brazil

il This article is about the country. For other uses,
see Brazil (disambiguation). Federative Republic of Brazil República Federativa do Brasil (Portuguese) Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Ordem e Progresso" (Portuguese) "Order and Progress" Anthem : Hino Nacional Brasileiro (Portuguese) "Brazilian National Anthem" National seal Selo Nacional do Brasil (Portuguese) "National Seal of Brazil" Capital Brasília
15°45′ S 47°57′ W Largest city São Paulo Official language(s) Portuguese Ethnic groups (2008 [1] ) 48.43% White 43.80% Brown (Multiracial) 6.84% Afro-Brazilian 0.58% Yellow 0.28% Amerindian Demonym Brazilian Government Federal presidential constitutional republic - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva - Vice President José Alencar - President-elect Dilma Rousseff - Vice President-
elect Michel Temer Legislature National Congress - Upper House Federal Senate - Lower House Chamber of Deputies Independence from Kingdom of Portugal - Declared 7 September 1822 - Recognized 29 August 1825 - Republic 15 November 1889 - Current
constitution 5 October 1988 Area - Total 8,514,877 km 2 (5th) 3,287,597 sq mi - Water (%) 0.65 Population - estimate 191,796,000 [2] (5th) - Density 22/km 2 (182nd) 57/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate - Total $2.013 trillion[3] - Per capita $10,513[3] GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate - Total $1.574 trillion[3] - Per capita $8,220[3] Gini (2009) 55[4] (high) HDI (2010) 0.699[5] (high) (73th) Currency Real (R$) ( B R L ) Time zone BRT[6] (UTC-2 to -4[6]) - Summer (DST) BRST (UTC-2 to -4) Date formats dd/mm/yyyy ( CE) Drives on the right ISO 3166 code BR Internet TLD .br Calling code +55 Brazil (pronounced /brəˈzɪl / ( listen); Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw] ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil [7][8] (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil, listen (help·info) ), is the largest country in South America . It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population .[9][10] It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world. [9] Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers (4,655 mi).[9] It is bordered on the north by Venezuela , Guyana , Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay . Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll , Saint Peter and Paul Rocks , and Trindade and Martim Vaz .[9] It has borders with all other South American countries apart from Ecuador and Chile. Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to United Kingdom with Portugal
and Algarves. The colonial bond was in fact
broken in 1808, when the capital of the
Portuguese Kingdom was transferred from
Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.[11] The independence from Portugal was achieved in 1822. Initially independent as
the Brazilian Empire, the country has been a republic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified. [11] Its current Constitution defines Brazil as a Federal Republic.[12] The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.[12][13] The Brazilian economy is the world's eighth largest economy by nominal GDP[14] and the ninth largest by purchasing power parity .[15] Brazil is one of the world's fastest growing major economies. Economic reforms have given the country new international recognition. [16] Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20, CPLP, Latin Union, the Organization of Ibero- American States , Mercosul and the Union of South American Nations , and is one of the BRIC Countries. Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife , natural environments , and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.[9] Etymology Main article: Name of Brazil The etymology of Brazil remains unclear. Traditionally, the word "Brazil" come from the brazilwood , a timber tree whose many sailors traded from Brazilian regions to Europe in the 15th century. [17] In Portuguese brazilwood is called pau-brasil, with the word brasil commonly
given the etymology "red like an ember", formed
from Latin brasa ("ember") and the suffix -il (from -iculum or -ilium).[18][19][20] This theory is taught as official in schools of Brazil and Portugal, but some[who? ] Brazilian scholars have postulated that the word is older, being found in
the language of ancient Phoenicians and maybe has Celtic origins.[21] These people kept the trade of a red dye extracted from a mineral which
operated mines in Iberia to Ireland. In fact, the legendary Irish island of Hy-Brazil is seen by some[who? ] (and was also to 16th century scholars) as one of the most likely etymological sources for "Brazil".[17] In the Guarani language, an official language of Paraguay , Brazil is called "Pindorama" — it was the name the natives gave to the region, meaning "land of the palm trees." History Main article: History of Brazil Portuguese colonization and territorial
