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Latin American Political Systems: Understanding Executive Dominance and Constitutional Structures

Explore the historical evolution of executive power in Latin American political systems, from caudillos to modern presidencies. Understand the impact of strong executives, limitations on reelection, and shifts in constitutional structures. Delve into the dynamics of legislative bodies, judiciary systems, and the balance of powers at state and local levels.

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Latin American Political Systems: Understanding Executive Dominance and Constitutional Structures

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  1. NATIONAL POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS,

  2. Constitutions and Formal Structures of Government • Traditional tripartite division of power: Executive • Strong executives go back to role of Spanish/Portuguese kinds during the reconquest • Center of governmental power since independence in Latin American states • President/dictators tendeded to remain in office for decades in the first century after independence • Nation building • Violence • Monarchical tradition

  3. Latin American Political Systems Historically Favor Executive Power • Spain and the adelantados • Tentativeness of imperial power on the large estates • Destruction of central authority in the independence struggle CAUDILLOS Gen. Manuel Rosas (Argentina)

  4. More on Executive Dominance • Longevity in power was accompanied by • human rights abuses • Development of cult of personality • Denigration of rules, procedures and the law

  5. Longevity of personalistic presidencies spawns limits on reelection in Second Wave Democracies • Diaz in Mexico (1877-1910) • Juan Vicente Gomez in Venezuela (1907 – 1935) • Trujillo in the Dominican Republic (1932-1961) Rafael Trujillo (Dominican Republic)

  6. PresidentialismPredominates in the Third Wave but: • Limits on reelection dissipate • One additional presidential term becoming more common in “Third Wave” democracies • Presidential dictators appear in the twenty-first century?

  7. Constitutions and Formal Structures of Government • More on the executive • Multiple executive a failure (Uruguay) • Some experimentation with parliamentary system • Brazil (1961-63) • Peru – prime minister assists the president in administering the bureaucracy • Vice presidents • viewed with suspicion • Sometimes bypassed when presidency becomes vacant

  8. Constitutions and Formal Structures of Government • Traditional tripartite division of power • Bicameral most common • States and regions represented in upper chamber • Population based lower chambers Legislative Argentine National Congress

  9. Constitutions and Formal Structures of Government • Common in smaller and centralized states • Questioning of the utility of upper chamber in Venezuelan constitution of 1999 UNICAMERAL El Salvador: Legislative Assembly

  10. Strengthening the Legislative Institution • Generally subservient to the executive • Tradition of executive dominance • Personalism is culturally valued • Patronage tends to flow from the executive • Party discipline of individual legislators • Efforts to increase autonomy/power of legislature • Brazil 1992 • Venezuela 1993

  11. Constitutions and Formal Structures of Government • National court system • Most law based on code model (Roman law modified by Napoleon) • Dependent on executive whim in traditional dictatorships • Special courts • Military (fuero) • Labor) • State courts – traditionally tied to local political structure • Municipal courts – relatively minor importance • Traffic violations • Enforcement of zoning JUDICIARY Brasilia: Supreme Court of Brazil

  12. Checks and Balances: Judiciary • Justices named for a fixed term • Writs of AMPARO

  13. Beyond the Tripartite Division of Constitutional Powers • People’s Power (ombudsman function) • Electoral Power • National Electoral Council named through political interaction involving national executive, legislature and political parties • Regional or state electoral councils report to National Electoral Council

  14. Autonomy of State & Local Governments • Characteristic of larger countries • Provides some independence for regional leaders • Local culture and customs have more influence • Often violated in practice Federalism Boundaries and powers of regional governments laid out in constitution

  15. Centralism remains a powerful force • Regional governments function as administrative subdivisions of the national government • Characteristic of small countries • Local culture and customs less given less importance El Salvador Unitary state organization Regional governments administrative subdivisions of national government

  16. Checks and Balances: State & Local Governments • Decentralization currently in vogue • More participation • More efficiency in resource allocation • Strong resistance continues • Opposition to decentralization remains deep-seated • Castro in Cuba • Chavez in Venezuela

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