Argentine Constitution of 1819
Encyclopedia
The Argentine Constitution of 1819 was a Constitution
drafted by the Congress of Tucumán
in 1819. It was promoted by Buenos Aires but rejected by the other provinces, and did not come into force.
had moved to Buenos Aires
, after having issued the Argentine Declaration of Independence
in San Miguel de Tucumán. The draft was based in the current laws ruling the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, as well as in foreign constitutions like those of the US, France or Spain. It was written by José Mariano Serrano
, Diego Estanislao Zavaleta, Teodoro Sánchez de Bustamante
, Juan José Paso
and Antonio Sáenz
.
into three distinct branches, but it was unclear if the executive was to be held by a President
or a King
. So far, the executive power was exercised by the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
, but there were attempts to crown a Bourbon as King of the United Provinces. He would have the authority to designate the governors of the provinces.
The legislative power was meant to be exercised by two chambers; one of Senators, the other of deputies. Besides a fixed number of Senators by province, the chamber of Senators would also be composed by three military people (rank colonel or higher), one bishop, three clergymen, a representative of each University, and the former Supreme Director. Both senators and deputies had to prove a estate of $8.000 and $4.000 respectively. The chamber of deputies was to have the initiative in issues related with taxes.
, which would wage war against the Supreme Directorship. As the national armies that were fighting the War of Independence
resfused to fight a civil war, the diminished troops of Supreme Director José Rondeau
were defeated during the February 1, 1820 Battle of Cepeda
. The 1819 Constitution was thus repealed.
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
drafted by the Congress of Tucumán
Congress of Tucumán
The Congress of Tucumán was the representative assembly, initially meeting in Tucumán, that declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America on July 9, 1816, from the Spanish Empire....
in 1819. It was promoted by Buenos Aires but rejected by the other provinces, and did not come into force.
Sanction
The Congress of TucumánCongress of Tucumán
The Congress of Tucumán was the representative assembly, initially meeting in Tucumán, that declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America on July 9, 1816, from the Spanish Empire....
had moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, after having issued the Argentine Declaration of Independence
Argentine Declaration of Independence
What today is commonly referred as the Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. In reality, the congressmen that were assembled in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, which is still today one of the legal names of the...
in San Miguel de Tucumán. The draft was based in the current laws ruling the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, as well as in foreign constitutions like those of the US, France or Spain. It was written by José Mariano Serrano
José Mariano Serrano
José Mariano Serrano was a Bolivian-born statesman and jurist. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán of 9 July 1816 which declared the Independence of the provinces of the River Plate and presided over the assembly that declared the independence of Bolivia.Serrano was born in...
, Diego Estanislao Zavaleta, Teodoro Sánchez de Bustamante
Teodoro Sánchez de Bustamante
Teodoro Sánchez de Bustamante was an Argentine statesman, lawyer and soldier. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán which on 9 July 1816 declared the Independence of Argentina....
, Juan José Paso
Juan José Paso
Juan José Paso, was an Argentine politician who participated in the events that started the Argentine War of Independence known as May Revolution of 1810....
and Antonio Sáenz
Antonio Sáenz
Antonio Sáenz was an Argentine statesman, educator and cleric. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán of July 9, 1816 which declared the Independence of Argentina. He was the first rector of the University of Buenos Aires.Sáenz was born in Buenos Aires...
.
Contents
The Constitution set the separation of powersSeparation of powers
The separation of powers, often imprecisely used interchangeably with the trias politica principle, is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic...
into three distinct branches, but it was unclear if the executive was to be held by a President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
or a King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
. So far, the executive power was exercised by the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
The Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata , was a title given to the executive officers of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, according to the form of government established in 1814 by the Asamblea del Año XIII...
, but there were attempts to crown a Bourbon as King of the United Provinces. He would have the authority to designate the governors of the provinces.
The legislative power was meant to be exercised by two chambers; one of Senators, the other of deputies. Besides a fixed number of Senators by province, the chamber of Senators would also be composed by three military people (rank colonel or higher), one bishop, three clergymen, a representative of each University, and the former Supreme Director. Both senators and deputies had to prove a estate of $8.000 and $4.000 respectively. The chamber of deputies was to have the initiative in issues related with taxes.
Reactions
The constitution was promulgated on May 25, 1819. It was immediately rejected by the provincesProvinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
, which would wage war against the Supreme Directorship. As the national armies that were fighting the War of Independence
Argentine War of Independence
The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...
resfused to fight a civil war, the diminished troops of Supreme Director José Rondeau
José Rondeau
José Casimiro Rondeau Pereyra was a general and politician in Argentina and Uruguay in the early 19th century.-Biography:...
were defeated during the February 1, 1820 Battle of Cepeda
Battle of Cepeda (1820)
The Battle of Cepeda of 1820 took place on February 1 in Cañada de Cepeda, Santa Fe, Argentina.It was the first major battle that saw Unitarians and Federals as two constituted sides. Federal League Provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos joined forces to topple the 1819 centralist Constitution, and...
. The 1819 Constitution was thus repealed.