Venezuela's constitution of 1909 declared that the republic be composed of 20 states, 2 territories, and a federal district. These states made provisions regarding their boundaries and territo- rial divisions by laws passed prior to March 16 1912. In Oct. 1912, the Federal district was made up of two departments, Libertador and Vargas, which were subdivided into 20 parishes or municipalities. The states had been divided into 147 districts and these subdivided into 597 municipalities. The territories had been organized into 10 municipalities. The Venezuelan consti- tution of 1914 allowed the main territorial divisions to remain as they were when established under the constitution of 1909. On June 14 1916, Congress enacted an organic law for the Gov- ernment of the Federal territory of Delta Amacuro, which di- vided it into four municipalities and vested its government in the president of Venezuela according to certain prescriptions.
Communications. Twelve railroads of some importance were operating in Venezuela in 1920 with a total mileage of about 600 m., and an invested capital of some 200,000,000 bolivares. Steamships plied up the Orinoco river to Ciudad Bolivar and thence to ports in the interior. Some ocean vessels entered Lake Maracaibo. La Gua- jra and Puerto Cabellp were ports of call for important American and European steamship lines. During the rule of President Gomez, beginning in 1908, considerable attention was given to interior com- munications. Shortly after becoming president he conceived the idea that the construction, improvement, and repair of important Venezuelan roads was a most urgent public work. From Dec. 1908 to Dec. 1913, the construction or repair of several highways was undertaken by the national Government. Among these were the roads from La Guaira to Caracas, from Caracas to Guatire, and from Rubio to Uraca, which was macadamized. In some years the ex- penses for highway construction and maintenance constituted the major portion of the expenditures of the Department of Public Works. Plans were made for a comprehensive system of roads. On Aug. II 1916, a presidential decree provided for the construction of the great western highway from Caracas to San Cristobal through the states of Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes, Portugesa, Zamora, and Tachira. On Dec. 19 1915, another decree provided for the construction of the great eastern highway from Caracas through the states of Miranda, Anzoategui, and Bolivar to the interior of Guiana.
Foreign Commerce. According to official statistics in 1913 the total imports of Venezuela amounted to 93,420,225.90 bolivares. (Nominal value $ . 193 or 9-4d.) The imports from the leading coun- tries were as follows: 35,979,980.03 bolivares from the United States; 22,260,593.57 from the British Empire; 13,404,073.91 from Germany; 8,218,689.19 from Holland; 5,666,611.43 from France; 3,744,276.53 from Spain; 2,878,928.50 from Italy; 1,184,266.30 from Belgium; and 66,575.84 from Colombia. In 1913 the total exports of Venezuela amounted to 152,765,749.04 bolivares. The countries taking the largest shares were: France, 51,751,523.27 bolivares; the United States, 43,914,670.33; Germany, 28,827,814.24; England, 11,394,058.90; Holland, 3,675,353.30; Colombia 2,151,434; Austria- Hungary, 2,051,273 and Italy, 1,308,325. According to statistics compiled by the Pan-American Union, the chief imports into Venezuela in 1918, exclusive of parcel post shipments, were as follows: cotton textiles, 16,709,753 bolivares; drugs and medicines, 4,242,157; machinery, 3,190,315; flour, 3,039,409; automobiles and accessories, 1,562,495; leather and leather goods, 1,135,198; paraffin, 1,625,949 ; wines, 1,303,388 ; stearin, 975,865 ; and soda, 921,384. The total imports in 1918, according to official statistics, amounted to 77,244,950.23 bolivares. Imports from the chief countries were as follows: United States, 46,564,983.71 bolivares; England, 22,396,- 903.23; Colombia, 2,264,753.23; Spain, 2,240,538.71; France, 1,770,- 621.41; Italy, 920,720.50 and Holland, 759,104.55. The chief articles exported in 1918, according to figures compiled by the Pan- American Union, were as follows: coffee, 38,568,176 bolivares; cacao, 19,798,054; rubber, 6,947,320; sugar, 5,481,139; corn, 3,987,698; cattle and hides, 3,249,060; tobacco, 3,179,902; gold, 2,348,914; frozen beef, 2,545,935; asphalt, 1,560,193; and petroleum, 1,041,742. According to official statistics, the total exports of Venezuela in 1918 came to 102,659,153.74 bolivares. The countries taking the largest quota were: United States, 46,382,272.70 boli- vares; Holland, 17,640,887.74; England, 17,098,261.82; France, 10,068,966.33; Spain, 8,913,919.10; Italy, 1,142,422; Cuba, 719,151.- 05; and Colombia, 612,203. During the World War the trade of Venezuela with the Central Empires altogether ceased, while her commerce with the Allies and with neutral Powers much increased, the United States securing a large part of the trade.
