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Venezuela

Origin

The Venezuelan man has a existed for approximately 15 centuries, since the history of Venezuela does not begin with the arrival of Christopher Columbus’ ships, but with the settlement of the so-called Homo Venezuelanensis, that evolved slowly in the early years, and then greatly and definitively, joining into progress and into western civilization, based on miscegenation. The Venezuelan man, just as he breathes, lives, feels and acts today, has been taking shape since the 16th century. People from this century, with the development of the political, economic, administrative and cultural institutions transplanted from Spain, and with the application, in a certain way, of the Illustration, prepared the 19th-century men and women, which could rightly be called the “Golden Age” of Venezuela’s history. August 3, 1498 Christopher Columbus discovered the Venezuelan mainland by the coast of Paria, which he called “Land of Grace.” Cubagua was the first historical center where the Spaniards integrated into the physical, hostile and sterile environment, with no water for human consumption but with the attractiveness of the extremely rich areas where oysters that produced the most beautiful pearls were plentiful.


Constitution

Venezuela is a federal republic governed under the Constitution adopted in 1961.


Government

The executive power. Venezuela’s maximum executive power is vested in the president, who is elected by universal vote for a five-year term, which cannot be exercised for two consecutive terms. A Council of Ministers supports the action of the president's government. The legislative power in Venezuela is in the National Congress, made up of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is made up of 52 popularly elected members, as well as by the country’s former presidents, and the Chamber of Deputies currently has 207 members named by the people. All the elected members remain in office for 5-year terms. All the citizens over 18 years of age are entitled to vote. Venezuela’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Justice, formed by 15 judges elected by the National Congress for nine-year terms. Each of the country’s states has a Superior Court, as well as several lower tribunals. Each federal state has a legislative assembly and a governor. Since December 1989, governors are democratically elected, with the exception of the Federal District, whose governor is designated by the president of the Republic. Also, the concept of mayor was created to be the ruler of the municipal entity, and also elected by universal suffrage. In Venezuela’s current territory, the first valid –though ephemeral—government was Coquibacoa, which was granted to Alonso de Ojeda (June 10, 1501). It covered from the tip of Cabo de la Vela (today in Colombia) to the end of Chichiriviche. Ojeda founded May 3, 1502 the city of Santa Cruz.


General History

Venezuela is more than the Venice of America, not only for its location in the Caribbean Atlantic and closeness to the Andean mountain system, but also for being a geographical mosaic of beautiful diversity spread out through federal states and its rivers, irregular coasts, flora, fauna, economy and its heterogeneous population. This is the land of Araucan, Teques and Caracas aborigines. Traveling across Venezuela imposes the pleasure of its coasts, mountain ranges, plains and beaches. Margarita Island located in Nueva Esparta State is a marvelous place you will enjoy. Liberator Simón Bolívar's historical places will be obliged places to visit with their museums, monuments and old cities full of history. Several archipielagos and a petroliferous subsoil that provided the country with a strong economy created the necessary conditions for you to choose your tourist destination and discover its attractions during your stay. If you are looking forward to enjoying South America' s beat, do not hesitate, Venezuela is your choice.