Venir de… : Introduction

National Assembly Building, Caracas, Venezuela

El Capitolio Nacional, is the home to Venezuela’s National Assembly or Legislative branch. Built in 1874, the building originally held the legislative and federal branches of government before the reorganization in 1999. The National Assembly meets here, and the Act of Independence, signed in 1811, is on display in this historic building.

Venezuela has a democratic government that is established by a constitution. In 1999, the constitution was revised and ratified by popular vote. This revision created a Venezuelan Government that is divided into 5 branches, Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Citizen, and Electoral. The head of the government is the President who is elected to 6 year terms. Only the President and the Legislative branch are elected by popular vote. Suffrage in Venezuela is universal to any citizen 18 years or older.