File No. 831.011.

Minister McGoodwin to the Secretary of State.

[Extract]
No. 184.]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a translation in duplicate of the recently enacted Constitution of Venezuela.1 Most of the States have formally ratified the same and final action will have to be taken by the remaining States within the next few days.

There are several changes, more or less significant, from the Constitution of 1909, as well as from the provisory constitutional statute of April, 1914. The most noteworthy of these are the following:

1.
Establishing the presidential term (to begin April 19, 1915) at seven years—formerly four years.
2.
Eliminating the prohibition of the incumbent’s reelection at the expiration of the term.
3.
Abolition of the Council of Government.
4.
Abolition of the office of Vice President, as fixed by the statute of April 19, 1914.
5.
Authorizing the President to appoint any Cabinet Minister to act temporarily in his office, in case of his absence or disability.
6.
Reinvesting the President with the right to command the armed forces of the nation. This authority was taken from him and vested in the “Commander-in-Chief” of the army, by the statute of April 19, 1914.
7.
Fixing the terms of office of members of Congress, the Attorney General and State officers (see Article 105) at three years. Members of Congress formerly held office four years.

I have [etc.]

Preston McGoodwin
.
  1. Not printed.