Editor's Comment: Venezuela's National Assembly passed extraordinary new labor laws in support of workers on April 30, 2012. In a time when workers have had their rights stripped away and capitalist economies are collapsing throughout the United States and Europe, the Venezuelan government has managed to keep its economy thriving... » read this article

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was drafted in mid-1999 by a constitutional assembly that was created by popular referendum. This 1999 Constitution was adopted in December 1999, replacing the 1961 Constitution. It was primarily promoted by the current President... » read this article

Title I: Fundamental Principles (Art. 1-9) Article 1: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is irrevocably free and independent, basing its moral property and values of freedom, equality, justice and international peace on the doctrine of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator. Independence, liberty, sovereignty, immunity, territorial integrity and national self-determination are unrenounceable... » read this article

Title II: Geographical spaces and political division (Art. 10-18) Chapter I: Territory and Other Geographical Spaces Article 10: The territory and other geographical spaces of the Republic are those which belonged to the Captaincy-General of Venezuela before the political transformation begun on April 19, 1810, as amended by virtue of... » read this article

Title III: Duties, human rights, and guarantees (Art. 19-135) Chapter I: General Provisions Article 19: The State shall guarantee to every individual, in accordance with the progressive principle and without discrimination of any kind, not renounceable, indivisible and interdependent enjoyment and exercise of human rights. Respect for and the guaranteeing... » read this article

Title IV: Public power (Art. 136-185) Chapter I: Fundamental Provisions Section One: General Provisions Article 136: Public Power is distributed among Municipal Power, that of the States Power and National Power. National Public Power is divided into Legislative, Executive, Judicial, Citizen and Electoral. Each of the branches of Public Power... » read this article

Title V: Organization of national public authority (Art. 186-298) Chapter 1: National Legislative Power Section One: General Provisions Article 186: The National Assembly shall consist of Deputies elected in each of the federal entities by universal, direct, personalized and secret ballot with proportional representation, using a constituency base of 1.... » read this article

Title VI: Socioeconomic system (Art. 299-321) Chapter I: Socioeconomic Order and the Function of the State in the Economy Article 299: The economic regime of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is based on the principles of social justice, democratization, efficiency, free competition, protection of the environment, productivity and solidarity, with... » read this article

Title VII: National security (Art. 322-332) Chapter I: General Provisions Article 322: National security is an essential competence and responsibility of the State, based on the overall development of the latter, and its defense is the responsibility of all Venezuelans, as well as of all public and private law natural... » read this article

Title VIII: Protection of the constitution (Art. 333-339) Chapter I: Guarantee of the Constitution Article 333: This Constitution shall not cease to be in effect if it ceases to be observed due to acts of force or because or repeal in any manner other than as provided for herein. In... » read this article

Title IX: Constitutional reforms (Art. 340-350) Chapter I: Amendments Article 340: The purpose of an amendment is to add to or modify one or more articles of the Constitution, without altering the fundamental structure of the same. Article 341: The procedure for adopting amendments to the Constitution shall be as... » read this article