The Coolidge examiner., 1931-09-18
prepared by the National Geographic
Society WASHINGTON d CT


THE recent forced retirement of
a president of Chile throws
emphasis on some of the un-
usual features Of the Chilean con-
stitution and government.
The old Chilean constitution ex-
listed from 1888 until 1925 anG was
the oldest constitution of a republic
in the western hemisphere except
that of the United States. 1t was
an intimate mixture of the govern
mental principles of the United
States AM those of Europe. While
it was not designed with such an
idea in view, developments seemed
to be steering Chile toward a real
parliamentary system. Then came
the new constitution of 1925. which
modified their trend.
Under the Chilean constitution of
1888 the American system of three
separate functiOns-eXecutive, Iegis-
lative and judicial-was adopted !;
but unlike the United States, Chile
incorporated a system Of federal
Capitalization which was probably
more extreme than in any other re-
public. This president appoints the
! l6 intendants, who correspond
| roughly to our governors. With the
| intendants nominating them, he also
| appoints the 60 governors who rule
over regions such as might be
! formed by groups of counties in the
| United States, and the alcades of
| municipalities with more than 10000
! population. The governors appoint
Subdelegates to administer the
smaller municipalities roughly cor
responding to townships, and the
subdelegates in turn appoint in
spectors for small precincts. The
whole elaborate civil hierarchy cen
ters in the president and is ruled
form the national capital.
Direct Election Adopted.
The constitution of 1888 provid-
ed for the indirect election of pres
ident for FIVE years through a sort
of electoral college; the indirect
election of senators in the provinces
for siXteen-year terms; and the di-
rect election of members of the low.
er house from the districts. This
has all been changed. The presi
dent is now directly elected for six
years, but is ineligible for re-elec-
ton. The 45 senators are elected
by direct vote in their groups OF
provinces. for terms of eight years
with half the seats newly filled
every four years. The deputies OF
the lower house are also elected by
direct popular votes in their depart
ments or groups Of departments. AS
in the United States. cabinet is
appointed by the president and is
responsible to him.
The old constitution established
the Roman Catholic church and pro-
hibited other forms of public wor.
ship. The new constitution sepa-
rated church and state and did away
with property qualifications for
voters. All citizens over twenty.
one years of age who can read and
write and who register may vote.
An unusual feature Of the Chilean
government is it's tribunal caIifica.
dor which must pass on the validity
of all elections of president, sena-
tors and deputies. 1t consists OF
five members chosen by lot, one
chosen from past presidents and
vice presidents of the senate; one
from past presidents and vice presi.
dents Of the lower chamber; two
from ministers of the Supreme
court, and one from the ministers
Of the Court Of Appeals Of the city
where congress meets.
Chile may be specifically com.
pared to California with directions
reversed 1t stretches in narrow
strip with the Pacific on one side
and a mountain range on the other
and embraces dry desert, a produc-
tive temperate region, and an era OF
moisture and cold Whereas Cali.
fornia is only 800 miles long, how.
ever, Chile is 200 miles in length.
To correspond with Chile in extent
Of latitude covered, California would
have to annex on the south strip
twice as long as Mexico's Lower
California, and would have to ex-
tend northward to the lower tip of
Alaska's "Panhandle"
Great clinical Differences.
Chile differs as much ethnicalIy
from the real South America as it
does politically. 1t has had a great
er proportion of northern European
migration than its sister states,
largely German and British. The
predominant strain is a mixture of
Spanish and Araucanian Indian, a
mingling which extends through all
social levels. Few immigrants from
southern Europe have come in.
The vast beds of sodium nitrate