November 2016

Vol. 1

Government System of Brazil

Background
From 1964 to 1985, the military controlled the government under
a succession of generals, who suspended constitutional
guarantees of rights. Civilian government was restored in 1985,
and a new democratic constitution took effect in 1988. It provided
for direct elections of a president and vice president to 6-year
terms. The president is the head of both state and government.

Brazil is a federal republic, consisting of 26 states and the

Federal District of Braslia. Each state has its own elected
legislature and governor. Brazil's legislative body is the
National Congress, which is composed of the Chamber of
Deputies and the Federal Senate.
The President
The President of Brazil, officially the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, is
both the head of state and the head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the
commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces. The President of Brazil serves for
four years, and may be reelected for a single term. The current president is named
Michel Temer and was elected into office August of 2016 after the previous president
was impeached.
What is a Federal Republic?
A federal republic is a type of government made up of smaller areas such as states or
provinces where the central government cedes certain powers to the individual areas for
self-government purposes. The citizens of the federal republic elect their own
representatives to lead them.
Like America, it has a legislative branch, executive branch and a judicial branch.