GOVERNMENT. The Constitution dates front 1830 and has been frequently altered. The ex ecutive authority is shared by the President with a responsible ministry. The President is elected directly for a period of four years. The Vice President is elected in the same manner, but two years after the election of the President, serving accordingly across two terms. The Congress con sists of two Douses. The members of the Senate (two for each province) are elected directly for four years. The Ilouse of Representatives con sists of members elected directly for two year, at the rate of one Deputy for every :35,000 in habitants. with a Deputy for every additional 15.000 inhabitants or more. The Indians, being practically in a condition of slavery, are un represented. Congress meets biennially. but can he summoned for an extra session by the Presi dent. The voting fraiichise is restricted to every male citizen of twenty-one years of age who is able to read and write. The local admin istrators, from the governors of the provinces down to the lieutenants of the parishes. are all appointed by the President and rein wed at his discretion. For administrative purposes Ecua dor is divided into sixteen provinces. besides the Gal:wag:us Archipelago, which is administered by a territorial chief. For the administration of justice there arc a supreme court of six judge: appointed by the Congress. six superior courts or courts of appeal whose judges are also appointed by the Congress. and a number of commercial and other inferior courts. For military defense Ecuador has a standing artily of about 3300 men and a national guard about 30.000 strong. The navy consists of a torpedo-boat and a transport.
See Aiimirs and NAVIE.S.
Fix..NcE. The revenue of Ecuador is derived mostly from eustoms duties and to some extent from taxes on real estate and income, and from I:overnment monopolies and property. At present the budget balances at over S.000,000 sucres but the revenue generally short of the expenditures and loans are necessarily resorted to. The public debt is in a state of confusion. Ecuador's share of indebted ness at the dissolution of the Republic of colon, hia in 1s30 amounted to fl,S24,000 ($s,sS3.000). It was not. however. until 1854 that the bond holders managed to get from the Government a formal recognition of its debt. In 1867 payment on the debt ceased. and the arrears amounted in to Ity an arrangement with the ereditors in 1S92 the principal was reduced to f.750.000, which sum was afterwards further re duced, and at present the entire foreign debt. amounts to about 1:671,000 1$3,207,s00), and is held entirely by the Guayaquil and Quito Rail way Company. In IS96 the internal debt amounted to 4.550,000 sueres ($2.275,400). It. has increased considerably since then. Ecuador adopted the gold standard in 1900. The Metal currency of the republic is estimated at 4.000.000 sucres ($1.94;0100), of which only one-fourth is gold coin. There are also in circulation banknotes to the amount of about 0.000.000 sueres ($2.922. 000]. Two banks issue notes for circulation: the Banco del Ecuador and the Banco Comereial y Agricola. with a combined capital of 2,500,o00 sucres. There arc two other leading banks.