The "ac" code is for "adequacy-confidence"--a
data
quality measure ranging from 0 (low) to 9
(high)
Party name and code number
Venezuelan Democratic Action Party,
393
Accion Democratica, AD, 393
Iinformation base and
researchers
The information base for Venezuelan Party
politics is 795 pages from 68 documents, with 438 pages or 55
percent pertaining to the Democratic Action Party. Marcelino
Miyares and Judy Newsome Gillespie indexed the literature. John
Beam and Richard Frisbie double coded variables in clusters 1 and
2. Donald Sylvan coded clusters 5 through 11.
Institutionalization Variables,
1.01-1.06
1.01 year of origin and 1.02 name
changes
1941, AC7
0, AC9
AD was officially born in a public ceremony
in September, 1941, upon gaining governmental permission for legal
organization of the Party. However, one might consider the
founding of ORVE, the Movimiento de Organizacion Venezolana, in
1936 as the real origin of AD. ORVE merged into the Partido
Democratico Nacional, PDN, the same year. The PDN was declared
illegal the same year, and many of its leaders were soon expelled
or sent into hiding. As harassment lessened, the PDN backed a
candidate for president to be chosen by the congress. Its
candidate Gallegos lost the vote in congress in the 1941 election,
but soon afterwards his backers in PDN were given permission to
organize a political Party and the AD was born. There have been no
name changes in the Party during our time period.
1.03 organizational
discontinuity
9, AC5
In 1960, a major split occurred when AD
expelled leftist elements, including some deputies and senators.
The ousted members then formed the movement of the revolutionary
left, MIR. In 1962, another leftist group under the leadership of
Ramos left the AD to form the Revolutionary Party of national
integration, PRIN.
1.04 leadership competition
12, AC6
Gallegos was named the first AD president
in 1942,with Betancourt the director of organization. Blanco
became president in 1947,and Betancourt in 1948. With the military
coup in 1948, Betancourt was exiled and the Party declared
illegal. It operated underground. Betancourt was elected President
again in 1958, at the first convention after the overthrow of
Perez Jimenez. Leoni was elected Party president in 1959 after
Betancourt became president of Venezuela, and Leoni remained Party
president during our time period.
1.05 / 2.05 legislative instability and
strength
Instability is 1.17, AC8
Strength is .00 for 1952-57 AC9 and .33 for
1958-63, AC6
The Accion Democratica was outlawed in 1951
and did not participate in the government until 1959 when it held
55 percent of the seats. By 1962 this representation was reduced
to 44 percent.
1.06 / 2.06 electoral instability and
strength
Instability is 1.00, AC4
Strength is undefined for 1952-57 and .41
for 1958-63, AC8
The Accion Democratica was outlawed in 1951
and did not participate in the 1953 election for the constituent
assembly. It ran in 1958 polling 49 percent of the votes and again
in 1963 winning 33 percent.
Governmental Status Variables,
2.01-2.07
2.01 government discrimination
16 for 1952-58, AC9
0 for 1958-63, AC4
Following a military coup in 1948, the AD
was outlawed, and it remained illegal until the overthrow of the
Perez Jimenez dictatorship in 1958. In elections held later the
same year, the AD candidate Betancourt was elected. Throughout the
second half of our time period, the AD governed in coalition with
other parties but seemed not to have enjoyed any special status.
In 1962 two opposition partiesÐthe Communists and the Movement
of the Revolutionary Left--were banned for insurrectional
activities. But this action, coming at the very close of our time
period, is not judged to affect the status of the AD during the
second half of the period.
2.02 governmental leadership
0 out of 6 for 1952-57, AC9
5 out of 6 for 1958-63, AC9
Betancourt, the AD candidate, was elected
president in the December election following the January, 1958
overthrow of Perez Jimenez. Because Betancourt was not inaugurated
until February, 1959, the AD is credited with governmental
leadership for 5 years out of the 6 years in our time period
following the revolt. During virtually all of 1958, a junta led
the country in preparation for a popularly elected government, and
no party can be credited with governmental leadership during this
year.
