Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution: 23 January 1961
Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999);
note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of
vote—NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or
Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats,
two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each of
the retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6);
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate—last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA
December 2003); Chamber of Deputies—last held 6 December 1998 (next
to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by
party—AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,
independents 5; note—two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)
hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by
party—AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,
Causa R 19.3%; seats by party—AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,
National Convergence 18, other 23
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session
for a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years
Political parties and leaders: National Convergence or
Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general];
ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS
Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a
conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or
CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
groups