| Document Name: | Constitution of the United States of Venezuela |
| Purpose: | National Constitution to replace the 1936 Constitution |
| Date Ratified: | July 5, 1947 |
| Signers: | 160 Deputies |
| Date Repeal: | November 24, 1948 due to the 1948 coup d'état |
| Location Of Document: | Palacio Federal Legislativo |
The Constitution of Venezuela of 1947 was approved on July 5, 1947, by a Constituent Assembly, which repealed the 1936 Constitution reformed in 1945 by the government of Isaías Medina Angarita. It is considered as the first truly democratic constitution of the country,[1] because it established for the first time the direct and universal free election, establishing women's suffrage for the first time in a Venezuelan constitution, the illiterate and all those over 18 years of age.[2]
On October 18, 1945, a group of military men with the help of the Democratic Action party carried out a coup d'état against President Isaías Medina Angarita[3] in what they called the October Revolution, due to the lack of legitimacy of this new Revolutionary Government Junta, it was decided to call elections to elect 160 constituents in 1946; these constituents would be the ones who would repeal the 1936 constitution reformed nine years later, among the most prominent constituents were Andrés Eloy Blanco, Rafael Caldera, Gustavo Machado and Lorenzo Fernández, among others.
This constitution breaks a long silence on the matter by establishing, in its article 72; "It is incumbent upon the State to promote the incorporation of the indio into the national life",[2] and to provide, likewise, that a "Special Legislation" would determine what is related to this matter, taking into account the cultural characteristics and economic conditions of the indigenous population.[2] On the following October 7, the Comisión Indigenista (Indigenist Commission) was created with the purpose of studying the situation, culture and needs of the indios; the commission was reorganized by Decrees N° 377 of March 14, 1952 and N° 20 of March 6, 1959.[4] According to the latter, its purpose is to study, plan, guide, apply and develop the official indigenist policy, according to scientific and technical standards, and also to coordinate the work of those agencies and entities involved in social action programs in favor of the indigenous population.[4]
| Political Party | Constituents | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Action | 137 | |
| Copei | 19 | |
| Democratic Republican Union | 2 | |
| Communist Party of Venezuela | 2 | |
| Total | 160 |
Source:[2]