Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/790

 434 BRAZIL.

(ESTADOS UNIDOS DO BRAZIL.)

Constitution and Government.

In 1807 the royal family of Portugal fled to Brazil; in 1815 the colony was declared 'a kingdom' ; and the Portuguese Court having returned to Europe in 1821, a national congress assembled at Rio de Janeiro, and on May 13, 1822, Dom Pedro, eldest son of King Joao VI. of Portugal, was chosen 'Perpetual Defender' of Brazil. He proclaimed the independence of the country on September 7, 1822, and was chosen `Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender' on October 12 following. In 1831 he abdi- cated the crown in favour of his only son, Dom Pedro II., who reigned as Emperor until November 15, 1889, when by a revolu- tion he was dethroned, and he^1 and his family exiled, and Brazil declared a Bepublic under the title of the United States of Brazil.

General Deodoro Fonseca was the first President. On Novem- ber 23, 1891, he resigned, and Vice-President Peixoto took his place. Dissatisfaction, occasioned principally by military inter- ference in the States, led to a rising in Rio Grande do Sul and to a naval revolt in the Bay of Rio de Janeiro. The rising in the South terminated in August, 1895, and the naval revolt was suppressed in March, 1894.

According to the constitution adopted by the National Congress in February, 1891, the Brazilian nation is constituted as the United States of Brazil. Each of the old Provinces forms a State, administered at its own expense without interference from the Federal Government save for defence, for the maintenance of order, and for the execution of the Federal laws. Fiscal arrangements in such matters as import duties, stamps, rates of postage, and bank-note circulation belong to the Union ; but export duties are the property of the various States.

The legislative authority is exercised by the National Congress with the sanction of the President of the Republic. Congress consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It meets annually on the 3rd of May, without being convoked, unless another day be fixed by law, and sits four months, but may be prorogued or convoked extraordinarily. No member of Congress, after his election, can contract with the executive power or accept any commission or paid office, except such as are diplomatic or military or imposed by law. If, in ordinary circumstances, the acceptance of diplomatic or military office would cause the loss of the legislative services of a member, the permission of the Chamber is required. Nor can any member of Congress take part in the administration of any company which receives a subsidy from the

1 Dom Pedro died in 1801.