Latest decrees by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

The decrees declared by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez:

-- Establish civilian militias critics fear will evolve into Cuban-style community groups used to monitor and prevent "counterrevolutionary" activities.

-- Give Chavez the power to expropriate goods from private business owners without approval from the National Assembly.

-- Increase state control over food production and commerce, punishing business owners who fail to comply with price controls and other regulations with fines, indefinite closure or up to 10 years in prison.

-- Give Chavez the ability to designate regional political authorities who could undermine the power of elected mayors and governors.

-- Put Chavez in charge of a social investment fund for "excess resources" from state-run enterprises -- including recently nationalized telecommunications, electricity, steel and cement companies.

-- Support efforts by the Chavez government to create a socialist-style economy at the community level, providing for bartering of goods and the communal operation of "social property" businesses.

-- Change the name of Venezuela's military, now decreed to be "Bolivarian," a reference to independence hero Simon Bolivar, whom Chavez considers to be the inspiration of his socialist movement.