of war and internal disturbance, directed the Procurador General de la Nación [Attorney General of the Nation] to seek nullity and responsibility, granted amnesties and pardons, negotiated loans, administered revenues and resources, conducted diplomacy, concluded treaties and contracts, regulated communications, and exercised the remaining enumerated functions (Art. 80; cf. 1901, Art. 89: “The following are powers of the Federal Executive.”).

The redistribution encompassed powers of particular consequence. In 1901 it belonged to Congreso [Congress] “to decree war and require the Federal Executive to negotiate peace,” and the Executive could declare war only after Congress had decreed it (1901, Arts. 54, no. 15, and 89, no. 18). In 1904 the enumeration of congressional powers omitted that competence, and Article 80, no. 6, conferred upon the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] the power “to declare war.” Likewise, amnesty, which in 1901 belonged to Congreso [Congress] (Art. 54, no. 21), passed to the Executive together with the pardon (1904, Art. 80, no. 11: “To grant amnesties and pardons.”). The admission of foreigners into the service of the Republic also passed from congressional to executive competence (1901, Art. 54, no. 22; 1904, Art. 80, no. 21).

The Ministros del Despacho [Ministers of the Cabinet] remained the legal, sole, and necessary organs of the President. Their countersignatures conditioned the efficacy of presidential acts; a presidential order did not relieve their responsibility; and they answered for treason, constitutional or legal violation, expenditures beyond the budget, bribery, misappropriation, and common crimes (Arts. 81–88; cont. 1901, Arts. 90–98: “The Ministers are the legal, sole, and necessary organs of the President”; “Their personal responsibility is not relieved by order of the President.”).

POW-JUD—Judiciary:

The Poder Judicial [Judicial Power] resided in the Corte Federal y de Casación [Federal Court and Court of Cassation] and the other tribunals and courts established by law (Art. 89; cf. 1901, Art. 99: “The Judicial Power of the Republic resides in the Federal Court, the Court of Cassation, and the other Courts and Tribunals.”). The reform united the two high courts of 1901 into a single Tribunal Supremo de la Federación y de los Estados [Supreme Tribunal of the Federation and the States], composed of seven Justices elected by Congreso [Congress] for six years and eligible for reelection (Arts. 91–94; cf. 1901, Arts. 101–110).

The Corte Federal y de Casación [Federal Court and Court of Cassation] accumulated the constitutional, federal, and cassation jurisdictions formerly distributed between two courts. It heard accusations against high federal and state officials; diplomatic proceedings, civil actions against the Nation, and prize cases; appeals in cassation; political controversies and judicial conflicts; the nullity of laws and acts contrary to the Constitution; controversies arising from presidential contracts; and the recognition of foreign judgments (Art. 95; cf. 1901, Arts. 106 and 110: “The following are powers of the Federal Court”; “The Court of Cassation has the following powers.”).

The Court was required to report every two years to Congreso [Congress] concerning its work and obstacles to uniformity in civil, criminal, and commercial legislation. Its Justices could not accept offices dependent upon the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] while exercising their functions, and their salaries were fixed by law (Arts. 96–98).

The Ministerio Público [Public Ministry] remained entrusted to the Procurador General de la Nación [Attorney General of the Nation], elected for two years and eligible for reelection. He was required to be Venezuelan by birth, over thirty years of age, and an attorney of the Republic; he promoted the execution of laws, rendered legal opinions, supervised federal officials, instituted accusations upon presidential direction, exercised the prosecutorial ministry, and represented the Nation (Arts. 99–102; cont. 1901, Arts. 111–114: “The Public Ministry is entrusted to the Attorney General of the Nation.”).

POW-SUB—Subnational Government:

The States were declared autonomous and equal as political entities and, for the first time in this immediate constitutional chain, the Constitution stated that they “retain in their entirety the sovereignty not delegated by this Constitution.” (Art. 7; cf. 1901, Art. 6: “The States forming the Venezuelan Union are autonomous and equal as political entities.”). The clause coexisted with a federal reorganization that grouped the Districts into thirteen States and subjected numerous functions to federal jurisdiction.

The Bases de la Unión [Bases of the Union] obligated the States to adopt constitutions conforming to the Pacto Fundamental [Fundamental Compact]; recognize district autonomy; obey legitimate acts of national power; abstain from foreign relations; cede territory for federal works; leave the Territories under national administration; reserve specified jurisdictions to the Poder Federal [Federal Power]; maintain uniform civil, commercial, criminal, and procedural legislation; participate in forming the Corte Federal y de Casación [Federal Court and Court of Cassation]; adopt common electoral rules; provide education and military contingents; submit interstate controversies to the Court; and accept the constitutional revenue regime (Art. 7, bases 1–29; cf. 1901, Art. 6, bases 1–30: “The States forming the Venezuelan Union are autonomous and equal as political entities, and bind themselves.”).