expansion Main article: Colonial Brazil The land now called Brazil was claimed by
Portugal in April 1500, on the arrival of the
Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral.[22] The Portuguese encountered stone age natives divided into several tribes, most of whom shared the same Tupi-Guarani linguistic family, and fought among themselves. [23] Colonization was effectively begun in 1534 — though the first settlement was founded in 1532
— , when Dom João III divided the territory into twelve hereditary captaincies, [24][25] but this arrangement proved problematic and in 1549 the
king assigned a Governor-General to administer the entire colony. [25][26] The Portuguese assimilated some of the native tribes [27] while others were enslaved or exterminated in long
wars or by European diseases to which they had no immunity. [28][29] By the mid-16th century, sugar had become Brazil's most important export [23][30] and the Portuguese imported African slaves [31][32] to cope with the increasing international demand.[28][33] The first Christian mass in Brazil, 1500. Through wars against the French, the Portuguese
slowly expanded their territory to the southeast,
taking Rio de Janeiro in 1567, and to the northwest, taking São Luís in 1615.[34] They sent military expeditions to the Amazon rainforest and conquered British and Dutch strongholds,[35] founding villages and forts from 1669. [36] In 1680 they reached the far south and founded Sacramento on the bank of the Rio de la Plata, in the Eastern Strip region (present-day Uruguay ). [37] At the end of the 17th century, sugar exports started to decline[38] but the discovery of gold by explorers in the region that would later be called Minas Gerais (General Mines) around 1693, and in the following decades in current Mato Grosso and Goiás, saved the colony from imminent collapse.[39] From all over Brazil, as well as from Portugal, thousands of immigrants came to the mines.[40] The Spanish tried to prevent Portuguese
expansion into the territory that belonged to
them according to the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas , and succeeded in conquering the Eastern Strip in 1777. However, this was in vain as the Treaty of San Ildefonso, signed in the same year, confirmed Portuguese sovereignty over all lands proceeding
from its territorial expansion, thus creating most of the current Brazilian borders.[41] In 1808, the Portuguese royal family, fleeing the
troops of the French Emperor Napoleon I that were invading Portugal and most of Central
Europe, established themselves in the city of Rio de Janeiro, which thus became the seat of the entire Portuguese Empire.[42] In 1815 Dom João VI , then regent on behalf of his incapacitated mother, elevated Brazil from colony to sovereign Kingdom united with Portugal .[42] In 1809 the Portuguese invaded French Guiana (which was returned to France in 1817)[43] and in 1816 the Eastern Strip, subsequently renamed Cisplatina [44] (but Brazil definitely lost it in 1828 when it became an independent nation known as Uruguay ).[45] Independence and empire Main articles: Brazilian Independence and Empire of Brazil King João VI returned to Europe on 26 April 1821, leaving his elder son Prince Pedro de Alcântara as regent to rule Brazil.[46] The Portuguese government attempted to turn Brazil
into a colony once again, thus depriving it of its achievements since 1808. [47] The Brazilians refused to yield and Prince Pedro stood by them
declaring the country's independence from Portugal on 7 September 1822.[48] On 12 October 1822, Pedro was declared the first
Emperor of Brazil and crowned Dom Pedro I on 1 December 1822.[49] Declaration of the Brazilian independence by Emperor Pedro I on 7 September 1822. At that time almost all Brazilians were in favor of
a monarchy and republicanism had little support. [50][51] The subsequent Brazilian War of Independence spread through almost the entire territory, with battles in the northern, northeastern, and southern regions.[52] The last Portuguese soldiers surrendered on 8 March 1824[53] and independence was recognized by Portugal on 29 August 1825. [54] The first Brazilian constitution was promulgated
on 25 March 1824, after its acceptance by the municipal councils across the country. [55][56] [57][58] Pedro I abdicated on 7 April 1831 and went to Europe to reclaim his daughter’ s crown , leaving behind his five year old son and heir, who was to become Dom Pedro II.[59] As the new emperor could not exert his constitutional
prerogatives until he reached maturity, a regency was created. [60] Disputes between political factions led to
rebellions and an unstable, almost anarchical, regency. [61] The rebellious factions, however, were not in revolt against the monarchy, [62][63] even though some declared the secession of the
provinces as independent republics, but only so long as Pedro II was a minor. [64] Because of this, Pedro II was prematurely declared of age and
