Bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional)
- 1/3 and 2/3 of members get elected every 4 years, but serve a full 8 year term
- At least 35 years old
2. Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados)
- 513 seats (elected by Proportional Representation)
*Uses the least used PR system (open-list system)
-This system doesn't create conflict or competition among parties in the elections
- Any conflicts are centered within the parties themselves
- At least 21 years old
- Serve a 4 year term
- Constitution gives the committees the power to approve or kill legislation
Job of the legislature overall:
- Administrative and fiscal autonomy
- Full power over budget
- May issue legislative decrees not subject to presidential veto
*If there was a presidential veto then the legislature used to be able to get rid of the veto by absolute majority secret vote but the Chamber of Deputies recently banned that power in 2013
- Controls all foreign and domestic agreements
- Have legislative initiative
- Both combined have about 6-16 chamber committees with a budget committee in each
- Each house elects its presiding officers (one president, two vice presidents, four administrative secretaries, and four alternates) for two-year terms, but cannot be directly reelected
How bill is made:
- To override a committee decision and bring the bill to the floor of the appropriate house requires a petition signed by a certain number of members. Once one house passes a bill, the other deliberates on it. If a different version of the bill is passed, it returns to the original house for a final vote on the differences. The internal rules of each house allow members and party leaders certain prerogatives of obstruction.
- Federal Senate (Senado Federal)
- 1/3 and 2/3 of members get elected every 4 years, but serve a full 8 year term
- At least 35 years old
2. Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados)
- 513 seats (elected by Proportional Representation)
*Uses the least used PR system (open-list system)
-This system doesn't create conflict or competition among parties in the elections
- Any conflicts are centered within the parties themselves
- At least 21 years old
- Serve a 4 year term
- Constitution gives the committees the power to approve or kill legislation
Job of the legislature overall:
- Administrative and fiscal autonomy
- Full power over budget
- May issue legislative decrees not subject to presidential veto
*If there was a presidential veto then the legislature used to be able to get rid of the veto by absolute majority secret vote but the Chamber of Deputies recently banned that power in 2013
- Controls all foreign and domestic agreements
- Have legislative initiative
- Both combined have about 6-16 chamber committees with a budget committee in each
- Each house elects its presiding officers (one president, two vice presidents, four administrative secretaries, and four alternates) for two-year terms, but cannot be directly reelected
How bill is made:
- To override a committee decision and bring the bill to the floor of the appropriate house requires a petition signed by a certain number of members. Once one house passes a bill, the other deliberates on it. If a different version of the bill is passed, it returns to the original house for a final vote on the differences. The internal rules of each house allow members and party leaders certain prerogatives of obstruction.