Competence not expressly assigned to the Administración General de la Nación [General Administration of the Nation] remained in the States. Their constitutions were required to establish three-year periods for their public powers beginning on 1 January 1905 (Art. 103; cf. 1901, Art. 115: “Everything not expressly assigned to the General Administration of the Nation […] belongs to the competence of the States.”).

State tribunals remained independent (Art. 105; cont. 1901, Art. 117: “The Tribunals of Justice in the States are independent.”). The Corte Federal y de Casación [Federal Court and Court of Cassation] was required to nullify acts of the Chambers or the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] that violated the rights or autonomy of the States (Art. 106; cont. 1901, Art. 119: “Every act of the Legislative Chambers or the Federal Executive that violates the rights guaranteed to the States or attacks their autonomy shall be declared null.”). The National Government could maintain within the States only those resident officials exercising jurisdiction who were expressly excepted by Article 112 (cf. 1901, Art. 125: “The National Government shall have no resident officials within the States exercising jurisdiction or authority other than officials of the States themselves.”). District boundary controversies were entrusted to arbitrators arbitradores [authorized to decide in equity] freely appointed by the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] (Art. 126; new).

CON-AMD—Amending the Constitution:

The Constitution could be amended or supplemented, but the Congreso Nacional [National Congress] could enact neither except in ordinary sessions and upon the request of three-fourths of the state Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies] meeting in ordinary sessions (Art. 127; cf. 1901, Art. 141: “Neither may be put into force until after the renewal of the Public Powers of the Nation that requested or enacted them.”). The 1904 reform removed from this article the mandatory postponement until renewal of the requesting or enacting powers.

Amendments followed the procedure for the formation of laws. Once adopted by Congreso [Congress], they were remitted to the Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies] for definitive ratification. Congress could also initiate them, always subject to ratification by three-fourths of the Assemblies, and the definitive vote was required to return to Congress for canvass and promulgation (Arts. 128–131; cont. 1901, Arts. 142–145: “Constitutional amendments or additions shall be made through the same procedure established for the enactment of laws”; “The definitive vote of the States shall always return to the National Congress,” except for the disappearance of the rule deferring effectiveness until the succeeding period).

CIV-SUF—Suffrage:

Venezuelans over twenty-one years of age were electors and eligible for office, subject to the conditions established by the Constitution and laws (Art. 10; cont. 1901, Art. 10: “Venezuelans over twenty-one years of age are electors and eligible for public office.”). The Constitution guaranteed freedom of suffrage under those general restrictions (Art. 17, no. 11; cf. 1901, Art. 17, no. 11, which expressly reserved it to “Venezuelan males over twenty-one years of age” and excepted those under judicial interdiction).

The Bases de la Unión [Bases of the Union] retained direct voting for the Concejos Municipales [Municipal Councils], Asambleas Legislativas [Legislative Assemblies], and Cámara de Diputados [Chamber of Deputies], and direct or delegated voting for other popular officials, always secret and founded on the electoral census (Art. 7, base 19; cont. 1901, Art. 6, base 21: “To adopt […] direct voting, and for their remaining popularly elected officials direct or delegated voting; in both cases it shall be secret.”). Deputies were directly elected (Arts. 31 and 33). The President and Vice Presidents, however, were elected by the Cuerpo Electoral [Electoral Body] designated by Congreso [Congress] (Arts. 70–72; cf. 1901, Arts. 82–88: “The general canvass shall be conducted by the Senate of the Republic.”).

The national public force and the forces of the States were required to remain quartered during popular elections (Art. 119; cont. 1901, Art. 132: “The national public force, or that of the States, shall remain quartered during the period of popular elections.”).

CIV-CIT—Nationality:

Venezuelans were such by birth or naturalization. Venezuelans by birth comprised all persons born in the territory and children of Venezuelan parents regardless of place of birth. Naturalized Venezuelans comprised persons born in the Spanish American republics who acquired domicile and declared their intention; persons who obtained letters of naturalization; persons acquiring nationality under special laws; and foreign women married to Venezuelans while the bond subsisted, subject to the prescribed condition thereafter (Art. 8; cf. 1901, Art. 8: “Venezuelans are such either by birth or by naturalization,” followed by a narrower enumeration and distinctions relating to parentage and diplomatic missions).

