Abstract
Constitution and Government.—The Republic of Liberia had its origin in the efforts of several American philanthropic societies to make permanent provision for freed American slaves by establishing them in a colony on the West African coast. In 1822 a settlement was formed on the west coast of Africa near the spot where Monrovia now stands. On July 26, 1847, the State was constituted as the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia. The new State was first recognised by Great Britain and France, and ultimately by other Powers. The Constitution of the Republic is on the model of that of the United States, with important differences. The executive is vested in a President and a Council of 8 Ministers, and the legislative power in a parliament of two Houses, called the Senate and the House of Representatives. The President is elected for eight, the House of Representatives for four, and the Senate for six years. The President must be at least thirty-five years of age, and have unencumbered real estate to the value of 2,500 dollars, or 500l. Electors must be of negro blood, and owners of land. The natives of the country are not excluded from the franchise, but, except in the centres of civilisation, they take no part in political life. The official language of the Government is English.
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Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Liberia
1. Official Publications
Report of U.S. Commissioner of Education for 1905. Vol. I. contains a Report on Education in Liberia by G. W. Ellis, secretary of the U.S. Legation at Monrovia. Washington, D.C., 1907.
League of Nations. International Commission of Enquiry in Liberia. Communication by the Government of Liberia dated December 15th, 1930, transmitting the Commission’s Report. Geneva, 1930.
Request for Assistance submitted by the Liberian Government. Geneva, May 21, 1932.
2. Non-Official Publications
Azíkíwe (N.), Liberia in World Politics. London, 1934.
Buell (R. L.), The Native Problem in Africa. (Liberia: vol. ii., pp. 706–888.) New York,1928.
Christy (Dr. C.), Liberia in 1930. Article in Geographical Journal, June, 1931.
Germann (Paul), Die Völkerstämme im Norden von Liberia : Ergebnisse einer Forsch. ungsreise . . . in den Jahren 1928/29. (Veröffentlichungen des Staatlichsächsischen Forschungsinstitutes für Völkerkunde in Leipzig. Erste Reihe: Ethnographie und Ethnologie. Elfter Band.) Leipzig, 1933.
Johnston (Sir H. H.), Liberia : The Negro Republic in West Africa. London, 1906.
Jore (L.), La République de Libéria. Paris, 1912.
Maugham (R. C. F.), The Republic of Liberia. London, 1920.
Mills (Lady D.), Through Liberia. London, 1926.
Reeve (H. F.), The Black Republic : Liberia. London, 1923.
Rue (S. de la), The Land of the Pepper Bird : Liberia. London, 1930.
Sibley (J. L.) and Westermann (D.), Liberia Old and New. London, 1928.
Strong (R. P.), The African Republic of Liberia and the Belgian Congo. Cambridge, 1930.
Westermann (D.). Die Kpelle, ein Negerstamm in Liberià. Göttingen, 1922.
Yancy (E. J.), Historical Lights of Liberia’s Yesterday and To-day. Xenia, Ohio, 1934.
Young (J. C.), Liberia Discovered. New York, 1934.
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© 1936 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
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Epstein, M. (1936). Liberia. In: Epstein, M. (eds) The Statesman’s Year-Book. The Statesman’s Yearbook. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230270657_43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230270657_43
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