394 



SOUTH AMEEICA— THE ANDES EEGIONS. 



as required by the theory of its paper Constitution. The legislative power 

 consists of two houses elected by direct popular suffrage, a senate of sixteen and 

 a lower house of sixty-four deputies. The executive, in other words the president, 

 should also be elected by the people ; but most frequently he elects himself by 

 the summary process of presenting himself before Congress at the head of his 

 troops. In fact nearly all the presidents have hitherto been professional soldiers^ 



Fig. 149. — Political Divisions of Bolitia. 

 Scale 1 : 18,000,000. 



WestoF. Greenwich . 70 



60° 



310 Miles. 



seizino- the reins of state by force, by force expelled, and for the most part 

 assassinated or dying in exile. 



In abnormal times, as the intervals between the chronic revolutions may be 

 called, the president, nominated for four years, is assisted by a council of five 

 ministers of state — the secretaries of foreign affairs, finance, administration, war, 

 justice and public instruction. In case of death or deposition he is replaced by a 

 vice-president, who, should the occasion require it, may be supplemented by a 

 second functionary of like standing. The president names most of the higher 



