Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/766

 714 BRAZIL

proceedings against the President of the Republic and Secretaries of State.

Senators, 63 in number, are chosen by direct vote, three for each State, and for the Federal district, for nine years, and the Senate is renewed to the extent of one-third every three years. The Vice-President of the Republic is President of the Senate.

The executive authority is exercised by the President of the Republic. He must be a native of Brazil, over thirty-five years of age. His term of office is four years, and he is not eligible for the succeeding term. The President and the Vice-President are elected by the people directly, by an absolute majority of votes. The election is held on the 1st of March in the last year of each presidential period in accordance with forms prescribed by law. No candidate must be related by blood or marriage, in the first or second degree, to the actual president or vice-president, or to either who has ceased to be so within six months.

The President appoints and dismisses ministers, is in supreme com- mand of the army and navy, and, within certain limits, has the power to declare war and make peace. He (with the consent of Congress) ap- points the members of the Supreme Federal Tribunal and the diplomatic ministers. No minister can appear in Congress, but must communicate by letter, or in conference with commissions of the Chambers. Ministers are not responsible to Congress or the Courts for advice given to the President of the Republic.

The franchise extends to all citizens not under twenty-one years of age, duly enrolled, except beggars, 'illiterates,' soldiers actually serving, and members of monastic orders, &c, under vows of obedience.

President of the Republic. — Dr. Epitacio da Silva Pess6a, born in 1865, elected April 13, 1919. Term of office expires November 15, 1922.

Vice-President. — Francesco Alvaro Bueno de Paiva, born in 1862, elected July, 1920.

There are 7 Secretaries of State at the head of the following Departments : — 1. Finance, 2. Justice, Interior and Public Instruction, 3. War, 4. Marine, 5. Foreign Affairs, 6. Communications and Public Works, 7. Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce.

I. Local Government.

Each State must be organised under the republican form of government, and must have its administrative, legislative, and judicial authorities distinct and independent. The governors and members of the legislatures must be elective ; the magistrates must not be elective nor removable from office save by judicial sentence. The Federal executive cannot intervene directly in the local government of the States. Kach State is governed by its own Constitution and laws which must agree with the constitutional principle* of the Union. In cases of the infringement of the principles of the Federal constitution by the constitutions, laws or authorities of any State, the Federal Government, after due process of Federal law, has the power to interfere even by force of arms, if necessary. The Federal District is administered by a council elected by the citizens of the District, the municipal executive authority being exercised by a Prefect appointed for four years by the President of the Republic. In 1912 there were in Brazil 1,233 municipalities, 705 townships (cidades), 528 villages (villas), and 3,629 districts.