2.03 cabinet participation
0 out of 6 for 1952-57, AC9
5 out of 6 for 1958-63, AC9
As president, Betancourt of the AD was
empowered to appoint his cabinet, and it naturally included
members of his own Party. However, according to APRE, there was an
election pact among the major parties, and he also included their
representatives in a coalition cabinet.
2.04 national participation
5 for 1st half, AC8
5 for 2nd half, AC9
During the first half of our time period,
the AD was declared illegal, but the skeleton organization that
operated attempted to be national in scope with uneven results.
Ananalys is of the 1958 election returns shows the AD ran the
weakest of all three parties in the metropolitan centers,
including Caracas, and stronger in the coastal region and in
Llanos-Guayana. The average deviation of AD's support compared to
the proportions of the population in five regions of Venezuela was
seven percentage points in 1958.
2.07 outside origin
11, AC8
There is little doubt that the Party's
founders were members of ORVE, an opposition political
organization composed mainly of dissatisfied students who
professed a revolutionary concept of the social
struggle.
Issue Orientation Variables, 5.01-5.15
5.01 ownership of means of
production
3 for 1st half, AC6
3 for 2nd half, AC5
Coded on the basis of the Party's
establishment of a national petroleum company.
5.02 government role in economic
planning
5, AC9
The government, under AD control, plays a
major role in planning for the industrial development of Venezuela
and is implementing a plan which seeks to avoid a profusion of
competing industries.
5.03 redistribution of wealth
3, AC9
The fact that the AD's reforms compensated
capitalists causes them to be categorized as less than supporting
equalization of all income, yet more than merely supporting an
income or property tax.
5.04 social welfare
3, AC8
Sources are unanimous in the type of
thorough social welfare program which the AD favors, but the
adequacy score is lowered because of the ambiguity on the question
of whether or not the program should be compulsory. The Party
favors a broad social security program, as well as a public health
program.
5.05 secularization of society
0, AC9
Coded chiefly on strength of continued
advocacy of freedom of religion while insisting on state
supervision of private education.
5.06 support of the military
1, AC9
Coded chiefly on strength of new and
beneficial programs for individual soldiers. While in power the
Party raised the technical level of the military and the officer
and soldier enjoyed higher salaries and better living
conditions.
5.07 alignment with east-west
blocs
2, AC9
Much pro-U.S. rhetoric, but little Action.
The administration is generally cordial towards the west and
hostile towards Castro's Cuba. It maintains diplomatic relations
with the Eastern European countries of Poland and Yugoslavia and
permits Czechoslovakia to maintain a trade mission in Venezuela.
Still, AD governments have accepted U.S. aid programs and have
purchased arms from the U.S. on credit since 1958.
5.08 anti-colonialism
1, AC9
Advocates a reduction in foreign economic
influences.
5.09 supranational integration
0, AC7
While AD has expressed interest in regional
economic integration, Betancourt delayed entry into the Latin
American Free Trade Area, LAFTA.
5.10 national integration
1, AC6
AD favors national planning and
administrative decentralization together with municipal autonomy
to make federalism effective.
5.11 electoral participation
5, AC7
The AD favored complete democracy based on
the direct, secret vote of all Venezuelans over 18 years of age.
Voting was compulsory.
5.12 protection of civil rights
3, AC6
The Party opposed admission of non-whites
into Venezuela.
5.13 interference with civil
liberties
2, AC7
The program treats civil liberties as
sacred. In practice, AD suspends civil liberties occasionally, as
occurred during the communist uprisings in the early
sixties.
5.14 / 5.15 us--soviet experts left-right
ratings
U.S. says 3, non-communist
left.
Soviets say 2, supported by urban and rural
petty bourgeoisie, workers and peasants, position of cooperation
with labor and capital.
