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Venezuela The Legislature
The constitution establishes a bicameral Congress,
comprising
a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Senators must be at
least
thirty years of age and deputies at least twenty-one. Both
must
be native-born Venezuelans. Each body is elected at the
same
time, with the same congressional ballot, every five
years. A
party list system of proportional representation is the
method of
selection for both chambers; voters, therefore, do not
cast
ballots for individual candidates. The only deviation in
the
selection of members lies in the fact that the Senate also
includes former presidents of the republic. The
traditional
provision of alternates (suplentes) allows persons
so
designated to hold the position to which a principal has
been
elected in the latter's absence.
Many felt that the most important unit within the
Congress
was the party caucus (fracción), made up of members
of a
party's elected delegation to either chamber. A chairman
chosen
by its members presided over the caucus. Chairmen were
effectively preselected by their party's national central
committee; balloting by the congressional delegations
merely
ratified the choice.
Revenue, budget, and taxation bills must originate in
the
lower house, which also has the authority to censure
ministers.
The upper house is responsible for the initiation of bills
relating to treaties and international agreements. The
Senate
also approves certain presidential appointments to
diplomatic
posts and the promotions of high-ranking military officers
(see
Uniforms, Ranks, and Insignia
, ch. 5).
The Venezuelan constitution provides for parliamentary
immunity, but this immunity may be revoked by a member's
chamber.
In 1963 the Supreme Court upheld the right of the
president to
ban political parties deemed subversive of democracy.
Congress,
however, has remained responsible for its own organization
and
regulation. Each chamber elects its own presiding officer.
The
president of the Senate serves as the president of
Congress; the
president of the Chamber of Deputies serves as the vice
president
of Congress.
The political significance of the Venezuelan Congress
has
increased throughout the post-1958 democratic era. The
staffs of
congressional committees handled a heavy legislative
workload.
Initially, each chamber had the same ten permanent
standing
committees, but in 1966 the Chamber of Deputies created
the
Committee on Fiscal Affairs. All other committees have
continued
as parallel structures in both houses of the Congress. Two
committees in each chamber deal with internal affairs and
foreign
relations, four committees with economic matters, and four
others
with service issues, such as education, tourism, and
defense.
The most important committee, however, is the Delegated
Committee. An interim body created by the 1961
constitution, it
includes the president and vice president of Congress and
twenty-one other members selected on the basis of party
representation in Congress. The delegated committee serves
during
those periods when Congress is adjourned; it exercises
oversight
functions and acts for Congress in its relations with the
executive. It may convene Congress in extraordinary
session if it
deems it necessary.
The legislature considers, debates, approves, rejects,
or
alters legislation. Congress also has the authority to
question
ministers and to have them explain adopted policies. It
can
censure executive personnel, with the exception of the
president.
Moreover, it can impeach the president by agreement
between the
Senate and the Supreme Court. This has not happened since
the
adoption of the 1961 constitution, however.
In practice, the legislature does not share equal
status with
the executive branch. The executive branch, not Congress,
introduces most significant legislation. In addition, in
certain
instances, bills may emanate from the Supreme Court; the
constitution also provides that a bill may be initiated
directly
by the petition of a minimum of 20,000 voters. The
president has
the authority to veto legislation, although Congress can
override
that veto. When a veto is overridden, the president may
ask
Congress to reconsider those parts of the bill he finds
objectionable.
Two senators are elected from each state and two from
the
federal district. Additional members, around five or so,
are
selected by a system of proportional representation that
ensures
minority parties a voice in the legislature. Former
presidents
may serve as senators for life, if they so desire. They
are
considered elder statesmen and are often consulted by
their
colleagues on matters of policy and political strategies.
All
other legislators are elected by universal suffrage for
five-year
terms concurrent with that of the president. Unlike the
president, legislators may be immediately reelected.
Data as of December 1990
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