[southnews] A glance at some of changes to Venezuela's constitution
 
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 16:46:03 -0600 (CST)

Voters have turned out in numbers in Venezuela's referendum on 
far-reaching constitutional changes sought by President Hugo Chavez.

A glance at some of Chavez's proposed changes to Venezuela's constitution

The Associated Press
Published: December 2, 2007

CARACAS, Venezuela: A referendum before Venezuelan voters Sunday asked 
them to decide on 69 changes to the constitution proposed by President 
Hugo Chavez and his congressional allies. The revisions, split into two 
separate ballot issues to be decided by "yes" or "no" vote, include the 
following key changes:

BALLOT ISSUE A:

_ Presidential terms are lengthened from six to seven years. Terms 
limits are eliminated, allowing the president to run for re-election 
indefinitely.

_ The president is granted control over the Central Bank, which 
previously had autonomy. The president is also granted authority to set 
monetary policy and administer international reserves.

_ The official workday is reduced from eight to six hours.

_ The minimum voting age is reduced from 18 to 16.

_ Creation of a fund to pay social security benefits for the first time 
to workers in the informal economy, such as maids and street vendors, 
who make up an estimated 45 percent of the labor force.

_ Large land estates, or latifundia, are prohibited. A government 
agrarian reform has already turned over more than 2.5 million acres (1 
million hectares) of arable land to poor farmers on the grounds that it 
was underused or that owners lacked adequate titles.

_ The state may provisionally occupy property slated for expropriation 
before a court has ruled.

_ Financing of "associations with political aims" is to be regulated by 
law and foreign funding prohibited for such groups. Critics warn this 
could be used to strangle human rights groups and other non-governmental 
organizations.

_ Popular participation in government "for the construction of a 
Socialist Democracy." Chavez calls it a new "geometry of power" aimed at 
greater self-government through neighborhood-based communal and worker 
councils.

_ A socio-economic system based on "socialist, anti-imperialist 
principles" and promoting "humanistic values of cooperation and the 
preponderance of common interests above the individual."

_ Creates three new classes of property in addition to private and state 
property. Social property belongs to the people as a whole and may 
either be held on their behalf by the state, or assigned to people of a 
determined area by the state. Collective property is common and assigned 
to a particular group, such as a communal council. Mixed property would 
exist as combinations of social, collective, state and private property.

_ The president, with approval by a majority of the National Assembly, 
may establish federal territories, municipalities, provinces, cities and 
other jurisdictions headed by government-appointed leaders. Critics say 
the president could use these powers to change voting districts and 
eliminate elected offices held by opponents. Chavez says he would 
appoint regional vice presidents, which would apparently have more power 
than state governors, to decentralize and focus on local needs.

BALLOT ISSUE B:

_ The president may declare a state of emergency for an unlimited 
period, as long as "the causes that motivated it remain." During this 
period various constitutional rights "may be restricted or suspended 
temporarily," a change that critics warn would let the government detain 
citizens without charges and censor the news media. Certain rights are 
maintained at all times, including the right to legal defense.

_ Raises the percentage of the electorate needed to petition for 
referendums. For a recall referendum on the president or another elected 
official, signatures are needed from 30 percent of voters instead of the 
current 20 percent.

_ University students, faculty and workers are granted equal power to 
choose administrators at public universities by direct vote. Currently 
faculty votes are weighted and non-teaching employees do not have a 
vote. Chavez's supporters say the change will bring more democracy to 
campuses that have been bastions of anti-Chavez sentiment.