Constituent Congress of Peru, 1822

The Constituent Congress of Peru, 1822 was the first democratically elected institution in Peru. Its members, called deputies, were appointed by popular election called by the liberator José de San Martín, who then exercised power as Protector of Peru. The main task of this meeting was to give the Republic of Peru its first constitution, which was the liberal constitution of 1823. Also, before the retirement of San Martín, presented the Executive to three members, who formed a collegial body called the Supreme Governing Board and whose head was General José de la Mar. subsequently ratified in succession to the former presidents of the Republic of Peru: José de la Riva Agüero and José Bernardo de Tagle (better known as the Marquis of Torre Tagle).

After the proclamation of the independence of Peru, the ancient capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, Lima, on July 28, 1821, General José de San Martín assumed command of the military political free departments of Peru, under the title protector, according to the decree of August 3, 1821.

San Martín was the one who gave the state its first Peruvian flag, anthem, currency, and its administration and its first primitive institutions. But it remained to give a Constitution and meanwhile, a temporary regulation was imposed, later replaced by a statute.

On December 27, 1821, San Martín called for the first time the people to choose freely a Constituent Congress, with the mission to establish the form of government that henceforth would govern Peru, and a proper constitution.

On September 20, 1822 was installed the first Constituent Congress of Peru, composed of 79 deputies (elected) and 38 alternates (for realistic territories). Its members had the most prominent members of the clergy, the forum, letters and sciences. Before this Congress, San Martín resigned the protectorate and joined to leave Peru.

For the preparatory meetings, the Congress elected Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza, the precursor of independence, the same who had been rector of Convictorio of San Carlos, where he trained in the philosophy of enlightenment to the generation of Independence. Much of his former students now were included as deputies.

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