Goal Orientation Variables, 6.01-6.55
6.00 open competition in the electoral
process
2.5 for 1st half, AC5
4 for 2nd half, AC9
The Party was outlawed from 1948- 58, but
it still had an electoral orientation, even supporting the legal
URD in the fraudulent 1952 election. Its role in overthrowing
Perez was minor at best.
6.10 restricting party
competition
0, AC9
AD functioned clandestinely in Venezuela
until 1958. It never wanted to restrict competition.
6.20 subverting the political
system
1.5 for 1st half, AC5
0 for 2nd half, AC9
The clandestine AD organization engaged in
occasional plots to discredit Perez while it was outlawed and
played a minor role in the oppositon Junta Patriotica,
JP.
6.30 propagandizing ideas and
program
6.31, 6.32--AC1. No information
6.33--AC1 for 1st half and 2for 2nd half,
AC8. The passing of resolutions and platforms was a key AD
tactic.
6.34--2, AC8. The publishing of position
papers was the chief propaganda tactic.
6.40 allying with other parties
For 1950- , AC
There were no joint candidates during the
time period.
6.50 providing for welfare of Party
members
6.51, 6.52, 6.54--0, AC3.
The literature does not mention that the
Party itself provides food, clothing, shelter, or employment
services, nor does it appear to engage in basic education. And it
is assumed that the Party does not perform these
functions.
6.53, 6.55--AC1. No
information.
Autonomy Variables, 7.01-7.05
7.01 sources of funds
AC2
No conclusive information.
7.02 source of members
5, AC6
Although members are often recruited from
predominantly AD labor or peasant movements, this cannot be
considered indirect membership since recruitment is necessary
rather than automatic. Membership by virtue of participation in
the movement.
7.03 sources of leaders
5, AC5
A wide variety of leadership backgrounds is
indicated by one source. With under representation of the upper
class, the middle to lower class predominates in a composite of
professional to self-educated labor and campesino
leaders.
7.04 relations with domestic
parties
7 for 1st half, AC8
4 for 2nd half, AC9
During the first time period, AD could
engage in nothing approaching a formal partnership since it was
banned. During second time period, AD was involved in a
governmental coalition with COPEI and, for a time, with the URD,
which left the government in 1960.
7.05 relations with foreign
organizations
4, AC5
One mention was made of AD's membership in
the league of popular parties, an Aprista organization, but no
time period was indicated. The AD was not affiliated with the
socialist international until 1966, when it became an observer
member.
Organizational Complexity Variables,
8.01-8.07
8.01 structural articulation
11, AC9
Four national organs head the Party--
National Convention, Comite Directivo Nacional-CDN, Comite
Executivo Nacional-CEN, and Tribunal Disciplinario Nacional-TDN.
National convention is the supreme authority of the Party, and its
decisions are not subject to appeal. The CEN, numbering about 20
members, is further divided in a policy-making bureau, Buro
Politica, and an Administrative secretariat, Secretario
Nacional.
8.02 intensiveness of
organization
6, AC9
Junta locals are limited by Party statute
to 100 members.
8.03 extensiveness of
organization
6, AC6
Indications are that the coverage is rather
thorough.
8.04 frequency of local
meetings
6 for 2nd half, AC6
The local cells meet from two to four times
monthly, and may be convened even more frequently. There is no
information relating specifically to the first half.
8.05 frequency of national
meetings
3 for 2nd half, AC6
The CDN of about 120 members meets every
six months but may be convened more frequently. The CEN of about
22 members meets almost continuously. There is no information for
the first half of our time period when the Party was
illegal.
8.06 maintaining records
1 for 1st half, AC6
10 for 2nd half, AC7
The first code is based on an allusion in
the literature to a Party manifesto appearing in the early 50's,
indicating that some publishing occurred during this period. The
second code combines information on an active publication program
and references to rigorous membership registration and attendance
procedures, which are a likely sign of good membership
lists.
8.07 pervasiveness of
organization
17 for 2nd half, AC8
Professional, labor, and peasant groups are
all penetrated with generally large followings. There is no
information for the first half of our time period.
