Legal System of Brazil
Brazil is located in South America. It is geographically situated in eastern south america, bordering the atlantic ocean. The country achieved independence on 7 september 1822 (from portugal). The capital is Brasília.
Government Overview
Government Type: federal presidential republic Chief of State: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023) Head of Government: President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins National Holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822) Suffrage: voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age
Legal System
The legal system of Brazil is described as civil law International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitutional Framework
The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988 Amendment Process: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended
Judicial Branch
Highest Court(s): Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices) Judge Selection: justices appointed by the president and approved by absolute majority by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75 Subordinate Courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system
Legislative Branch
The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara dos Deputados) (513 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): proportional representation Upper Chamber: Federal Senate (Senado Federal)
Citizenship and Suffrage
Citizenship by Birth: yes Citizenship by Descent: yes Suffrage: voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age
Historical Background
After more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getúlio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed through various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945.
This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Brazil based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.