National Congress of Brazil

Brazil's bicameral National Congress (Portuguese: Congresso Nacional) consists of a Senate (the upper house) and a Chamber of Deputies (the lower house).

Related Topics:
Brazil - Bicameral - Portuguese - Senate - Upper house - Chamber of Deputies - Lower house

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The Senate (Senado Federal) contains 81 seats: three senators from each state and three from the Federal District, 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.
• The Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) comprises 513 deputies (members of congress), who are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms. Elections are based on a complex system of proportional representation by states. The seats are allotted proportionally according to each state's population, but each state is eligible for a minimum of eight seats and a maximum of 70 seats. The result is a system weighted in favour of smaller states.

Both houses of Congress meet in a purpose-built legislative palace in the centre of Brasília.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fifteen political parties are currently represented in Congress.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since it is common for politicians to switch parties, the proportion of congressional seats held by particular parties changes regularly.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Brasilia National Congress.JPG|National Congress building

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Brazil.Congress.01.jpg|Chamber of Deputies

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Brazil.Congress.02.jpg|Senate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
National Congress of Brazil: External links ►