Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/765

 713

BRAZIL.

(EsTADOS UXIDOS DO BRAZIL.*

Constitution and Government.

Brazil became a Portuguese settlement in 1500. On the French invasion of Portugal, in 1807, the Portuguese Royal family fled to Brazil ; on December 16, 1815, the colony was declared ' a kingdom.' 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 surviving 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 Einpercr and Perpetual Defender ' on October 12 following. In 1831 he abdicated the crown in favour of his only son, Dom Pedro II. (born 1825, died 1891), who reigned as Emperor until November 15, 1S89, when by a revolution he was dethroned, and he and his family exiled, and Brazil declared a Republic under the title of the United States of Brazil. The decree of banishment against the ex-Imperial family was repealed on August 6, 1920.

According to the constitution adopted by the National Congress on February 2-1, 1891, the Brazilian nation is constituted as the United States of Brazil. At present the Union consists of twenty States, on* National Territory (purchased in 1902), and one Federal District. Each of the old Provinces forms a State, administered at its own expense without inter- ference 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 aud 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 poweror accept any commission or paid office, except such as are diplomatic or military or imposed bv 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 Federal Government. Deputies and Senators are paid, and neither can be Ministers of State, and retain at the same time their seats in Congress. Deputies must have been Brazilian citizens for four years. Senators must be over thirty-five years of age and must have been citizens for six years.

The Chamber of Deputies consists of 212 members elected for three years by direct vote (providing for the representation of the minority), in a pro-

Sortion not greater than one to every 70,000 of population as shown by a ecennial census, but so that no State will have less than four repre- sentatives. It has the initiative in legislation relating to taxation, and in