Hugo Chavez Venezuelan President

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Hugo ChavezVenezuelan President

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Starter
Do you think term limits are important? Why or
why not.
Term Limits Limits how many times one person
can run for the same public office.
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Hugo Chavez
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Venezuelas Government

• Like most of South America, Venezuela is a
  Republic (The people elect their leaders.)
• It is a limited government.
• The country is led by a President and a single
  National Assembly.

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Enter Hugo Chavez

• Born in Venezuela, in 1954, to a poor family
• Sent to live with his grandmother to help make
  money for the family
• Excelled at baseball and earned a scholarship to
  the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences
• While in the military, he became troubled by the
  corruption he saw.

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Bolivarian Revolution

• Chavez formed a revolutionary force, named after
  Simon Bolivar.
• They attempted to overthrow the President in
  1992.
• Chavez was imprisoned for two years for his role
  in the overthrow attempt.
• After his release from prison, Chavez
  transitioned from soldier to politician and
  formed a new political party called the Fifth
  Republic Movement.

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The Politician

• Hugo Chavez was elected to his first political
  office in 1998 PRESIDENT.
• Chavez reworked the Venezuelan Constitution that
  drastically reduced the powers of Congress
• Passed by voters in 1999.
• Changed Congress from bicameral (to houses) to
  unicameral (one body)
• Extended presidential term from 5 to 6 years
• Called for elections to be held in 2000.

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Politician Continued

• 2000 Elections
• Chavez won re-election
• Chavez supporters won the majority of seats in
  the new unicameral assembly.
• 2002 Chavez is overthrown for 48 hours.
• 2006 Chavez wins re-election.
• 2008 Chavez policy ending term-limits is passed
  by the people.

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Finally
Despite all this, Venezuela continues to supply
the U.S. with oil. The sale of oil is what
has financed Chavezs social programs and
cemented his hold on power.
Hugo Chavez continues to be a very controversial
figure. He is a supporter of Castro in Cuba
and has made no secret of his dislike of the
United States.

USA
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Follow-Up

• Create a Venn Diagram comparing the two famous
  Venezuelan leaders - Simon Bolivar and Hugo
  Chavez.