Uruguay is a South American country located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, sharing a border with Argentina, and Brazil. The population of this country is approx 34,99,000 with 1,76,215 square kilometers area. Ethnically, 88% are white. The official language is Spanish, and Portuguese is spoken to a lesser extent. 60% are Christian, 38% do not believe in any religion, and 2% believe in various religions.
Taking advantage of the poor's critical situation, loan sharks provide loans at very high interest rates, which later become a thorn of the throat for the borrower. According to the Uruguay constitution, the business of very high interest rates is prohibited. The authorities are able to set the maximum interest rate for loans. The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the parliament. In many countries around the world, the president does it in the first instance, and that is a form of dictatorship. If parliament fails within a certain period of time, only then the president should take over.
The Uruguayan constitution has very limited negative aspects. According to the constitution, temples dedicated to the worship of various religious communities are exempt from all types of taxes. Cheating in the name of religion?
Admirable Articles of Uruguay's Constitution
Article 3
It shall never be the patrimony of any person or of any family.
Article 8
All persons are equal before the law, no other distinctions being recognized among them save those of talent and virtue.
Article 10
Private actions of persons which do not in any way affect the public order or prejudice others shall be outside the jurisdiction of the magistrates.
No inhabitant of the Republic shall be obliged to do what the law does not require, or prevented from doing what it does not prohibit.
Article 16
In any of the cases contemplated in the preceding article, the judge, under the gravest responsibility, shall take the declaration of the person under arrest within twenty-four hours and shall begin the summary process within forty-eight hours at the most. The declaration of the accused must be taken in the presence of his defender. The latter shall also have the right to attend all summary hearings.
Article 36
Every person may engage in labor, farming, industry, commerce, a profession, or any other lawful activity, save for the limitations imposed by general interest which the law may enact.
Article 38
The right of peaceful and unarmed public meetings is guaranteed. The exercise of this right may not be denied by any authority of the Republic except in accordance with law, and only insofar as such exercise may prejudice public health, safety or order.
Article 42
Parents have the same duties toward children born outside of wedlock as toward children born within it.
Maternity, regardless of the condition or circumstances of the mother, is entitled to the protection of society and to its assistance in case of destitution.
Article 52
Usury is prohibited. The law fixing a maximum limit on interest rates on loans is of a public character. This law will fix the penalties to be applied to offenders thereunder.
No one may be deprived of his liberty for debts.
Article 67
The general retirement and social security funds shall be organized in such a way as to guarantee to all workers, employers, employees, and laborers adequate retirement pensions and subsidies in case of accident, sickness, disability, enforced unemployment, etc.; and in case of death, the corresponding pension to their families. The old age pension is the right of those who have reached the limit of their productive age, after long residence in the country, and who lack the means to provide for the necessities of life.
The adjustments to Retirement and Pension assignments cannot be inferior to the variation of the Median Index of Salaries, and will be effected in the same circumstances as adjustments and augmentations in the remuneration of the functionaries of the Central Administration are established.
The benefits specified in the previous paragraph are financed on the basis of:
● Worker and employer contributions and other taxes established by law; and
● The financial assistance that must be proportional to the State, if deemed necessary.
Article 236
The members of the Supreme Court of Justice shall be appointed by the General Assembly by a two-thirds vote of its full membership. The appointment must be made within ninety days after a vacancy has occurred, for which purpose the General Assembly shall be called into special session. If this period expires without an appointment having been made, the appointment as member of the Supreme Court of Justice shall go automatically to the member of the Appellate Tribunals having the longest service in such post, and, if there is equal seniority, to the person who has served longest in the Judiciary or in the Public or Fiscal Ministry or prosecution service.
In cases of vacancy, and as long as they are not filled, and of challenge, excuse, or disability in fulfilling the judicial function, the Supreme Court shall be constituted in the manner prescribed by law.
Article 237
The members of the Supreme Court of Justice shall serve for ten years, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 250, and they may not be re-elected until after a lapse of five years following the previous term.
Facts of Uruguay's Constitution
Article 5
All religious sects are free in Uruguay. The State supports no religion whatever. It recognizes the right of the Catholic Church to ownership of all temples which have been built wholly or partly from funds of the National Treasury, with the sole exception of chapels dedicated for use by asylums, hospitals, prisons, or other public establishments. It likewise declares exempt from all forms of taxes the temples dedicated to worship by the various religious sects.
