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| National Congress of Venezuela | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Congress of Venezuela |
| Native name | Congreso Nacional de Venezuela |
| Legislature | 1973–1999 |
| House type | Bicameral |
| Established | 1811 (earliest antecedents); reconstituted post-1958; 1973–1999 (modern period) |
| Disbanded | 1999 (replaced by National Assembly) |
| Leader1 type | President of the Senate |
| Leader2 type | Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies |
| Meeting place | Federal Legislative Palace, Caracas |
National Congress of Venezuela was the bicameral legislature of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela during most of the 20th century and the 1973–1999 period prior to the 1999 constitutional reform. It comprised a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies and served as the principal lawmaking body interacting with presidents such as Rómulo Betancourt, Carlos Andrés Pérez, Rafael Caldera, Hugo Chávez, and institutions including the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela), Electoral Chamber (CNE), and the Venezuelan Armed Forces.
The origins trace to the 1811 First Republic of Venezuela and later legislative assemblies of the United States of Venezuela and the Second Republic of Venezuela, evolving through the Federal War (Venezuela), the Guzmán Blanco era, and the 20th-century transitions after the fall of Juan Vicente Gómez. Reforms in the 1958 Puntofijo Pact era, influenced by leaders like Rómulo Betancourt and political parties such as Democratic Action (Venezuela) and the Social Christian Party (Copei), stabilized bicameral practice. The legislature endured crises during the 1989 Caracazo, the 1992 coup attempts linked to Hugo Chávez and Francisco Arias Cárdenas, and the impeachment debates of presidents including Carlos Andrés Pérez. The 1999 Venezuelan constitutional referendum, 1999 convened a Constituent Assembly of Venezuela (1999) that drafted a new constitution and replaced the Congress with a unicameral National Assembly (Venezuela), concluding the Congress's formal role.
The Congress consisted of a Senate (upper chamber) and a Chamber of Deputies (lower chamber). Senators represented federal entities such as Federal District (Venezuela), Zulia, Carabobo, Miranda, and Anzoátegui with additional ex officio or presidentially appointed seats under certain eras. Deputies represented municipalities and electoral districts including constituencies in Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, and Barquisimeto. Leadership posts included the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, roles occupied historically by figures affiliated with Acción Democrática, COPEI, Movimiento al Socialismo, and later movements connected to Movimiento Quinta República (MVR). Committees mirrored legislative functions and included commissions on finance interacting with institutions like the Central Bank of Venezuela, the Ministry of Interior and Justice (Venezuela), and the Ministry of Defence (Venezuela).
Constitutional powers derived from statutes and constitutional texts such as the 1961 Constitution and amendments addressed foreign policy, budgets, and oversight of executive acts. The Congress approved national budgets drafted by the Ministry of Finance (Venezuela), ratified treaties including agreements with Cuba–Venezuela relations and international organizations like the Organization of American States, and confirmed appointments to bodies akin to the Supreme Court of Justice. It exercised impeachment and oversight over presidents, ministers, and military commanders tied to events involving the National Guard (Venezuela) and situations like the 1992 coups. Legislative oversight interacted with the Comptroller General of the Republic, the Attorney General (Venezuela), and subnational governors such as those of Zulia and Táchira.
Members were elected under electoral systems regulated by institutions such as the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE). The Chamber of Deputies used proportional representation and district lists in urban districts including Caracas and Maracaibo, while senatorial representation blended regional allotments for states like Anzoátegui and popular vote formulas influenced by reforms in the 1960s and 1980s. Electoral controversies involved disputes over apportionment and allegations involving parties such as Acción Democrática, COPEI, Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Convergencia (Venezuela), and later Movimiento V República (MVR). Voter registration, turnout, and fraud allegations were litigated before entities including the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela) and international observers from the OAS.
Congress hosted major parties including Acción Democrática (AD), COPEI, Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Convergencia and later Movimiento Quinta República (MVR), along with smaller groups like Movimiento Ecológico, regional caucuses from Amazonas, and independent deputies representing interests such as petroleum workers at PDVSA and labor unions like the Confederación de Trabajadores de Venezuela (CTV). Factionalism reflected national debates on oil policy involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., social policy influenced by Catholic actors linked to Cardinal José Alí Lebrún Moratinos, and alliances that shifted during crises like the 1992 coup attempts and the 1998 presidential election that brought Hugo Chávez to prominence.
Bills were introduced by deputies, senators, the president, and constitutional initiatives from bodies such as the Constituent Assembly of 1999. Committees processed legislation in areas overseen by ministries like the Ministry of Health (Venezuela), the Ministry of Education (Venezuela), and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (Venezuela). Passage required readings, debates, and votes with procedures codified in standing orders; constitutional reform routes invoked mechanisms similar to those used during the 1961 Constitution amendments. Sessions occurred in plenary at the Federal Legislative Palace, and legislative records documented interactions with foreign delegations from countries such as Cuba, Colombia, United States, and multilateral bodies like the UN.
The Congress sat primarily in the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas, an architectural work associated with urban developments near Plaza Bolívar (Caracas), the Miraflores Palace executive complex, and civic landmarks including the National Pantheon of Venezuela. Ancillary facilities housed archives, legislative libraries, and offices that engaged with institutions like the Archivo General de la Nación (Venezuela), the Biblioteca Nacional de Venezuela, and the Museo de Bellas Artes (Caracas). Security coordination involved the Metropolitan Police (Caracas) and contingencies during the 1992 coup attempts and the 1989 Caracazo disturbances.