"Brazil was to enjoy nearly half a century of internal peace and rapid material progress."[65] Brazilian forces (in dark blue uniform) engage the Paraguayan army during the War of the Triple Alliance . Brazil won three international wars during the
58-year reign of Pedro II (the Platine War , the Uruguayan War and the War of the Triple Alliance )[66] and witnessed the consolidation of representative democracy , mainly due to successive elections and unrestricted freedom of the press.[67] Most importantly, slavery was extinguished after a slow but steady process that
began with the end of the international traffic in slaves in 1850 [68] and ended with the complete abolition of slavery in 1888. [69] The slave population had been in decline since Brazil's
independence: in 1823, 29% of the Brazilian
population were slaves but by 1887 this had fallen to 5%.[70] When the monarchy was overthrown on 15 November 1889 [71] there was little desire in Brazil to change the form of government [72] and Pedro II was at the height of his popularity among his subjects.[73][74] However, he "bore prime, perhaps sole, responsibility for his own overthrow." [75] After the death of his two sons, Pedro believed that "the imperial regime was destined to end with him." [76] He cared little for the regime's fate[77][78] and so neither did anything, nor allowed anyone else to do
anything, to prevent the military coup, backed by
former slave owners who resented the abolition of slavery. [79][80][81] Old republic and Vargas era Main articles: República Velha , Estado Novo (Brazil), and Brazilian Second Republic The Brazilian coup d'état of
1930 raised Getúlio Vargas (center with military uniform but no hat) to power. He would rule the country for fifteen years . The "early republican government was little more
than a military dictatorship. The army dominated
affairs both at Rio de Janeiro and in the states.
Freedom of the press disappeared and elections were controlled by those in power". [71] In 1894 the republican civilians rose to power, opening a
"prolonged cycle of civil war, financial disaster, and government incompetence." [82] By 1902, the government began a return to the policies
pursued during the Empire, policies that promised
peace and order at home and a restoration of Brazil's prestige abroad.[82] and was successful in negotiating several treaties that expanded
(with the purchase of Acre ) and secured the Brazilian boundaries.[83] In the 1920s the country was plagued by several rebellions caused by young military officers. [84] [85] By 1930, the regime was weakened and demoralized, which allowed the defeated
presidential candidate Getúlio Vargas to lead a coup d'état and assume the presidency. [86] Vargas was supposed to assume the presidency
temporarily but instead, he closed the National
Congress, extinguished the Constitution, ruled
with emergency powers and replaced the states' governors with his supporters. [87][88] In 1935 Communists rebelled across the country and made an unsuccessful bid for power. [89] The communist threat, however, served as an excuse
for Vargas to launch another coup d'état in 1937 and Brazil became a full dictatorship.[90][91] The repression of the opposition was brutal with
more than 20,000 people imprisoned, internment camps created for political prisoners in distant regions of the country, widespread torture by
the government agents of repression, and censorship of the press.[92][93] Brazil remained neutral during the early years of World War II until the government declared war against the Axis powers in 1942.[94] Vargas then forced German, Japanese and Italian immigrants into concentration camps,[95] and, in 1944, sent troops to the battlefields in Italy .[96] [97] With the allied victory in 1945 and the end of the Nazi-fascist regimes in Europe, Vargas's
position became unsustainable and he was swiftly overthrown in a military coup. [98] Democracy was reinstated and General Eurico Gaspar Dutra was elected president and took office in 1946.[99] Vargas returned to power in 1951, this time democratically elected, but he was
incapable of either governing under a democracy
or of dealing with an active opposition, and he committed suicide in 1954.[100][101] Military regime and contemporary era Main articles: Military dictatorship (Brazil) and History of Brazil since 1985 Several brief interim governments succeeded after Vargas's suicide. [102] Juscelino Kubitscheck became president in 1956 and assumed a
conciliatory posture towards the political