Organizational Power Variables, 9.01-9.08
9.01 nationalization of
structure
5 for 2nd half, AC9
AD structure is pyramidal, running from the
national through the regional, and down to the local level. There
is no information for the first half of our time
period.
9.02 selecting the national
leader
5 for 2nd half, AC7
The national convention selects the leader,
but the executive committee apparently influences this decision.
There is no information for the first half of our time
period.
9.03 selecting parliamentary
candidates
8 for 2nd half, AC6
National convention selects parliamentary
candidates. No information for the first part of our time
period.
9.04 allocating funds
AC1
No information
9.05 formulating policy
5 for 2nd half, AC8
The national convention formulates official
policy when it holds its annual meetings, but the executive
committees hold full policy making power in the interim. There is
no information for the first half of our time period.
9.06 controlling communications
7 for 2nd half, AC6
The CEN is in charge of publication
Ofaccion Democratica, a weekly publication. There is no
information for the first half of our time period.
9.07 administering discipline
2 for 2nd half, AC6
The Tribuno Disciplinario Nacional, TDN,is
chosen by the national convention to apply sanctions ranging from
censure to expulsion. Disciplinary tribunals also operate at the
state level. There is no information for the first half of our
time period.
9.08 leadership concentration
3 for 2nd half, AC6
The CDN is regarded as the most important
organ, despite its size of 120 members. Within the smaller CEN,
the smaller Buro Politico is dominant on policy matters, but even
in this smaller group, collective leadership is evident. There is
no information for the first half of our time period.
Coherence Variables, 10.01-10.06
10.01 legislative cohesion
AC1
No information.
10.02 ideological factionalism
3 for 1st half, AC6
6 for 2nd half, AC9
Left-wing factionalism was brewing during
the first time period and during exile, but it did not bloom until
1958. The more radical elements split from the Party in 1960,
creating MIR.
10.03 issue factionalism
2 for 2nd half, AC6
The following issues constituted areas of
factionalism-- revision of agrarian reform, restoration of
constitutional guarantees. There is no information for the first
half of our time period.
10.04 leadership factionalism
4 for 1st half, AC6
6 for 2nd half, AC9
The veteran AD leadership, called the
Guardia Viejas or GV, had been opposed by young men not involved
in the Party's founding. The younger Arjistas challenged the GV
after 1958 and left the AD in 1962, behind Ramos
Gimenez.
10.05 strategic or tactical
factionalism
2 for 2nd half, AC8
One major strategic question centered on
cooperation with COPEI in a coalition government, but this issue
did not define factions. There is no information for the first
part of our time period.
10.06 party purges
0 for 1st half, AC5
1 for 2nd half, AC8
For the first time period no purges were
recorded, but left-wing elements, including 14 legislators were
expelled in 1960, leading to the formation of the revolutionary
leftist movement, MIR.
Involvement Variables, 11.01-11.06
11.01 membership requirements
3 for 2nd half, AC6
Review of application is necessary for
acceptance, but no actual probationary period is mentioned. There
is no information for the first part of our time
period.
11.02 membership participation
4 for 2nd half, AC6
Regular attendance at Party meetings is
required of members. There is no information for the first half of
our time period.
11.03 material incentives
0 for 1st half, AC5
For 2nd half, AC1
During the first half of our time period,
the Party was not in a position to offer material incentives to
its militants.
11.04 purposive incentives
3 for 1st half, AC3
2 for 2nd half, AC5
The militants are basically purposively
motivated, especially during the first time period, when the Party
was in exile and could pass out no favors.
11.05 doctrinism
2 for 2nd half, AC8
A series of Party 'theses' were published
in booklet form by AD study groups after 1958. References to the
Party theses were common. There is no information for the first
half of our time period.
11.06 personalism
1 for 2nd half, AC7
Betancourt sure commanded the personal
loyalty of some significant fraction of AD members, but his
influence over militants was undoubtedly less. There is no
information for the first half of our time period.