About This Book
Genesis of Constitutionalism in Venezuela by Irene Loreto González is a historical-legal study on the origins of Venezuelan constitutionalism and the intellectual, political, and legal process that led to the Constitution of 1811, the first written constitution in the Spanish language. The book examines Venezuela’s transition from a colonial monarchical regime to a republican and federal state founded upon the principles of popular sovereignty, separation of powers, constitutional supremacy, and the recognition of the rights of man. Through a historical-constitutional methodology, the author analyzes the influence of the independence of the United States, the French Revolution, and the Cádiz Cortes on the formation of Venezuelan political thought at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The work also studies the legal framework of the Captaincy General of Venezuela, the early independence movements, the Constituent Congress of 1811, and the institutional structure created through the Federal Constitution and the provincial constitutions. The book advances the central argument that Venezuelans initially sought liberty through law and constitutional institution-building before resorting to war. It further highlights the original contribution of Venezuelan constitutionalism to the development of modern constitutional law in Latin America and reflects on the contemporary relevance of republican principles in the face of current institutional crises.
