Government and politics

The Brazilian Federation is based on the indissoluble association of three autonomous political entities: the States, the Municipalities and the Federal District.^[3] A fourth entity originated in the aforementioned association: the Union.^[3] There is no hierarchy among the political entities. The Federation is set on six fundamental principles:^[3] sovereignty, citizenship, dignity of the people, social value of labor, freedom of enterprise, and political pluralism. The classic tripartite division of power, encompassing the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches under the checks and balances system, is formally established by the Constitution.^[3] The Executive and Legislative are organized independently in all four political entities, while the Judiciary is organized only in the Federal and State levels.

All members of the executive and legislative branches are elected by direct suffrage.^[32][33][34] Judges and other judicial authorities are appointed after passing entry exams.^[32] Voting is compulsory for those aged 18 or older.^[3] Four political parties stand out among several small ones: Workers’ Party (PT), Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), and Democrats (formerly Liberal Front Party – PFL). Practically all governmental and administrative functions are exercised by authorities and agencies affiliated with the Executive. The form of government is Republican and democratic,^[3] and the system of government is Presidential.^[3] The President is Head of State and Head of Government of the Union and is elected for a four-year term,^[3] with the possibility of re-election for a second successive term. Currently the President of Brazil is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He was elected on October 27, 2002,^[35] and re-elected on October 29, 2006.^[36] The President appoints the Ministers of State, who assist in governing.^[3] Legislative houses in each political entity are the main source of laws in Brazil. The National Congress is the Federation’s bicameral legislature, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. Judiciary authorities exercise jurisdictional duties almost exclusively.