Parliaments and sovereignties during the Confederation of Andrés de Santa Cruz. Chile, Perú and Bolivia, 1835-1839

Summary

This article studies the behavior of the Assemblies and Congresses in Perú, Bolivia and Chile during the years of the Perú-Bolivian Confederation created by General Andrés de Santa Cruz. This comparative study of the legislative power in three countries highlights the degree of preeminence and relative autonomy that they had in facing the pressures from the executive power to assume a passive role. The issue of sovereignty was a central topic in the sessions of the Peruvian congressional assemblies in Sicuani and Huaura, and also in the Bolivian congressional assemblies in Tapacarí. The question of sovereignty along with the granting of extraordinary powers to the president to wage wars against the Confederation were also central issues that appeared in Chilean congressional debates during Joaquín Prieto’s presidency.