opposition that allowed him to govern without major crises.[103] The economy and industrial sector grew remarkably, [104] but his greatest achievement was the construction of the new capital city of Brasília, inaugurated in 1960.[105] His successor was Jânio Quadros, who resigned in 1961 less than a year after taking office. [106] His vice-president, João Goulart, assumed the presidency, but aroused strong political opposition[107] and was deposed in April 1964 by a coup that resulted in a military regime .[108] The new regime was intended to be transitory [109] but it gradually closed in on itself and became a full dictatorship with the promulgation of the Fifth Institutional Act in 1968. [110] The repression of the dictatorship's opponents, including urban guerrillas,[111] was harsh, but not as brutal as in other Latin American countries. [112] Due to the extraordinary economic growth, known as an "economic miracle", the regime
reached its highest level of popularity in the years of repression. [113] The transition from Fernando Henrique Cardoso to Luís Inácio Lula da Silva revealed that Brazil had finally succeeded in achieving its long-sought political stability. General Ernesto Geisel became president in 1974 and began his project of re-democratization
through a process that he said would be "slow, gradual and safe."[114][115] Geisel ended the military indiscipline that had plagued the country since 1889,[116] as well as the torture of political prisoners, censorship of the press,[117] and finally, the dictatorship itself, after he extinguished the Fifth Institutional Act. [110] However, the military regime continued, under
his chosen successor General João Figueiredo, to complete the transition to full democracy. [118] The civilians fully returned to power in 1985 when José Sarney assumed the presidency [119] but, by the end of his term, he had become
extremely unpopular due to the uncontrollable economic crisis and unusually high inflation. [120] Sarney's unsuccessful government allowed the
election in 1989 of the almost unknown Fernando Collor, who was subsequently impeached by the National Congress in 1992. [121] Collor was succeeded by his Vice-President Itamar Franco, who appointed Fernando Henrique Cardoso as Minister of Finance. Cardoso produced a highly successful Plano Real (Royal or Real Plan) [122] that granted stability to the Brazilian economy [123] and he was elected as president in 1994 and again in 1998.[124] The peaceful transition of power to Luís Inácio Lula da Silva , who was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, proved that Brazil had finally succeeded
in achieving its long-sought political stability. [125] Government and politics Main article: Politics of Brazil The National Congress in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The Brazilian Federation is the "indissoluble
union" of three distinct political entities: the
States, the Municipalities and the Federal District. [12] The Union, the states and the Federal District, and the municipalities, are the "spheres of
government". The Federation is set on five fundamental principles:[12] sovereignty , citizenship, dignity of human beings, the social values of labour and freedom of enterprise, and political pluralism. The classic tripartite branches of government ( executive , legislative , and judicial under the checks and balances system), is formally established by the Constitution. [12] The executive and legislative are organized
independently in all three spheres of government,
while the judiciary is organized only at the
federal and state/Federal District spheres. All members of the executive and legislative branches are directly elected. [126][127][128] Judges and other judicial officials are appointed after passing entry exams. [126] Brazil has a multi-party system for most of its history. Voting is compulsory for the literate between 18 and 70
years old and optional for illiterates and those between 16 and 18 or beyond 70. [12] Together with several smaller parties, four political parties
stand out: Workers' Party (PT), Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), and Democrats (DEM). Almost all governmental and administrative
functions are exercised by authorities and
agencies affiliated to the Executive. The form of government is that of a democratic republic, with a presidential system .[12] The president is both head of state and head of government of the Union and is elected for a four-year term, [12] with the possibility of re- election for a second successive term. The current
president is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who was elected on October 27, 2002,[129] and re-elected on October 29, 2006.[130] The President appoints the Ministers of State, who assist in government. [12] Legislative houses in each political entity are the main source of law in Brazil. The National Congress is the Federation's bicameral legislature, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. Judiciary authorities exercise jurisdictional duties almost exclusively. Fifteen political parties are represented in
Congress. It is common for politicians to switch
parties, and thus the proportion of congressional
seats held by particular parties changes regularly.
