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Brazilian National Congress

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The National Congress (Portuguese: Congresso Nacional) is the legislative body of Brazil's federal government. Unlike the state legislative assemblies and municipal chambers, the Congress is bicameral, composed of the Federal Senate (the upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house). The Congress meets annually in Brasília from 2 February to 22 December, with a mid-term break taking place between 17 July and 1 August.[2][3]

National Congress

Congresso Nacional
57th Legislature of the National Congress
Type
Type
Houses
History
Founded6 May 1826 (1826-05-06)
New session started
5 February 2024 (2024-02-05)
Leadership
Rodrigo Pacheco, PSD
since 1 February 2021
Arthur Lira, PP
since 1 February 2021
Government Leader
Randolfe Rodrigues, PT
since 3 January 2023
Majority Leader
Aguinaldo Ribeiro, PP
since 19 April 2024
Minority Leader
Flávio Bolsonaro, PL
since 13 April 2023
Structure
Seats
  • 594 members:
  • 81 senators
  • 513 federal deputies
Composition of the Federal Senate
Federal Senate political groups
Government (42)
  PSD (15)
  MDB (11)
  PT (9)
  PSB (4)
  PDT (3)

Opposition (32)

  PL (13)
  PODE (7)
  PP (6)
  Republicanos (4)
  PSDB (1)
  NOVO (1)

Independents (7)

  UNIÃO (7)
Composition of the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies political groups
Government (226)
  FE Brasil (80)
  MDB (44)
  PSD (44)
  PDT (18)
  PSB (14)
  Avante (7)
  Solidariedade (5)

Opposition (114)

  PL (93)
  NOVO (4)

Independents (173)

  UNIÃO (59)
  PP (50)
  Republicanos (44)
  PODE (14)
  PRD (5)
  Independent (1)
Elections
Federal Senate voting system
Plurality voting, alternating every four years between single-member elections (FPTP) and dual-member elections (Block voting)
Chamber of Deputies voting system
Open list proportional representation (D'Hondt method) with a 2% election threshold[1]
Last general election
2 October 2022
Next general election
4 October 2026
Meeting place
Nereu Ramos Palace, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
Website

The Senate represents the 26 states and the Federal District. Each state and the Federal District has a representation of three senators, who are elected by popular ballot for a term of eight years. Every four years, renewal of either one third or two-thirds of the Senate (and of the delegations of the States and the Federal District) takes place.[4][5] The Chamber of Deputies represents the people of each state, and its members are elected for a four-year term by a system of proportional representation. Seats are allotted proportionally according to each state's population, with each state eligible for a minimum of 8 seats (least populous) and a maximum of 70 seats (most populous). Unlike the Senate, the whole of the Chamber of Deputies is renewed every four years.[6]

Until recently it was common for politicians to switch parties and the proportion of congressional seats held by each party would often change. Seats belong to the parties and not to the politicians; one can only change parties and retain his or her seat in a very limited set of cases. Politicians who abandon the party for which they were elected now face the loss of their congressional seat.[7] Each house of the Brazilian Congress elects its president and the other members of its directing board from among its members. The President of the Senate is ex officio the President of the National Congress, and in that capacity summons and presides over joint sessions, as well as over the joint services of both houses. The President of the Chamber is second in the presidential line of succession while the President of the Senate (and of Congress) is third.

Board of the National Congress

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The current composition of the Board of the National Congress is as follows:[8]

Office Name Party State
President Rodrigo Pacheco PSD Minas Gerais
1st Vice-President Marcos Pereira Republicanos São Paulo
2nd Vice-President Rodrigo Cunha UNIÃO Alagoas
1st Secretary Luciano Bivar UNIÃO Pernambuco
2nd Secretary Weverton Rocha PDT Maranhão
3rd Secretary Júlio Cesar PSD Piauí
4th Secretary Styvenson Valentim PODE Rio Grande do Norte

Houses

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Federal Senate

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Main article: Federal Senate

The Federal Senate (Portuguese: Senado Federal) is the upper house of the National Congress created by the first Constitution of the Brazilian Empire in 1824; it was inspired by United Kingdom's House of Lords, but with the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889 it became closer to the United States Senate.[9] Currently, the Senate comprises 81 seats. Three senators from each of the 26 states and three senators from the Federal District are elected on a majority basis to serve eight-year terms. Elections are staggered so that two-thirds of the upper house is up for election at one time and the remaining one-third four years later. When one seat is up for election in each State, each voter casts one vote for the Senate; when two seats are up for election, each voter casts two votes, and the voter cannot give his two votes for the same candidate, but, in elections for the renewal of two-thirds of the Senate, each party can present two candidates for election. The candidate in each State and the Federal District (or the first two candidates, when two-thirds of the seats are up for election) who achieve the greatest plurality of votes are elected.[10]

