1. VENEZUELAN COMMUNAL COUNCILS

2. Presentation Outline ●History ●Structure ●Funding ●Influence ●Criticism ●Questions

3. What is a Comuna? ●A system in which a country or city is separated into districts ●Can create decentralization ●Often associated with Socialism ●Also known as “Communes”

4. Countries That Have Implemented Comunas ●Cuba ●France ●Argentina ●The Soviet Union ●Venezuela

5. History of Communal Councils in Venezuela ●Process to decentralize some governmental powers in 1980s ○ local governments gained more power ○ Chavez elected president in 1998 and continued decentralization ■ proposed concept of transferring power to popular movements rather than local government

6. History Continued ●Bolivarian Circles formed ○ closely linked the government ○ Circles were succeeded by Electoral Battle Units (UBEs), which mobilized the pro- Chavez vote for elections ■ done at Chavez’s behest

7. History Continued ●Article 182 of the Constitution established the Law of Local Public Planification Councils (CLPP’s) ○ gave people the ability to collaborate at the city level to address local problems ● 2005: most of the CLPP’s had become stifled by bureaucracy and dominated by politicians

8. History Continued ●Venezuelan government passed the Law on Communal Councils in April 2006 ●Called for the councils to decide their own geographic limits, but also follow a strict set of guidelines ●Goal was to expand political participation

9. Structure Group of elected people from a self- defined residential neighborhood — Principal decision making body: Citizens’ assembly

10. — 5 unites:  Citizens’ Assembly  Executive Body  Financial Management  Unit of Social Oversight (Anti-corruption)  Community Coordination Collective — All council members are elected by the citizens’ assembly for a period of 2 years Structure

11. Citizens’ Assembly + 15 —Power to elect and revoke community spokespeople to the communal council Assembly elections are done directly (i.e. proxy votes are not accepted) and in secret —Other decisions: majority of raised hands —Meetings: 2-6 hour public events often held outdoors in the streets —Attendance from the community —Frequency of assemblies also vary from weekly to once a month

12. Executive Body Consists of spokesperson from; o — each work committee or community organization o — each of any defined micro-neighborhoods o — any formed commissions Work committees and community organizations that may be represented o — Land committees – Health committees – Cultural groups – Sports clubs –Water boards – Energy boards –Transportation organizations – Environmental groups

14. Financial Management Unit — 5 community members — Responsible for administrating financial and non-financial resource generated, allocated, or awarded to the council — Promotes the creation of cooperatives for local development projects Supports local economies, micro-financing, and provides social assistance

15. Unit of Social Oversight (Anti Corruption) 5 community members — Monitors and reports on the application of council resources and activities towards the community development plan

16. Community Coordination Collective — Made up of the community organization — Informs and trains community members — Coordinates with the local community-based “militia,” or army reserves

17. Funding Councils apply separately for funds Funding: - National, state, or city governments - Also own funds and donations

18. Management of Funds Financial Management Unit - Five leaders; Elected by citizens assembly Unit of Social Oversight - Five leaders; Elected by citizens assembly Increases in funding Communal banks

19. Comparisons Tribal or community meeting Town meeting attributes Blend of different ideologies

20. Current Situation Formation of new councils 19,500 Councils (March 2007) Majority of groups establishing legitimacy

21. Future and Criticism Chavez’s political control - Advantage gained - Opposition to Political identity

22. Questions Are Venezuelan Communal Councils an extention of central power or an explosion of popular power? Do you think there is a better system to use in Venezuela other than communal councils? Will communal councils be as important in the future as they are now?