VENEZUELAN COMMUNAL COUNCILS

Presentation Outline

● History ● Structure● Funding● Influence● Criticism● Questions

What is a Comuna?

● A system in which a country or city is separated into districts

● Can create decentralization● Often associated with Socialism● Also known as “Communes”

Countries That Have Implemented Comunas

● Cuba● France● Argentina● The Soviet Union● Venezuela

History of Communal Councils in Venezuela

● Process to decentralize some governmental powers in 1980s○ local governments gained more

power○ Chavez elected president in 1998 and

continued decentralization■ proposed concept of transferring

power to popular movements rather than local government

History Continued

● Bolivarian Circles formed○ closely linked the government○ Circles were succeeded by Electoral

Battle Units (UBEs), which mobilized the pro-Chavez vote for elections■ done at Chavez’s behest

History Continued

● Article 182 of the Constitution established the Law of Local Public Planification Councils (CLPP’s)○ gave people the ability to collaborate

at the city level to address local problems

● 2005: most of the CLPP’s had become stifled by bureaucracy and dominated by politicians

History Continued

● Venezuelan government passed the Law on Communal Councils in April 2006

● Called for the councils to decide their own geographic limits, but also follow a strict set of guidelines

● Goal was to expand political participation

Structure

• Group of elected people from a self-defined residential neighborhood

• �Principal decision making body: Citizens’ assembly

• �5 unites: Citizens’ Assembly Executive Body Financial Management Unit of Social Oversight (Anti-corruption) Community Coordination Collective

• �All council members are elected by the citizens’ assembly for a period of 2 years

Structure

Citizens’ Assembly• + 15

• Power to elect and revoke community spokespeople to the �communal council

• Assembly elections are done directly (i.e. proxy votes are not accepted) and in secret

• Other decisions: majority of raised hands�• Meetings: 2-6 hour public events often held outdoors in �

the streets

• Attendance from the community�• Frequency of assemblies also vary from weekly to once a �

month

Executive Body• Consists of spokesperson from;

o �each work committee or community organization

o �each of any defined micro-neighborhoods

o �any formed commissions

• Work committees and community organizations that may be representedo �Land committees – Health committees – Cultural

groups –Sports clubs –Water boards – Energy boards –Transportation organizations – Environmental groups

Financial Management Unit

• �5 community members

• �Responsible for administrating financial and non-financial resource generated, allocated, or awarded to the council

• �Promotes the creation of cooperatives for local development projects

• Supports local economies, micro-financing, and provides social assistance

Unit of Social Oversight (Anti Corruption)

• 5 community members

• �Monitors and reports on the application of council resources and activities towards the community development plan

Community Coordination Collective

• �Made up of the community organization

• �Informs and trains community members

• �Coordinates with the local community-based “militia,” or army reserves

Funding• Councils apply separately for funds• Funding:

- National, state, or city governments- Also own funds and donations

Management of Funds• Financial Management

Unit- Five leaders; Elected by citizens assembly

• Unit of Social Oversight- Five leaders; Elected by citizens assembly

• Increases in funding• Communal banks

Comparisons• Tribal or community meeting • Town meeting attributes• Blend of different ideologies

Current Situation• Formation of new councils• 19,500 Councils (March 2007)• Majority of groups establishing legitimacy

Future and Criticism

• Chavez’s political control- Advantage gained- Opposition to

• Political identity

Questions

• Are Venezuelan Communal Councils an extention of central power or an explosion of popular power?

• Do you think there is a better system to use in Venezuela other than communal councils?

• Will communal councils be as important in the future as they are now?