The Legislature

Legislative power is exercised by the National Congress, which is composed of two houses: the Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) and the Federal Senate (Senado Federal).

In the Chamber of Deputies, the number of members by whom states (and the Federal District) are represented is proportional to each state's population. Deputies serve four-year terms and are elected by direct secret ballot under the system (adopted for all elections for public office) of universal suffrage.

The Senate is composed of three Senators from each state and the Federal District, elected for a term of eight years. Senatorial elections are staggered (one-third and then two-thirds) every four years, in elections held concomitantly with those for the Chamber of Deputies.

A Deputy and a Senator can stand for re-election without restriction. There are presently 81 Senators and 513 members of the Chamber of Deputies.

The Judiciary

Judicial powers are vested in the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal - STF), in the Superior Court of Justice (Superior Tribunal de Justiça - STJ), regional courts, and in specific courts for electoral, labour, military, and other matters. The justices and judges of all the courts, at both the federal and the state levels, are appointed for life.

The Federal Supreme Court is at the apex of the judicial system. It has its seat in Brasilia, but holds jurisdiction throughout the country. It is composed of eleven Justices, of proven legal and constitutional training and experience, appointed by the President of the Republic after their nomination has been approved by the absolute majority of the Federal Senate.

Government Departments & Ministries

The following is a directory of departments and ministries of the Brazilian federal Government. The official name in Portuguese is followed by the English equivalent and the name of the Head of department or Minister.

PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA
PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
www.presidencia.gov.br

VICE-PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA
VICE-PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC
José Alencar
www.vicepresidenciadarepublica.gov.br

CASA CIVIL DA PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA
PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF
José Dirceu
casacivil@planalto.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA AGRICULTURA, PECUÁRIA E ABASTECIMENTO
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND SUPPLY
Roberto Rodrigues
www.agricultura.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DAS CIDADES
MINISTRY OF THE CITIES
Olívio Dutra
www.cidades.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Eduardo Campos
www.mct.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DAS COMUNICAÇÕES
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
Eunício Oliveira
www.mc.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA CULTURA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
Gilberto Gil
www.cultura.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA DEFESA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
José Alencar
www.defesa.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO AGRÁRIO
MINISTRY FOR AGRARIAN DEVELOPMENT
Miguel Rossetto
www.mda.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO SOCIAL
MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Patrus Ananias

MINISTÉRIO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO, INDÚSTRIA E COMÉRCIO EXTERIOR
MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRY AND FOREIGN TRADE
Luiz Fernando Furlan
www.mdic.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA EDUCAÇÃO
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Tarso Genro
www.educacao.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO ESPORTE
MINISTRY OF SPORTS
Agnello Queiroz
www.esporte.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA FAZENDA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
Antônio Palocci
www.fazenda.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA INTEGRAÇÃO NACIONAL
MINISTRY FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATION
Ciro Gomes
www.integracao.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA JUSTIÇA
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Márcio Thomaz Bastos
www.mj.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO MEIO AMBIENTE
MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Marina Silva
www.meioambiente.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DE MINAS E ENERGIA
MINISTRY OF MINING AND ENERGY
Dilma Roussef
www.mme.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO PLANEJAMENTO, ORÇAMENTO E GESTÃO
MINISTRY OF PLANNING, BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT
Guido Mantega
www.planejamento.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA PREVIDÊNCIA E ASSISTÊNCIA SOCIAL
MINISTRY OF WELFARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
Amir Lando
www.mpas.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DAS RELAÇÕES EXTERIORES
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS
Celso Amorim
www.mre.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DA SAÚDE
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Humberto Costa
www.saude.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO TRABALHO E EMPREGO
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Ricardo Berzoini
www.mte.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DOS TRANSPORTES
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
Alfredo Pereira do Nascimento
www.transportes.gov.br

MINISTÉRIO DO TURISMO
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
Walfrido Mares Guia
www.turismo.gov.br