In a truly revolutionary manner, where all the deputies present at the National Assembly stand up, raise their hands, and unanimously approve laws, the chavista legislative body in Venezuela has just granted Hugo Chávez the authority to govern by decree for the next 18 months. Chávez will have the power to approve laws, including organic laws, which would typically require a qualified majority or 2/3 of the votes to become legislation. It is expected that he will address the much-feared education bill, land use planning, profit margins for businesses, nationalizations, ‘participatory democracy’, communal councils, and more.