Governance in Brasil

Governance in Brasil
The República Federativa do Brasil is considered a federal presidential representative democratic republic and is headed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (known as Lula) reelected to a second term this past October 29, 2006. He will remain president through the year 2010. The republic is governed by a 1988 (and seventh) constitution and is organized into a federation that includes a union (or national) president and bicameral national congress (federal senate and chamber of deputies), states and municipalities. One of the most famous architectural triumphs in the world is the National Congress Building designed by Oscar Niemeyer and located in the Brasilia, the nation’s capital.



Twenty-six states (26 estates) and one federal district of Brasilia make up the first layer federal units of sub-national jurisdiction. I live in the state of Rio de Janeiro, home to more than 14 million residents that is headed by governor Sergio Cabral Filho and the legislative assembly.






The states are further divided into 5560 municipalities. Municipalities in Brasil are autonomous, independent federal units that have their own legislative councils and mayors. I live in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, the 44th largest city in Brasil and located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Campos has 430,000 residents and is part of the Northern Fluminense region. The governance of Campos, prefeitura municipal, includes a city hall that houses the chief executive, the mayor and the city council. The name Campos dos Goytacazes refers to the “Fields of the Goytazazes Indians.” This photo is of the main cathedral in Sao Salvado Square in the center of Campos.