Chamber of Deputies

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Main article: Chamber of Deputies

The Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) is the lower house of the National Congress, it is composed of 513 federal deputies, who are elected by a proportional representation of votes to serve a four-year term. Seats are allotted proportionally according to each state's population, with each state eligible for a minimum of 8 seats (least populous) and a maximum of 70 seats (most populous).[11]

In 2018, 24 out of the country's 33 political parties were able to elect at least one representative in the Chamber, while sixteen of them were able to elect at least one senator.

See the Latest election section for election results table.

Building

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Main article: Palácio do Congresso Nacional

In early 1900s, the Brazilian National Congress happened to be in separate buildings in Rio de Janeiro which was then the national capital. The Senate was located near Railway Central Station, beside the Republica Square, at Moncorvo Filho Street, where there is today a Federal University of Rio de Janeiro students' center. The Federal Chamber of Deputies was located at Misericórdia Street, which would later be the location of the State of Rio de Janeiro's local Chamber of Deputies. From the 1930s to early 1960s, the Senate occupied the Monroe Palace, which was demolished in the 1970s to allow the construction of the subway Cinelândia Station. The Federal Chamber of Deputies moved to Brasília in the early 1960s, a process that took years to complete.[12]

Since the 1960s, the National Congress has been located in Brasília. Like most of the city's government buildings, the National Congress building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer.[13]

The semi-sphere on the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semi-sphere on the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them are two vertical office towers.[14]

The building is located in the middle of the Monumental Axis, the main street of Brasília. In front of it there is a large lawn where demonstrations take place. At the back of it, is the Praça dos Três Poderes ('Three Powers Plaza'), where lies the Palácio do Planalto and the Supreme Federal Court.

On 6 December 2007, the Institute of Historic and Artistic National Heritage (Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional) decided to declare the building of the National Congress a historical heritage of the Brazilian people. The building has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of Brasília's original urban buildings, since 1987.[15]

2023 storming

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Main article: 2023 Praça dos Três Poderes attack

On 8 January 2023, supporters of the former president Jair Bolsonaro invaded and vandalized the Brazilian National Congress as well as other federal buildings in Brasília.[16]

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National Congress building

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Latest election

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Main article: 2022 Brazilian congressional election

Chamber of Deputies

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Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Liberal Party18,201,24616.6299+66[a]
Brazil
of Hope		Workers' Party13,170,62612.0267+11
Communist Party of Brazil1,154,7121.056–4[b]
Green Party954,5780.876+2
Brazil Union10,198,2889.3159–22[c]
Progressistas8,692,9187.9447+10
Social Democratic Party8,293,9567.5742+8
Brazilian Democratic Movement7,870,8107.1842+8
Republicans7,610,8946.9541+11[d]
Always
Forward		Brazilian Social Democracy Party3,309,0613.0213–16
Cidadania1,614,1061.475–3[e]
PSOL
REDE		Socialism and Liberty Party3,856,0313.5212+2
Sustainability Network783,6010.722+1
Brazilian Socialist Party4,172,3833.8114–18
Democratic Labour Party3,828,2893.4917–11
Podemos3,610,6343.3012–5[f]
Avante2,175,3551.9970
Social Christian Party1,944,6781.786–2
Solidarity1,697,1271.554–9
Patriota1,526,5701.394–5[g]
Brazilian Labour Party1,422,6521.301–9
New Party1,354,7541.243–5
Republican Party of the Social Order1,042,6980.954–4
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party288,0270.2600
Party of National Mobilization256,5780.230–3
Act158,6220.140–2[h]
Christian Democracy97,7410.090–1
Brazilian Communist Party85,5110.0800
Brazilian Woman's Party83,0550.0800
Popular Unity54,5860.050New
United Socialist Workers' Party27,9950.0300
Workers' Cause Party7,3080.0100
Total109,545,390100.005130
Valid votes109,545,39088.92
Invalid votes6,149,0564.99
Blank votes7,501,1256.09
Total votes123,195,571100.00
Registered voters/turnout155,557,50379.20
Source: Superior Electoral Court

