Pan-American Union (Twilight of a New Era)

The Pan-American Union (Unión Pan-Americana in Spanish, União Pan-Americana in Portuguese) is an interamerican organization and international economic bloc. Among its members it promotes peace, trade and scientific development in the Americas. Its members are the American republics and the commonwealth states of the United States. The Commonwealth of the Philippines has the status of nonvoting associated member. Official languages are English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Each member state is autonomous in the direction and management of its international affairs, except in matters related to interamerican affairs where it will work and pursue its interest under the collective framework of the Pan-American Union. Mayor fields of cooperation are commerce, trade, communications and scientific and cultural development. The Pan-American Union is headed by a Director General, elected by the Conference, along the Council.

Main activities
Through a series of multilateral conventions and treaties it promotes trade, peace and scientific development. The uniform code of commerce and uniform customs services have become part of the Interamerican legal system. It has also created a continental standards office and a interamerican patents registry. Mayor public works sponsored are the Pan-American Railroad and Pan-American Highway. It sponsors and cooperates in the organization Pan-American Exposition or ExpoPanAm held every 5 or 6 years in a city of the Americas. It also sponsors the Pan-American Games, held every 4 year.

Organization of the Pan-American Union
Its organization is the one laid out in Pan-American Conference of 1921, and subsequent reforms.
 * Pan-American Conference. The supreme decision organ and forum for interamerican affairs. Each state member and commonwealth has one vote through its official delegation. Delegates The Conference meets bi-anually in any cities of the Americas voted by the Conference or chosen by the Council. It elects the Council and Director General every 4 years. As the power to create, dissolve or restructure the autonomous organizations.
 * Council of the Pan-American Union. Integrated by 7 representatives, elected by the Conference. It must be integrated at all times by a representative from the United Sates, and one from the South Alliance (the so called permanent members). The Council meets monthly to manage administrative affairs has laid out by the Conference, treaties and Conventions. Calls and prepares the table and preliminary work for the Conference.
 * Directorate General of the Pan-American Union, formed by a Secretariat and auxiliary organizations created by the Conference. Coordinates the actions of the autonomous organizations.
 * National Bureaus of the Pan-American Union, that serve has liaison between the governments and the Pan-American Union.
 * Interamerican Court of Justice. Integrated by the President of the Court and 8 Associated Justices. The Associated Justices are elected by the Pan-American Conference in a special session for that purpose, on plurality votes. Their mandate is for 8 years and a half of its members are elected every 4 years. The President is elected on a list of candidates proposed by the Council to the Conference, on which its members must vote on a candidate that has an absolute majority, if necessary consecutive run off elections are done. The President is given a full mandate of 8 years.
 * Autonomous organization that depend and report directly the Conference:
 * Pan-American Health Organization
 * Interamerican Copyrights Institute
 * Administration of the Pan-American Railroad
 * Pan-American Highway Board
 * Civil Aviation Federation of the Americas
 * Interamerican Postal and Telecommunications Union
 * Pan-American Organization for the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Advancement and Cooperation
 * Interamerican Trade Organization

The seat of the Directorate General and Council is in Washington DC and the Interamerican Court of Justice in Bogota (Colombia).

Membership of the Pan-American Union
Full voting members of the Pan-American Union
 * Republic of Argentina
 * Republic of the United States of Brazil
 * Republic of Chile
 * Republic of Colombia
 * Commonwealth of Cuba
 * Republic of Bolivia
 * Commonwealth of the Dominican Republic
 * Republic of Ecuador
 * Commonwealth of Haiti
 * United Mexican States
 * Republic of Panama
 * Republic of Paraguay
 * Republic of Peru
 * Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
 * United States of America
 * Oriental Republic of Uruguay
 * Republic of Venezuela
 * Republic of Honduras (1921-1921, 1948 to date)1
 * Republic of Nicaragua (1921-1921, 1948 to date)1
 * Republic of El Salvador (1921-1921, 1948 to date)1
 * Republic of Guatemala (1921-1921, 1948 to date)1
 * Republic of Costa Rica ( (1921-1921, 1948 to date)1
 * Federal Republic of Central America (from 1921 to 1948)

Associated member status Nota: 1- Former members until 1921, regained seats on the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1948
 * Commonwealth of the Philippines