Government. On May 18 1914, a Congress of Deputies from the Venezuelan states adopted a new constitution for their union. That constitution declared that the Venezuelan states recipro- cally recognized their autonomy and equality, and that they retained all sovereignty which was not delegated to the central Government by the constitution. The states agreed to promul-
gate constitutions that would harmonize with the fundamental law and agreed to see that the national constitution, laws, and orders were obeyed. Early in June assemblies at the capitals of the respective states ratified the new form of Government, which was accordingly proclaimed in force June 13 1914. This con- stitution provided that the right of suffrage was to be exercised by male citizens 21 years of age or over. Foreigners who took part in political controversies (contiendas) could be arrested, confined, or expelled by order of the president. Executive power was vested in a president and a cabinet of ministers appointed by him. The president was to be elected for a seven-year term by the secret vote of Congress. During the temporary absence of the president from the capital his functions were to be exercised by a minister whom he designated. Among the extensive powers vested in the chief executive were the following: to administer the Federal district and the two Federal territories; to issue decrees and regulations for the better execution of the laws; to negotiate loans as provided by Congress; to grant certificates of naturalization; to appoint national officials whose appointment was not otherwise provided for; to convoke an extraordinary session of Congress; to declare war when authorized by Congress; to negotiate treaties with foreign nations; and to proclaim martial law throughout the republic. Article 137 of the constitution stipulated that the provisional president and vice-presidents of the republic should hold office until the new constitutional functionaries were inaugurated. Article 138 stipulated that the commander-in-chief of the national army should exercise his functions until the inauguration of the constitutional president of the republic. Legislative authority was granted to a Congress composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The Senate was to be composed of two Senators from each state chosen by its Legislative Assembly for three years. The Chamber of Deputies was to be composed of members chosen from every state and from the Federal district by popular vote for three years at the ratio of one deputy to every 35,000 inhabitants. Congress was to meet annually on April 19 at the capital for a session of 70 days. Judicial authority was vested in a Supreme Court designated the Corle Federal y de Casacion and in other tribunals established by law. The Federal Supreme Court was to be composed of seven judges who were to be elected by Congress for a term of seven years. Clauses defining powers of this court provided that it should take cognizance of accusations against the president and other high officials. It was given jurisdiction over cases involv- ing claims against the nation, cases relating to foreign diplomatic agents in Venezuela, cases arising from contracts made by the president, and cases involving conflicts between laws or decrees. State or Federal.
Army and Navy. In 1912 Venezuela purchased a vessel of about 1,000 tons from the United States, which was re-christened the " Mariscal Sucre " and made the flagship of the navy. About 1915 the Venezuelan navy was composed of two cruisers, three gunboats and two transports with a personnel of a few hundred men. The standing army was composed of some 9,000 infantry, artillery and cavalry. In addition there was a reserve which was estimated to consist of about 100,000 men. By a law published in June 1919, military service was made compulsory for all adult male citizens, with certain exceptions. Every man was obliged to serve in the army or navy for two years in peace-time and during war at the president's pleasure. Until they became 45 years of age those soldiers were to compose part of the reserve. A decree of April 17 1920 provided for a military aviation school at Maracay.
Education. According to the official year book for 1912 there were in that year in the republic 1,408 elementary schools attended by 45,515 children. There were in attendance at 52 graded schools 4,853 pupils. On Dec. 19 1914 a fundamental law concerning educa- tion was enacted. This law provided that primary instruction should be compulsory and free for all children from 7 to 14 years of age. Secondary education, furnished in lyceos and colegios, should comprehend two successive courses: one of a general character, and another of a special type giving training in philosophy and letters, in physical and natural science, or in physical and mathematical science. A decree of March 1915 provided that the national Govern- ment should maintain a school of fine arts, furnishing instruction in music, declamation and the plastic arts; commercial schools at Caracas, Maracaibo, and Ciudad Bolfvar; a school of arts and crafts for males and another for females; and a training school for nurses. In 1916 decrees were issued which founded at-Caracas a number of institutions for higher education, such as a school of political
