Brazil

The Federative Republic of Brazil, formed by the indissoluble union of states, municipalities, and the Federal District, is constituted as a Democratic State governed by the rule of law (Art. 1 of the Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil).

Politically and administratively, Brazil is composed of the Union, 26 states, the Federal District, and 5,568 municipalities, all autonomous under the Constitution. Federal territories are part of the Union, and their creation, transformation into states, or reintegration into their original states are regulated by supplementary law. Each state enacts its own constitution and is governed by a governor.

The National Congress of Brazil is bicameral, composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. The total number of deputies and the representation by state and Federal District is established by supplementary law, proportionate to the population, with adjustments made the year before elections so that no federal unit has fewer than 8 or more than 70 deputies. Each state and the Federal District elect three senators.

Each municipality has an autonomous local government composed of a mayor (prefeito) and a legislative body (Câmara Municipal). Both positions are elected by universal suffrage and direct vote.

The terms for the presidency, deputy positions, governorships, mayoralties, and councilors are four years. Senators serve eight-year terms, but representation from each state and the Federal District is renewed every four years, alternating between one-third and two-thirds of seats.

The presidency, governorships, mayoralties, and Senate seats are elected through a majoritarian system. Federal, state, and district deputies, as well as councilors, are elected by proportional representation. Voting is compulsory for citizens aged 18 and over.

Open lists.

Governorships and Senate seats: 27 single-member constituencies; mayoralties: 5,568 single-member constituencies; federal and state deputies: 27 multi-member constituencies; district deputies: 1 multi-member constituency; councilors: 5,568 multi-member constituencies.

Yes. Law No. 12,034 (2009), which amends the Political Parties Law (Law No. 9,096) and the Electoral Code, mandates that each party or coalition must allocate between 30% and 70% of candidacies to each sex.

Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil (1988), Chapter IV – Municipalities.

The Electoral Justice in Brazil is composed of the Superior Electoral Court, a Regional Court in each state, electoral boards, and electoral judges. The Electoral Justice is responsible for organizing, supervising, and overseeing the country’s elections, as well as issuing the official certificates granting powers to elected candidates. It is also tasked with adjudicating electoral irregularities. The highest body within the Electoral Justice system is the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), whose mission is to standardize laws on electoral matters, also acting as a regulatory and consultative body on issues related to the electoral process in Brazil. Its main powers are defined by the Federal Constitution and by the Electoral Code (Law No. 4737, 1965).