CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC. 343 
Among the numerous duties prescribed for him by the Bases, are the 
following : 
To impose fines not exceeding $500 on those who disobey his orders, and 
are wanting in due respect and obedience to the laws. 
To see that prompt justice is administered ; to visit the tribunals whenever 
he is informed of delays, or that prejudicial disorders exist in those bodies ; 
to require that a preference be given to causes concerning the public welfare, 
and to exact information touching the same whenever it may be deemed 
proper. 
To object (" hacer olservaciones^') within thirty days (after audience of 
the Council, which will be hereafter described,) to the projects of laws 
approved by the Chambers, suspending their operation in the mean time. 
If the project be reapproved, the Government may suspend it until the 
near termination of the period when the Chambers can consider the sub- 
ject. If it be then approved by two- thirds of both bodies, the Govern- 
ment will be obliged to publish it as a law. If the thirty days terminate 
after the regular period of the session, the Government is to direct its 
observations to the Permanent Deputation ; and if the term pass without 
any action by the President, the law will be considered as sanctioned, and 
published without delay. 
The President may declare war, and dispose of the armed forces of the 
nation as he sees fit, according to the objects of their institution. He may 
expel from the Republic unnaturalized foreigners, who are deemed dan- 
gerous ; and he may name orators from the Council to defend the opinions 
of the Government before the Chambers. 
The Council of the Government is to be composed of seventeen per- 
sons named by the President, whose tenure of office is perpetual, and 
whose duties are to give their aid to the Govei'nment in all matters required 
in these Bases, and others upon which it shall be proper to consult them. 
It is their privilege, moreover, to propose to the Government all regula- 
tions and systems they may deem necessary for the public good in every 
branch of the administration. 
By the sixth Title, the Judicial Power, of the country is deposited in a 
Supreme Court, in Departmental Tribunals, and others already estab- 
lished by law. There is to be a perpetual Court Martial, chosen by the 
President. 
The Government of the Departments is regulated by the seventh 
Title. 
Each Department is to have an Assembly composed of not more than 
eleven, nor less than seven, who must be twenty-five years of age, and pos- 
sessed of the qualifications required for a Deputy to Congress. Their 
term of office is four years. 
The powers of these Assemblies are very simple and irresponsible, 
and scarcely amount to more than a species af municipal police, the whole 
