Bolivia
Landlocked country in central Andes mountains in South America, bounded
N and E by Brazil, SE by Paraguay, S by Argentina, and W by Chile and
Peru.
Government
Achieving independence 1825 after nearly 300 years of Spanish rule,
Bolivia adopted its first constitution 1826, and since then a number
of variations have been produced. The present one provides for a congress
consisting of a 27-member senate and a 130-member chamber of deputies,
both elected for four years by universal suffrage. The president, directly
elected for a four-year term, is head of both state and government and
chooses the cabinet. If no candidate obtains a clear majority in the
presidential election, the president is chosen by congress. For administrative
purposes, the country is divided into nine departments, each governed
by a prefect appointed by the president.
History
Once part of the Inca civilization, Bolivia was conquered by Spain
1538 and remained under Spanish rule until liberated by Simón Bolívar
1825 (after whom the country took its name). Throughout most of the
19th century Bolivia was governed by a series of caudillos (military
or political leaders).
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