The declaration of intention was made before the Registrador Principal [Principal Registrar], entered in the protocol, and remitted to the Ejecutivo Nacional [National Executive] for publication in the Gaceta Oficial [Official Gazette] (Art. 9; cont. 1901, Art. 9: “The declaration of intention to be Venezuelan shall be made before the Principal Registrar.”). The duty of service, territorial equality of rights and duties, responsibility of foreigners who participated in political conflicts, exclusion of indemnification for acts not performed by legitimate authorities, and prohibition of treaties contrary to those principles persisted (Arts. 11–16; cf. 1901, Arts. 11–16: “All Venezuelans have the duty to serve the Nation”; “Foreigners, if they participate in political conflicts, shall be subject to the same responsibilities as Venezuelans.”).

RTS-GAR—Rights:

The Constitution guaranteed life and abolished capital punishment; protected property, correspondence, and the home; recognized personal liberty and freedom of thought, movement, industry, assembly, association, petition, suffrage, education, and religion; and established guarantees of individual security and equality (Art. 17; cf. 1901, Art. 17: “The Nation guarantees to Venezuelans the effective enjoyment of the following rights.”).

The reformulation was not merely verbal. In expression it removed the prohibition against detaining the accused before a final judgment. In movement it omitted the express freedom to depart from the Republic, return, and transport property. In individual security it eliminated, among other express guarantees, the prohibition against quartering soldiers in a home, the three-day limit on police detention, the particular regime governing detention for political causes and separation from persons accused or convicted of common crimes, the prohibition against a second trial for the same act, and the prohibition of torture (Art. 17, nos. 6, 7, and 14; cf. 1901, Art. 17, nos. 6, 7, and 14: “Arrests by the police [may not] exceed three days”; “Nor be tried a second time for the same act, nor subjected to any form of torture.”).

The enumeration did not restrict the States from recognizing additional rights (Art. 18; cont. 1901, Art. 18: “The preceding enumeration does not restrict the power of the States to grant other rights to their inhabitants.”). The rights could be suspended only in the cases and under the formalities governing the exceptional powers of the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] (Art. 19; cf. 1901, Arts. 19 and 89: “Those who, outside the case of Article 89, issue […] decrees […] that violate any of the rights […] are guilty.”). Officials who violated guarantees outside those cases incurred responsibility, and laws impairing the rights were to be declared unconstitutional (Arts. 20–21; cont. 1901, Arts. 19–20: “The rights […] shall not be impaired or injured by laws regulating their exercise.”).

REG-MIL—The Military:

The Fuerza Pública Nacional [National Public Force] was divided into naval and land forces and composed of the citizen militias. Each State furnished a contingent proportionate to its population, which could be increased in time of war (Arts. 107–109; cont. 1901, Arts. 120–122: “The National Public Force is divided into naval and land forces and shall be composed of the citizen militias”; “In time of war, the contingent may be increased.”).

Military and civil authority could not be exercised simultaneously by the same person or corporation, but the 1904 Constitution introduced the exception “in cases of disturbance of the public order.” (Art. 110; cf. 1901, Art. 123: “Military and civil authority shall never be exercised simultaneously by the same person or corporation.”).

All instruments of war belonged to the Nation (Art. 114; cf. 1901, Art. 126: “All instruments of war existing within the territory of the Republic upon the promulgation of this Constitution belong to the National Government.”). During elections, the national and state forces remained quartered (Art. 119; cont. 1901, Art. 132: “The national public force, or that of the States, shall remain quartered during the period of popular elections.”). The armed force could not deliberate; it was passive and obedient and could demand assistance only from the civil authorities according to law (Art. 122; cont. 1901, Art. 137: “The armed force cannot deliberate; it is passive and obedient.”).

REG-REL—Religion:

Libertad religiosa [freedom of religion] became subject to the laws and the “supreme supervision of the President of the Republic.” (Art. 17, no. 13; cf. 1901, Art. 17, no. 13: “Freedom of religion.”). The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] could prohibit and prevent the entry of foreigners specially devoted to the service of any cult or religion, regardless of their order or rank (Art. 80, no. 23; new).

The Nation retained the derecho de Patronato Eclesiástico [right of Ecclesiastical Patronage] and was to exercise it under the law of 28 July 1824 (Art. 111; cont. 1901, Art. 124: “The Nation, being in possession of the right of ecclesiastical patronage, shall exercise it as determined by the law of 28 July 1824.”).

