Federal government of Brazil

The federal government of Brazil (Governo Federal) is the national government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, a country in South America made up of 26 states and a federal district. It is led by a president, who serves as both the head of state and government, working with a group of advisors known as the cabinet.

Brazil's government has three main parts. The executive branch, led by the president, handles day-to-day leadership and decisions. The legislative branch, called the National Congress, creates laws and makes important decisions for the country. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Federal Court and other federal courts, which ensure laws are followed fairly.

The capital of Brazil, where much of the government works, is the city of Brasília. This city was built in the middle of the 20th century to serve as a modern and centralized seat of government.

Division of powers

Brazil is a federal presidential constitutional republic, based on a representative democracy. The federal government has three independent branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The Federal Constitution is the supreme law of Brazil. It sets the rules for how the government works and how it relates to the states, citizens, and everyone living in Brazil.

Executive power is led by the President, who is helped by a Cabinet of Ministers. The President serves as both the head of state and the head of government. Legislative power belongs to the National Congress, which has two parts: the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Judicial power is handled by courts, including the Supreme Federal Court, the Superior Court of Justice, and other Superior Courts, along with the National Justice Council and regional federal courts.^{[citation needed]}

Logo evolution

The logo of Brazil's federal government has changed many times over the years. Each president since 1969 has used a different version of the logo during their time in office. The logos shown here represent the designs used from 1969 through today, reflecting the changes made by each administration.

Executive branch

Further information: President of Brazil and Cabinet of Brazil

The executive branch of Brazil's government is led by the President. The President serves as both the head of state and the head of government. The President works with a group of leaders called the Cabinet to help run the country. Together, they make important decisions and guide the nation.

Legislative branch

The National Congress (Congresso Nacional) has two parts. The first is the Federal Senate (Senado Federal), with 81 members — three from each States and the Federal District. Senators are chosen by a vote and serve for eight years.

The second part is the Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados), with 513 members. Deputies are chosen by a voting system and serve for four years. There are no limits on how many times someone can be re-elected.

Currently, 15 political parties have members in Congress. Politicians sometimes change parties, so the number of seats each party has can change often.

Judicial branch

Main article: Judiciary of Brazil

Brazil's courts follow rules based on civil law and a system where both sides present their cases. The judicial system has different parts for states and the federal government.

Judges at the first level start by passing a public competitive examination. Judges at the next level move up from the first level. Higher court judges are chosen for life by the President and approved by the Senate. All judges must have studied law and retire at age 70.

Federal judicial branch

The country is split into five regions, each with two or more states. These regions have Judiciary Sections, matching each state's area, and smaller Judiciary Subsections.

Each Judiciary Subsection has federal courts for basic cases, and each Region has a Federal Regional Tribunal to handle appeals. There are also special courts for labour Court matters, election Justice issues, and military Justice cases.

Superior Courts

Two top national courts handle special types of cases: the Superior Justice Tribunal (STJ) and the Supreme Federal Court. The STJ reviews decisions that might go against federal laws. The Supreme Federal Court looks at cases where the constitution might have been broken. These courts focus on how laws are applied, not on details of what happened.