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URUGUAY.
(Rkpublica Oriental dil Urcgtat. |
Constitution and Government.
The Republic of Uruguay, formerly a part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, and subsequently a province of Brazil, declared it;- independence August 25, 1825, which was recognised by the Treaty of Montevideo, signed August 27, 1828. The Constitution of the Republic was last amended on January 3, 1918, and came into force on March 1, 1919. The franchise is universal for males over 18 years of age ; voting is secret, and the principle of proportional representation operates. The legislative power is vested in a Parliament of two Houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, which meet in annual session, extending from March 15 to December 15. In the interval of the session, a permanent committee of two senators and five members of the Lower House assumes the control of the executive power. The representatives are chosen for three years, in the proportion of 1 to every 12,000 inhabitants of male adults who can read and write. The senators are chosen by an Electoral College, whose members are directly elected by the people ; there is one senator for each department, chosen for six years, one- third retiring every two years. There are 90 representatives and 19 senators.
The executive is divided between the President of the Republic and a National Administrative Council. The President is elected for four years by the direct vote of the people, and may be re-elected after au interval of 8 years since his last holding office. The National Administrative Council consists of nine members, six of the majority party, and three of the largest minority ; three retiring every two years. The election is by direct popular vote. The President appoints the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of War and Marine, and of the Interior, and has supreme control of these departments. The other ministers — of Finance, Public Works, Industry and Education — are appointed by the Council, which is the controlling power of these departments. The President receives a salary of 24,000 pesos per annum.
President of the Republic. — Dr. Baltasar Brum (March 1, 1919, to February 28, 1923).
President of the Administrative Council. — Dr. Feliciano Viera.
Area and Population.
The following table shows the area and the estimated population of the departments (capitals in brackets) on December 31, 1919 : —
Departments
Area, square miles
Population Dee. 1919
Pop. per square mile
Artigas (Artigas)
4,394
39,660
8-6
Canelones (Guadalupe)
1,834
119,634
63-1
Cerro- Largo (Melo) .
5,763
B9,SM
9-9
Colonia (Colonia)
2,193
87,974
87-0
Durazno (Durazno) .
5,525
57,219
9-9
Flores (Trinidad)
1,744
24,284
13-3
Florida (Florida)
4,673
64,203
181
Maldonado (Maldonado)
1,587
41,885
26-:
Minas (Minas) ....
4,819
68,858
13-y
Montevideo ....
387,890
1.4S04
Paysandu (Paysandii)
5.115
73,511
13-4
Rio Negro (Fray Bentos)
8,269
37,840
111
Rivera (Rivera) .
3,793
47,156
12 tl
Rocha(Rocha)
4,280
48,796
1*8 4 ■
