Brazil vs. Venezuela

 A form of government in which the national and state governments share powers.  EX: United States

 Colonized by Portuguese  Language: Portuguese  Religion: Catholic  Federal Republic

 Rebellions, military dictatorships, and attempts by communists and other groups to control the government continued well into the 1970’s.  Brazil slowly restored civilian rule to the country by introducing a constitution and a government that better represented the interests of the citizens of this diverse country.  Today Brazil is a federal republic.

 President serves a 4 year term  Can run for a second term  Appoints a cabinet of advisors to help run the government.  The President of Brazil is a powerful person.  The National Government of Brazil is much stronger than its 26 state governments.  Brazil’s president has more power over the country than an American president does in the United States.  Citizens cannot chose whether they want to vote or not.  If they are between the ages of 18 and 70, they are required by law to vote.  Brazil has more than a dozen politica l parties. Not just 2 like the United States.

 Colonized by Spain  Language: Spanish  Religion: Catholic  Said to be a Federal Republic ….. But is it?

 In the early 1800’s, rebellion swept across the Spanish colonial empire.  Simon Bolivar led this revolt  He and his soldiers freed Venezuela from Spanish rule and in 1830, Venezuela became independent.  During the 1800’s and 1900’s, the country was governed by military rulers.  Their rule was often harsh.  Since 1958, Venezuela has been a democracy led by a president and a two house legislature.

 Rising oil prices during the 1970’s brought more money to the country allowing the middle class to grow.  When oil prices fell in the 1990’s, the country suffered.  The government did not have the money to give the poor and unemployed they services that they needed.

 In 1989, Venezuela experienced riots in which 200 people were reportedly killed.  This riot was in response to an economic program that had been launched by President Carlos Andres Perez.  In February 1992, a group of army officers, led by Hugo Chavez made an unsuccessful coup attempt, claiming that the events of 1989 showed that the political system was no longer served the interests of the people.  Chavez was jailed for his role in the coup.  While he was jailed, his officers made another failed attempt at a coup.  Perez was impeached by Congress on corruption of charges in  Chavez was released from jail in 1994.

 President serves a 6 year term  President appoints the vice president  He decides the size and composition of the cabinet.  All citizens must vote.  All of the things mentioned above led political opponents to believe Chavez had corrupted the electoral process.  Chavez supporters won 20 out of the 22 state governorship elections in October of  Chavez supporters won a majority of the seats in the 2005 municipal elections.  Pro-Chavez parties won all 167 seats in the December 2005 National Assembly elections.  President Chavez was re-elected by an overwhelming majority in the December 2006 presidential elections.  His opponent formed an alliance with several opposition parties.  International observers found no evidence of election fraud, they did note concern over abuse of government resources used to support the Chavez campaign, voter intimidation tactics, and manipulation of the electoral registry.

 Chavez did re-create a constitution, but in doing so, all things considered were in favor of him and not in the best interest of the citizens of Venezuela.  He created voters that never existed so that he would always win elections.  He made it to where all of his people would be elected into office.  Venezuela claims to be a federal republic, but Chavez runs his country much more like a dictatorship than a federal republic.  Venezuela is the only South American country that is considered to have an unlimited form of government.

 On page 47 of your Interactive Notebook, use the information provided in your notes to compare and contrast Brazil and Venezuela’s governments using a Venn Diagram.  When you have finished your Venn Diagram. Write and answer the following question in a complete thought or thoughts.  If you could choose to live in Brazil or Venezuela, which country would you choose to live in based on what you have learned about their governments and why?