Brazil Part 2 -  Political Institutions 

Main Institutions 

President - head of state, head of government, commander-in-chief
  Directly elected in two round election (primary, general), four year terms, 2 term maximum

    President is focus of policy making.  Executive bureaucracy takes major role in setting forth major policies, based on leadership both of President as well as other central usually economic Ministers and Directors.  President appoints 100s of senior government officials.  Has a "Government Council" (Cabinet) run by chief of staff. 

Some important institutions within executive branch that affect economic policy making include the Finance Ministry, Central Bank, the Department of Planning, and the BNDES (development bank)  Legislature is left to work on the details.

    Civil Service - runs under the executive branch.  Professionalized but tends to have clientelist characteristics as well - with individual stakeholders included in policy-making and specific concessions made in exchange for political support.  These are called bureaucratic rings.  These rings sometimes involve organized interest groups such as business associations or trade unions, but often are personalistic and relate to specific individuals.  Note that the election of Lula da Silva and the rise of the Workers' Party, which has strong ties to the trade union movement (CUT) may change the historical pattern of interest group/executive branch interaction.

    Military -  now more professionalized, less political focus.  Has seen reductions in budget, privatization of military owned "industrial-defense" firms. 

    Police - split into "civil" (investigatory) and "military" which is more concerned with daily law and order.  Known for violence and being hard to control.

Legislature - two chambers: Chamber of Deputies (513, based on population) and Senate (81,based on territory - 26 States plus "Federal District")

Justice - led by Supreme Federal Court - which has limited constitutional oversight duties as well as being the final court of appeal. 11 Justices appointed by President with affirmation of Senate.  Lifetime appointment.  Court has often lacked assertiveness as a "check and balance" typically allowing the Executive to get away with marginal calls.

State/Local courts known to be influenced by local power structures, particularly in rural areas where landowners are still dominant social force.

Federalism - States led by elected governors (4 year terms, 2 term maximum)

Since 1980s, increasing decentralization, with greater local taxing authority.  State banks have financed local projects, but have run up big debts, usually passed on to the federal level.  President Collor cut back on this.  He also increased requirements for local funding of education, social services and projects.

Representation

60% of population able to vote by 1994 (still excludes illiterates).  Minimum voting age: 16.  Voting compulsory starting at age 18.

Chamber of Deputies

4 year terms

Proportional representation within each state: min. 8 deputies, maximum 70.  No term limits, high turnover. Overrepresents rural areas. 

Senate

3 from each state+federal district. 8 year terms.  2/3 elected one cycle, 1/3 elected next cycle. No term limits, but lots of turnover.

Bill passage

Legislation has to pass both houses. President can sign or reject in whole or in part.  Legislature can override President by majority vote of joint session.

Senate can impeach President and affirm appointments.

Each chamber has a committee structure, 16 committees.

Party System

Parties historical weak, low party discipline, without durable party labels/organizations.  Personal loyalities and patronage/career advancement have been more important.  Reinforced by proportional representation and tendency of President to offer specific "pork" to individual legislators as price of bill passage.

Basic ideological tendencies:

Right: PFL (and smaller parties) neo-liberal - wants smaller government, privatization, liberal trade policy (except for some protectionism), wants reduction in "social rights" and end to proportional representation.

Center - PMDB, PSDB - mostly interested in economic stabilization, deficit reduction, low inflation, steady growth.  Mixed economy with some welfare state.

Left - PT (plus lots of smaller left parties) - want more government support to domestic industry, increase in "social rights," less inequality and more help to working classes.

Chart of 1999, 2002 Elections - Chamber of Deputies Results