Federal Senate

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Party or allianceVotes%Seats
ElectedTotal+/–
Liberal Party25,278,76425.39813+11[i]
Brazilian Socialist Party13,615,84613.6711–1
Brazil
of Hope		Workers' Party12,024,69612.0849+3
Green Party475,5970.48000
Communist Party of Brazil299,0130.30000
Social Democratic Party11,312,51211.36210+3
Progressistas7,592,3917.6237+2
Brazil Union5,465,4865.49512+2[j]
Social Christian Party4,285,4854.30110
Republicans4,259,2794.2823+2[k]
Brazilian Democratic Movement3,882,4583.90110–2
Brazilian Labour Party2,046,0032.0500–3
Podemos1,776,2831.7806–1[l]
Democratic Labour Party1,586,9221.5902–2
Always
Forward		Brazilian Social Democracy Party1,384,8711.3904–5
Cidadania00.0001–1[m]
Avante1,359,4551.37000
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party758,9380.76000
PSOL
REDE		Socialism and Liberty Party675,2440.68000
Sustainability Network8,1330.0101–4
New Party479,5930.48000
Popular Unity291,2940.2900New
Republican Party of the Social Order213,2470.21010
United Socialist Workers' Party132,6800.13000
Christian Democracy94,0980.09000
Patriota76,7290.0800–1[n]
Brazilian Communist Party64,5690.06000
Brazilian Woman's Party61,3500.06000
Party of National Mobilization27,8120.03000
Act24,0760.0200–1[o]
Solidarity17,3390.0200–1
Workers' Cause Party5,5720.01000
Independent00.0000–1
Total99,575,735100.0027810
Valid votes99,575,73580.83
Invalid votes14,279,52711.59
Blank votes9,340,3097.58
Total votes123,195,571100.00
Registered voters/turnout155,557,50379.20
Source: Superior Electoral Court

Legislatures

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The legislatures are counted from the first meeting of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate, on 6 May 1826, in the imperial era (the Chamber of Deputies met for preparatory sessions from 29 April 1826 onwards to elect its officers and conduct other preliminary business, but the legislature was formally opened on 6 May). The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate were created by Brazil's first Constitution, the Constitution of the Empire of Brazil, adopted in 1824. The previous Constituent and Legislative Assembly of the Empire of Brazil, a unicameral National Assembly, that was convened in 1823 and dissolved by Emperor Pedro I before adopting a Constitution is not counted among the legislatures. Thus, the numbering includes only the bicameral legislatures that existed from 1826 to the present day, and includes only legislatures elected after the adoption of the first Brazilian Constitution.

In the imperial era, the national legislature was named General Assembly. It was made up of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Senators were elected for life and the Senate was a permanent institution, whereas the Chamber of Deputies, unless dissolved earlier, was elected every four years. When Brazil became a Republic and a Federal State, the model of a bicameral legislature was retained at the Federal level, but the Parliament was renamed National Congress. The National Congress is made up of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. Both Houses have fixed terms and cannot be dissolved earlier. Under Brazil's present constitution, adopted in 1988, senators are elected for an eight-year term, and deputies are elected every four years.[17]

The numbering of the legislatures is continuous, including the legislatures of the imperial General Assembly and of the republican National Congress. The inauguration of a new composition of Chamber of Deputies for a four-year term of office marks the start of a new legislature.

Legislature Period Legislature Period Legislature Period Legislature Period Legislature Period
1st Legislature 1826–1829 13th Legislature 1867–1868 25th Legislature 1900–1902 37th Legislature 1935–1937 49th Legislature 1991–1995
2nd Legislature 1830–1833 14th Legislature 1869–1872 26th Legislature 1903–1905 38th Legislature 1946–1950 50th Legislature 1995–1999
3rd Legislature 1834–1837 15th Legislature 1872–1875 27th Legislature 1906–1908 39th Legislature 1951–1954 51st Legislature 1999–2003
4th Legislature 1838–1841 16th Legislature 1876–1877 28th Legislature 1909–1911 40th Legislature 1955–1958 52nd Legislature 2003–2007
5th Legislature 1842–1844 17th Legislature 1878–1881 29th Legislature 1912–1914 41st Legislature 1959–1962 53rd Legislature 2007–2011
6th Legislature 1845–1847 18th Legislature 1882–1884 30th Legislature 1915–1917 42nd Legislature 1963–1967 54th Legislature 2011–2015
7th Legislature 1848–1848 19th Legislature 1885–1885 31st Legislature 1918–1920 43rd Legislature 1967–1970 55th Legislature 2015–2019
8th Legislature 1849–1852 20th Legislature 1886–1889 32nd Legislature 1921–1923 44th Legislature 1971–1975 56th Legislature 2019–2023
9th Legislature 1853–1856 21st Legislature 1890–1891 33rd Legislature 1924–1926 45th Legislature 1975–1979 57th Legislature 2023–2027
10th Legislature 1857–1860 22nd Legislature 1891–1893 34th Legislature 1927–1929 46th Legislature 1979–1983
11th Legislature 1861–1863 23rd Legislature 1894–1896 35th Legislature 1930–1930 47th Legislature 1983–1987
12th Legislature 1864–1866 24th Legislature 1897–1899 36th Legislature 1933–1935 48th Legislature 1987–1991

