INTRODUCTION

In this Appendix, we have compiled a summary of the provisions concerning executive–legislative relations from 23 constitutions in Latin America. We include not only the current constitutions of all the countries of this region that have popularly elected presidents, but also superseded ones in several cases in which the old constitutions are discussed in Chapter 1 or other chapters of this book. Thus, we include the superseded democratic constitutions of Argentina (1853), Brazil (1946), Chile (1925), Colombia (1886), and Peru (1979). For each of the current constitutions, the provisions summarized are those in effect as of late 1994, unless otherwise indicated. Dates of amended constitutions are noted only where they affect provisions listed in this Appendix. For the superseded constitutions, the provisions are those in effect as of the time the constitution was replaced, unless otherwise indicated. Most of the headings for provisions are self-explanatory, but a few require clarification.

Electoral cycle refers to the relative timing of elections for president and congress and may be either concurrent (when such elections are regularly held on the same day), nonconcurrent (when such elections are regularly held on separate days), or mixed (when terms are of different length, but elections are held on the same day in those years when elections are held for both the executive and legislature).

Decree legislation refers to the authority of the president to issue new laws that do not require the consent of the legislature to have legal force.