The Election of Constituents in 1903: A Case of Party Agreement La elección de constituyentes en 1903: Un caso de pacto partidario

Abstract

This article analyzes the electoral process that led to the formation of Panama’s 1904 Constituent Assembly, emphasizing its significance as the first institutional act of the newly independent republic. The author demonstrates that such parity resulted from a deliberate political agreement. Based on a detailed examination of electoral regulations, candidate lists, and voting records, the study shows that the parties coordinated single provincial lists with balanced representation. The simple majority electoral system, combined with the lack of formal regulation on political parties, enabled this strategy. The research further reveals a margin of flexibility, as about one-third of the initially proposed candidates were replaced, yet the overall partisan balance was preserved. The article’s main finding is that a prearranged party pact was the decisive mechanism ensuring shared representation and political stability in the assembly. This model was replicated in subsequent years to avoid partisan conflict.