Derived from the renowned multi-volume International Encyclopaedia of Laws, this very useful analysis of constitutional law in Venezuela provides essential information on the country’s sources of constitutional law, its form of government, and its administrative structure. Lawyers who handle transnational matters will appreciate the clarifications of particular terminology and its application. Throughout the book, the treatment emphasizes the specific points at which constitutional law affects the interpretation of legal rules and procedure. Thorough coverage by a local expert fully describes the political system, the historical background, the role of treaties, legislation, jurisprudence, and administrative regulations. The discussion of the form and structure of government outlines its legal status, the jurisdiction and workings of the central state organs, the subdivisions of the state, its decentralized authorities, and concepts of citizenship. Special issues include the legal position of aliens, foreign relations, taxing and spending powers, emergency laws, the power of the military, and the constitutional relationship between church and state. Details are presented in such a way that readers who are unfamiliar with specific terms and concepts in varying contexts will fully grasp their meaning and significance. Its succinct yet scholarly nature, as well as the practical quality of the information it provides, make this book a valuable time-saving tool for both practising and academic jurists. Lawyers representing parties with interests in Venezuela will welcome this guide, and academics and researchers will appreciate its value in the study of comparative constitutional law.

This book addresses two questions: firstly, how has the fight against COVID-19, especially the individual and collective responses of Latin American nation-states, influenced the relationship between power, people, and statebodies? And secondly, has democracy taken a step back and allowed pandemocracy to replace its long-term legitimising function? Adopting a Global South perspective, the book explores the constitutional, political and institutional measures that paved the way for several aggressive state policies in various Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The contributions provide a detailed review of democratic decay and the 'rule of law' impairment in many countries of the region. The book goes beyond mere observation and explores all the main theoretical elements that can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the political and normative impact of the pandemic. In terms of constitutional design and concerning the actual behaviour of political bodies, the fairness and efficacy of Latin American state responses during the COVID-19 pandemic did not rely on civic culture, executive goodwill, or boldness on the part of the judges. The aim of this volume, therefore, is to unravel the most subtle elements of a very puzzling situation. Multidisciplinary perspectives are deployed to explore how democratic standards and goals have been reshaped by nuanced constructions of certain atavistic normative ideas or even by non-constitutional policies. The book sheds light on the underlying connection between politics and law.

This book analyzes the defense of the rights and interest of the Venezuelan Interim Government established according to the February 2019 "Statute that Governs the Transition to Democracy to Restore the Enforcement of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" issued by the National Assembly of Venezuela, before foreign courts. The book analyses the matter not only from the Venezuelan Constitutional and Administrative Law perspective, but also from the general principles of government recognition in International Law as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom Law.According to the decisions of the National Assembly, on January 23, 2019, several countries recognized the speaker of the National Assembly of Venezuela as the Interim President of the country, based on the constitutional interpretation adopted by the National Assembly according to which, due to the illegitimacy of the presidential election held on May 20, 2018, the speaker should assume the presidency of Venezuela according to Article 233 of the Constitution, to promote the restoration of the rule of law, according to Article 333 of the 1999 Constitution. Shortly after, the National Assembly approved a special Law to regulate the process of transition and the functions of the Interim President, the Transition Statute.Because at that time Venezuela was involved in complex litigations in the United States based on claims filed by the legacy creditors, the political recognition of the Interim President become a question of law. Considering the precedents about government recognition and the act of state doctrine, the United States Judiciary accepted the Interim President as the exclusive representative of Venezuela and considered the decisions adopted by the National Assembly and the Interim President as valid and binding ones. The United Kingdom Judiciary adopted a similar decision. Accordingly, between 2019 and 2020, foreign courts derived legal and practical consequences from the political statements of recognitions issued since January 2019.

Seventeen in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 190 economies, Doing Business 2020 measures aspects of regulation affecting 10 areas of everyday business activity.

The best country-by-country assessment of human rights. The human rights records of more than ninety countries and territories are put into perspective in Human Rights Watch's signature yearly report. Reflecting extensive investigative work undertaken by Human Rights Watch staff, in close partnership with domestic human rights activists, the annual World Report is an invaluable resource for journalists, diplomats, and citizens, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the fight to protect human rights in every corner of the globe.