Open Cabildo

The open cabildo (Spanish: ''cabildo abierto'') is a traditional Hispanic American political assembly for convening citizens to deliberate policy. Originating in Spanish America as an iteration of the ''cabildo'', it also spread to Spain.

History

Colonial period

The open cabildo was a special mode of assembly of the inhabitants of Spanish American cities during the colonial period, in cases of emergencies or disasters. Usually, the colonial cities were governed by a '' cabildo'' or an ''ayuntamiento'', a municipal council in which most of the officers were appointed by the authorities. In cases of emergency, the cabildo could convene the heads of household ('' vecinos'') or a section/all of the citizenry in an "open" cabildo. Typically located at the main church, square, or a member's house, it could be convened in the absence of legal precedent for mobilizing soldiers, announcing taxes, receiving information and communications, and promulgating emergency laws, among other issues. In ''La ciudad Indiana'' (1900) by , he characterized the open cabildo as a function of communicating orders by the royal government, rarely formulating policy. William Wheatley Pierson Jr. agreed, claiming authoritative weakness as a general fact whilst strength dependent on circumstantial development. Historians and Francisco X. Tapia assert meetings were not frequent, with outliers being Zacatecas in the 16th century and Santiago del Estero in the 18th century.

Their composition varied. Ubiquitous constituents were statesmen and clergy, whilst ''vecinos' '' consistent inclusion is indeterminate; generally, their participation increased during the later centuries of the colonial period, however ''vecinos' '' delineation correspondingly decreased. It is also ambiguous as to what extent Spaniards, criollos, mestizos, and the indigenous participated.

Early open cabildos demonstrated some elective power. Following Francisco Pizarro's death, Pedro de Valdivia's appointment to Governor of Chile by a series of open cabildos in May 1541. As permitted by Carlos V, Asunción's open cabildo of ''vecinos'' elected the governor from 1548 to 1736, when it was revoked due to their participation in the Revolt of the Comuneros. During the 16th century, those in Spain could elect their '' alcaldes''; one in Havana, which was a common recourse.

At the beginning of the Spanish American wars of independence open cabildos, acting as organs of popular participation, played a decisive role as the way by which revolutionary movements were able to remove the colonial authorities and establish new revolutionary governments. Such event occurred in San Miguel de Tucumán on 21 May 1810, Bogotá 10 July 1810, and Granada, Nicaragua 22 December 1811.

Modern politics

In modern times, some Latin American countries have used the name "open cabildos" for public assemblies convened by municipal governments to decide local matters of public importance. The term is sometimes used for present-day public meetings to make decisions. Some modern versions, while using the historically evocative name, can be more similar to an outdoor rally.

In Venezuela, the open cabildo is one part of a set of provisions required to preserve democracy. Article 70 of the nation's Constitution says that "there ust bemethods for the people to exercise their sovereignty in politics ncludingthe ''open forum'' and assembly of citizens whose decisions will be binding". Because the legally binding vote is tied to the open cabildo, the Constitution may be interpreted to say that the forum can still have the power of a political referendum.

See also

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* Historiography of Colonial Spanish America
* Junta (Spanish American Independence)
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*Spanish colonization of the Americas
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* Timeline of the Spanish American wars of independence

References

Bibliography

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Cabildo
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Legal history of Spain
Spanish American wars of independence
Protest tactics
Politics of South America
Deliberative groups
Colonial Colombia
Colonial Mexico
Colonial Argentina
Colonial Paraguay
Spanish colonial period of Cuba
Political history of Nicaragua
Establishments in the Captaincy General of Chile