Notes

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  1. ^ Compared to the deputies of the Party of the Republic elected in 2018. The party was renamed Liberal Party in 2019.
  2. ^ Compared to the combined deputies of the Communist Party of Brazil and of the Free Fatherland Party elected in 2018. The parties merged after that election.
  3. ^ Compared to the combined deputies of the Social Liberal Party and of Democrats elected in 2018. The parties merged to form Brazil Union in 2022.
  4. ^ Compared to the deputies of the Brazilian Republican Party elected in 2018. The party was renamed Republicans in 2019.
  5. ^ Compared to the deputies of the Popular Socialist Party elected in 2018. The party was renamed Cidadania in 2019.
  6. ^ Compared to the combined deputies of Podemos and of the Humanist Party of Solidarity elected in 2018. The parties merged after that election.
  7. ^ Compared to the combined deputies of Patriota and of the Progressive Republican Party elected in 2018. The parties merged after that election.
  8. ^ Compared to the deputies of the Christian Labour Party elected in 2018. The party was renamed Act in 2022.
  9. ^ Compared to the senators of the Party of the Republic elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The party was renamed Liberal Party in 2019.
  10. ^ Compared to the combined senators of Democrats and of the Social Liberal Party elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The parties merged to form Brazil Union in 2022.
  11. ^ Compared to the senators of the Brazilian Republican Party elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The party was renamed Republicans in 2019.
  12. ^ Compared to the combined senators of Podemos and of the Humanist Party of Solidarity elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The parties merged after that election.
  13. ^ Compared to the senators of the Popular Socialist Party elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The party was renamed Cidadania in 2019.
  14. ^ Compared to the combined senators of Patriota and of the Progressive Republican Party elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The parties merged after that election.
  15. ^ Compared to the senators of the Christian Labour Party elected in 2018 or not up for election in 2018. The party was renamed Act in 2022.

References

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  1. ^ "Com dura cláusula de barreira, metade das siglas corre risco de acabar". O Tempo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 July 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Brazil – The legislature". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  3. ^ "The National Congress". Portal da Câmara dos Deputados (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  4. ^ Bruns, Axel; Enli, Gunn; Skogerbo, Eli; Larsson, Anders Olof; Christensen, Christian (22 December 2015). The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-50656-0.
  5. ^ Brazil - The legislature.
  6. ^ Ameringer, Charles D. (1992). Political Parties of the Americas, 1980s to 1990s: Canada, Latin America, and the West Indies. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-313-27418-3.
  7. ^ Morgenstern, Scott; Nacif, Benito; Lange, Peter (4 March 2002). Legislative Politics in Latin America. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-79659-0.
  8. ^ "Mesa do Congresso Nacional". Congresso Nacional (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Senado Federal – SF". Portal Brasileiro de Dados Abertos (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Como funciona a eleição dos senadores". Senado Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 September 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ^ Pereira, Anthony W. (24 September 2020). Modern Brazil: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-19-254013-3.
  12. ^ Brawer, Moshe (12 February 1992). Atlas of South America. Springer. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-349-12579-1.
  13. ^ Bonfitto, Peter Louis (6 December 2021). World Architecture and Society: From Stonehenge to One World Trade Center [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-4408-6585-5.
  14. ^ Barnes, Ashley. "Modern Architecture in Brazil". wou.edu. Western Oregon University.
  15. ^ Galván, Javier A. (4 August 2020). Modern Brazil. ABC-CLIO. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-4408-6032-4.
  16. ^ "Brazil protests: Lula vows to punish 'neo-fascists' after Bolsonaro supporters storm congress". the Guardian. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  17. ^ Ameringer 1992, p. 105

See also

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