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Venezuela Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela. By: Liz Cote. General Information. ~ Total area – 912,050 sq km ~ Natural resources – minerals -natural gas -diamonds ~ Exports – petroleum - steel - agricultural products ~ Terrain - Andes mountains
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VenezuelaRepublica Bolivariana de Venezuela By: Liz Cote
General Information ~ Total area – 912,050 sq km ~ Natural resources – minerals -natural gas -diamonds ~ Exports – petroleum - steel - agricultural products ~ Terrain - Andes mountains - Maracaibo lowlands - Central plains
People • Population – 26,023,528 • Life expectancy – 73.28 yrs • Religion – 96% Roman Catholic • Literacy – 93% • Unemployment rate – 8.9% • Population below poverty line – 37.9%
History and Founding Documents • Founded in 1567 • Won independence from Spain in 1821 • Joined Republic of Greater Colombia • Became a republic in 1830 • Constitution drafted in 1946 • Rewritten in 1961; July 1999
Past Structure/Distribution of Power • Early years defined by a time of unstable dictatorships and other structures: - caudillos ruled early Venezuela - Guzman Blanco (1870-1888) - Joaquin Crespo (1892-1899) - Cipriano Castro (1899-1908) - Juan Vicente Gomez (1908-1935)
Past Structure/Distribution of Power • Even after constitution drafted, Venezuela struggled (and still does) with dictatorships and anti-democratic sentiment: • Marcos Perez Jimenez (1952-1958) • Partido Comunista de Venezuela • Partido Unido Socialista de Venezuela
Changes to Constitution • Constitution rewritten in 1999 upon election of Chavez • Specific changes in constitution: -gender inclusion -state of law and justice -right to information -Social, educational, cultural, and economic rights -5 power system -6 year presidential term
Today’s Venezuelan Government • Federal republic • Five branches of government: - executive - legislative - judiciary - citizens -electoral • Elections- party lists are created with more prominent members at the top • Candidates elected on a proportional basis • Supervised and directed by the Supreme Electoral Council (Consejo Supremo Electoral-CSE)
Current Issues • Many fear Chavez’s rule becoming too much like a dictatorship • Protests by business and labor organizations • Ousted for two days • Recall referendum pursued • Clearly desires socialist state – “Socialism or death” – inauguration 2007
Current Issues • Weakening democracy • Drugs/drug related violence • Overdependence on petroleum • Irresponsible operations endangering environment -pollution of Lago de Valencia, Lago de Maracaibo -urban/industrial pollution -hazardous waste -destruction of wetlands and tropical forests
Sources • http://venezuelanalysis.com/basicfacts • http://countrystudies.us/venezuela/44.htm • http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/70 • https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html • http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108140.html