ECO-INF—Infrastructure:

The States were required to cede to the Government of the Federation the territory necessary for forts, wharves, warehouses, shipyards, penitentiaries, and other works indispensable to the general administration (Art. 7, base 7; cf. 1901, Art. 6, base 8: “The territory necessary to erect forts, wharves, warehouses, construction shipyards, and other buildings indispensable to the General Administration,” without reference to penitentiaries). They reserved to the Poder Federal [Federal Power] legislative and executive jurisdiction over maritime, coastal, and river navigation, wharves, and national roads, and permitted restrictions only where navigation had required special works (Art. 7, base 9; cf. 1901, Art. 6, base 10: “All legislative and executive jurisdiction concerning maritime, coastal, and river navigation, wharves, and national roads.”).

The Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive] regulated the federal posts, telegraphs, and telephones; it could urgently create or suppress stations or offices and report to Congreso [Congress] at its next meeting (Art. 80, no. 17; cont. 1901, Art. 89, no. 13: “To regulate the Federal Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones.”). It issued navigation patents to national vessels (Art. 80, no. 19; cont. 1901, Art. 89, no. 2: “To issue navigation patents to national vessels.”). The States could not establish customs houses, for only national customs houses could exist (Art. 7, base 13; cont. 1901, Art. 6, base 14: “Not to establish Customs Houses for the collection of import duties, for there shall be only national ones.”).

CON-FIN—Final Provisions:

The Constitution retained the residual competence of the States but fixed three-year constitutional periods for their public powers beginning on 1 January 1905 (Art. 103; cf. 1901, Art. 115: “Everything not expressly assigned to the General Administration of the Nation […] belongs to the competence of the States.”). It prohibited every magistrate, authority, or corporation from exercising functions not expressly assigned by the Constitution and laws (Art. 104; cont. 1901, Art. 116: “Every Magistrate, authority, or corporation is prohibited from exercising any function not expressly assigned to it.”).

The general provisions regulated state judicial independence; nullity of acts injuring state autonomy; the public force; ecclesiastical patronage; federal officials resident within the States; instruments of war; official responsibility; budgetary appropriation; currency; separation of collection and payment; electoral quartering; international arbitration; incompatibilities; military discipline; oaths; public-interest contracts; the Derecho de Gentes [Law of Nations]; and arbitration of district boundaries (Arts. 105–126; cf. 1901, Arts. 117–140: “The Tribunals of Justice in the States are independent”; “No contract of public interest […] may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a foreign government”; “The Law of Nations supplements the national legislation.”).

Contracts of public interest could not be transferred, in whole or in part, to a foreign government. They were deemed to incorporate a clause submitting their controversies to Venezuelan tribunals and excluding foreign claims; corporations formed to perform them were required to be Venezuelan and legally domiciled in the country (Art. 124; cf. 1901, Art. 139: “They shall be decided by the competent Tribunals of Venezuela in conformity with its laws, and under no circumstance […] may they give rise to foreign claims.”).

The Derecho de Gentes [Law of Nations] formed part of national legislation but could not be invoked against the Constitution and laws (Art. 125; cf. 1901, Art. 140: “The Law of Nations supplements the national legislation; but it may never be invoked against the provisions of this Constitution and the individual rights it guarantees.”). The 1904 text omitted the express 1901 provisions concerning civil war, humanitarian practices, and legislative instructions for the Army.

The constitutional periods of the Poder Federal [Federal Power] lasted six years beginning on 23 May 1905. Upon the conclusion of each period on that date, the President ceased to exercise his functions and the Ministro de Relaciones Interiores [Minister of Interior Relations] assumed the Presidency for the transmission of power (Arts. 132–133; cf. 1901, Arts. 146–147: “The constitutional periods shall last six years, and the first shall begin to run on 20 February 1902”; “The President of the Federal Court […] shall enter upon the exercise of the Presidency of the Republic.”).

The Constitution retained the latest approved census as the population basis for the civil and political life of the States and the official dates of Independence and the Federation; ordered immediate promulgation following the Cúmplase [order of execution] of the Ejecutivo Federal [Federal Executive]; and repealed the Constitution of 29 March 1901 (Arts. 134–137; cf. 1901, Arts. 149–153: “The population basis shall be that determined by the latest Census of the Republic approved by Congress”; “The Constitution of 21 June 1893 is repealed.”).

• Source: original Castilian text of the 1904 Constitution, CIDEP recension: https://cidep.online/files/constituciones/1904.pdf

• Antecedent: original Castilian text of the 1901 Constitution, CIDEP recension: https://cidep.online/files/constituciones/1901.pdf

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Tags: Cipriano Castro, Constitution of 1901, Constitution of 1904, constitutional law, Electoral Body, Federal and Court of Cassation, Federal Executive, Ricardo F. Morin, Unmasking Disappointment, Venezuela

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