CONSTITUTION ARTICLES
1811 Constitution #178: “A ruled and well instructed militia, composed of citizens, is the most convenient and secure natural defense of a free state. There should not be, though, veteran troops in peaceful times, but the rigorously précised for the country’s security with the congress consent.”
#179: “Military power will be, in every case, under strict subordination of civil authority.”
1819 Constitution #9: “Public Force is essentially obedient, no armed corps can deliberate.”
1821 Constitution #188: “In their force and vigor are declared the laws that rule in all matters, and which shall not oppose to this constitution, nor to the decrees made by Congress.”
1830 Constitution #180: “The Armed Force is essentially obedient and can never deliberate.”
1857 Constitution #91: “The Armed Force is essentially obedient and can never deliberate.”
1858 Constitution #143: “The Armed Force is essentially obedient and can never deliberate.”
1864 Constitution #111: “During election periods the public force will be disarmed, and the respective laws shall determine how to take it into effect.” #116: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1874 Constitution #111: “During election periods the public force will be disarmed, and the respective laws shall determine how to take it into effect.” #116: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1881 Constitution #108: “During election periods the public force will be disarmed, and the respective laws shall determine how to take it into effect.” #113: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1891 Constitution #108: During election periods the public force will be disarmed, and the respective laws shall determine how to take it into effect.”
#113: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1893 Constitution #140: “During election periods the public force will remain into quarters.”
#145: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1901 Constitution #132: “During election periods the public force will remain into quarters.”
#137: “The Armed Force can not deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1904 Constitution #119: “During popular elections the public force will remain into quarters.”
#122: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1909 Constitution #137: “During popular elections the public force will remain into quarters.”
#140: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1914 Constitution #124: “ During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters”
#125: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1922 Constitution #124: “ During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters”
#125: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient.”
1925 Constitution #47: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient ”… “During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters.”
1928 Constitution #47: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient ”… “During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters.”
1929 Constitution #47: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient ”… “During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters”
1931 Constitution #47: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient ”… “During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters”
1936 Constitution #46: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient. During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters, and will not go out unless a public order commission is commanded.”
1945 Constitution #46: “The Armed Force cannot deliberate, it is passive and obedient. During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters, and will not go out unless a public order commission is commanded.”
1947 Constitution #93: “The National Armed Forces constitute an apolitical institution, essentially professional, obedient and non-deliberative.”
#99: “Members of the Armed Forces, while in active service, cannot exert the right of suffrage, belong to political groups, or take part to any of these activities.”
#100: “During electoral periods public force members will remain into quarters, and will not go out but to guarantee the public order and the normal evolvement of elections.”
1953 Constitution #56: “The National Armed Forces are a professional, impersonal, and apolitical institution, at the service of the nation.”
#57: “Members of the Armed Forces, while in active service, cannot exert the right of suffrage, belong to political groups, or take part to any of these activities.”
1961 Constitution #132: “The National Armed Forces form an obedient, apolitical and non-deliberative institution, organized by the state to secure the national defense, the stability of democratic institutions, and respect toward the constitution. The Armed Forces will always be at the service of the republic, and in no case, at the service of a person or political individuality.”
1999 Constitution #328: “The National Armed Force essentially constitute a professional institution, with no political militancy, organized by the state to guarantee the national independence and sovereignty, and to assure the integrity of the geographical space through military defense, the cooperation in the maintenance of the public order, and the active participation in national development. Its fundamental pillars are discipline, obedience, and subordination.”
#330: “The members of the Armed Force, in active service, have the right to suffrage; not being allowed, however, to be elected or public positions, not to participate in acts of propaganda, political militancy or proselytism.” (Constitucion Bolivariana de Venezuela).
Source: Daniels, H., Elias. Militares y Democracia: Papel de la Institución Armada en la Consolidación de la Democracia Venezolana. Centauro Editions. Caracas, 1992. pp. 27-35; Venezuela, Congress. Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. Caracas: Ediciones Dabosan, 2000. p. 121.
