1917 Uruguayan constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Uruguay on 25 November 1917. Amongst the changes to the system of government, the new constitution would create a National Council of Administration (known as the "colegiado") alongside the presidency. The National Council of Administration would have nine members; six from the winning party and three from the runner-up party. The proposals were approved by 95.15% of voters. The result was confirmed by the Senate on 18 December, and the new constitution came into force on 1 March 1919. Background. The "colegiado" system had been first proposed by President  José Batlle y Ordóñez in 1913, with the aim of creating an executive body similar to the Swiss Federal Council. Batlle had been opposed to the presidential system, believing that a collegiate body would lower the risk of a dictatorship emerging. Although the proposal was defeated in 1916, Batlle negotiated a compromise with the National Party to include the system in a new constitution. New constitution. As well as introducing the "colegiado" system, the new constitution determined that presidents could only serve a single term in office. It provided for a bicameral General Assembly with a term of four years , and introduced universal male suffrage. It also provided for the separation of church and state and allowed for constitutional amendments to be made with a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the General Assembly.