 Government and
Foreign Relations |
| GOVERNMENT |
Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial reviewcial 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); the President is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999).
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 Convergencia [Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, President, Juan Jose CALDERA, national coordinator]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Luis HERRERA Campins, President, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general]; Democratic Action or AD [David MORALES Bello, President, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Felipe MUJICA, President, and Leopoldo PUCHI, secretary general]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Lucas MATHEUS, secretary general]; Homeland for All or PPT [Alexis ROSAS, director]
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
| | FOREIGN RELATIONS |
Venezuela traditionally has said that its international conduct will be governed by:
Respect for human rights;
The right of all people to self-determination;
Non-intervention in the internal affairs of other nations;
Peaceful settlement of disputes between nations, including border disputes;
The right of all people to peace and security; and
Support for democracy.
The Chavez government has made hemispheric cooperation and integration its foreign policy priorities. Venezuela worked closely with its neighbors following the Summit of the Americas in many areas, particularly energy integration, and championed the OAS decision to adopt an Anti-Corruption Convention. Venezuela also participates in the UN Friends groups for Haiti, El Salvador, and Guatemala. It is pursuing efforts to join the Mercosur trade bloc to expand the hemisphere's trade integration prospects.
Venezuela has long-standing border disputes with Colombia and Guyana but seeks to resolve them peacefully. Bilateral commissions have been established by Venezuela and Colombia to address a range of pending issues, including resolution of the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Venezuela. Relations with Guyana are complicated by Venezuela's claim to more than half of Guyana's territory. Since 1987, the two countries have held exchanges on the boundary under the "good offices" of the United Nations.
 U.S.-VENEZUELAN RELATIONS |
U.S. relations with Venezuela are close and we share a strong mutual commitment to democracy. Venezuela is the number-one supplier of foreign oil to the U.S. market, and U.S.-Venezuelan commercial ties are close. Major U.S. interests in Venezuela include promotion of U.S. exports and protection of U.S. investment; continuation of the economic reform program; preservation of Venezuela's constitutional democracy; closer counter narcotics cooperation; and continued access to a leading source of petroleum. Underscoring the importance of this bilateral relationship, President Clinton's October 1997 visit launched a "Partnership for the 21st Century" to promote common solutions for energy development, trade and investment, and protection of the environment, as well as a strategic alliance against crime and drug trafficking.
The United States is Venezuela's most important trading partner, representing approximately half of both imports and exports. In turn, Venezuela is our third-largest export market in Latin America, purchasing U.S. machinery, transportation equipment, agricultural commodities, and auto parts. Venezuela's opening of its petroleum sector to foreign investment in 1996 created extensive trade and investment opportunities for U.S. companies. New legislation is expected to open up investment opportunities in natural gas and mining. The Department of State is committed to promoting the interests of U.S. companies in overseas markets. For contact information and a list of government publications, please refer to the last page of this document.
Venezuela is a minor source country for opium poppy and coca but a major transit country for cocaine and heroin. Money laundering and judicial corruption are major concerns. The United States is working with Venezuela to combat drug trafficking. In FY 2000, the United States is planning $700,000 for counter narcotics assistance and about $400,000 for Venezuelan participants in the International Military Education and Training program. There is no USAID or Peace Corps mission in Venezuela.
Approximately 23,000 U.S. citizens living in Venezuela have registered with the U.S. Embassy, an estimated three-quarters of them residing in the Caracas area. An estimated 12,000 U.S. tourists visit Venezuela annually. About 500 U.S. companies are represented in the country. |