The largest political parties are the Workers' Party (PT), Democrats (DEM), Brazilian Democratic
Movement Party (PMDB-center), Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), Progressive Party (PP), Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), Liberal Party (PL),
Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), Popular Socialist
Party (PPS), Democratic Labor Party (PDT), and the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB). [131] Law Main articles: Law of Brazil and Crime in Brazil Supreme Federal Tribunal. Brazilian law is based on Roman-Germanic traditions[132] and civil law concepts prevail over common law practice. Most of Brazilian law
is codified, although non-codified statutes also
represent a substantial part, playing a
complementary role. Court decisions set out
interpretive guidelines; however, they are
seldom binding on other specific cases. Doctrinal works and the works of academic jurists have
strong influence in law creation and in law cases. The legal system is based on the Federal
Constitution, which was promulgated on 5
October 1988, and is the fundamental law of
Brazil. All other legislation and court decisions must conform to its rules.[133] As of April 2007, there have been 53 amendments. States have
their own constitutions, which must not contradict the Federal Constitution.[134] Municipalities and the Federal District have
"organic laws" (leis orgânicas) which act in a similar way to constitutions. [12][135] Legislative entities are the main source of statutes, although in certain matters judiciary and executive bodies may enact legal norms. [12] Jurisdiction is administered by the judiciary entities, although in
rare situations the Federal Constitution allows the Federal Senate to pass on legal judgments.[12] There are also specialized military, labor, and electoral courts.[12] The highest court is the Supreme Federal Tribunal. This system has been criticised over the last few
decades for the slow pace at which final
decisions are issued. Lawsuits on appeal may
take several years to resolve, and in some cases
more than a decade elapses before definitive rulings are made.[136] Nevertheless, the Supreme Federal Tribunal was the first court in the world to transmit its sessions on television , and also via Youtube .[137][138] More recently, in December 2009, the Supreme Court adopted Twitter to display items on the day planner of the ministers, to inform the daily actions of the Court and the most important decisions made by them. [139] Foreign relations and military Main articles: Foreign relations of Brazil and Brazilian Armed Forces States hosting a diplomatic mission of Brazil. Brazil is a political and economic leader in Latin America, [140][141] however, social and economic problems prevent it from becoming an effective global power. [142] Between World War II and 1990, both democratic and military governments sought to expand Brazil's influence in the world by pursuing a state-led industrial
policy and an independent foreign policy . More recently, the country has aimed to strengthen ties
with other South American countries, and engage in multilateral diplomacy through the United Nations and the Organization of American States.[143] Aircraft carrier NAE São Paulo of the Brazilian Navy. Brazil's current foreign policy is based on the
country's position as: a regional power in Latin America , a leader among developing countries , and an emerging world power .[144] In general, current Brazilian foreign policy reflects multilateralism, peaceful dispute settlement, and nonintervention in the affairs of other countries. [145] The Brazilian Constitution also determines that the country shall seek the economic, political, social and cultural integration of the nations of Latin America. [12][146][147][148] The armed forces of Brazil consist of the Brazilian Army , the Brazilian Navy , and the Brazilian Air Force. With a total of 371,199 active personnel, [149] they comprise the largest armed force in Latin America. [150] The Army is responsible for land-based military operations and has 235,978 active personnel. [151] The Military Police (States' Military Police) is described as an ancillary force of
the Army by the constitution, but is under the control of each state's governor. [12] The Navy is responsible for naval operations and for
guarding Brazilian territorial waters. It is the
oldest of the Brazilian armed forces and the only
navy in Latin America to operate an aircraft
carrier, the NAe São Paulo (formerly FS Foch of the French Navy ).[152] The Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces, and
the largest air force in Latin America, with about 700 manned aircraft in service. [153] States and municipalities Main articles: States of Brazil and Municipalities of Brazil Brazil is a federation composed of twenty-six States, one federal district (which contains the capital city, Brasília) and municipalities.[12] States have autonomous administrations, collect their
own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected
by the Federal government. They have a
governor and a unicameral legislative body
elected directly by their voters. They also have
independent Courts of Law for common justice. Despite this, states have much less autonomy to
create their own laws than in the United States. For example, criminal and civil laws can only be
voted by the federal bicameral Congress and are uniform throughout the country. [12] The states and the federal district may be
grouped into regions: Northern, Northeast, Central-West , Southeast and Southern. The Brazilian regions are merely geographical, not
political or administrative divisions, and they do
not have any specific form of government.
Although defined by law, Brazilian regions are
useful mainly for statistical purposes, and also to
define the application of federal funds in development projects. Municipalities, as the states, have autonomous
administrations, collect their own taxes and
receive a share of taxes collected by the Union and state government. [12] Each has a mayor and an elected legislative body, but no separate Court
of Law. Indeed, a Court of Law organized by the
state can encompass many municipalities in a
single justice administrative division called comarca (county). Geography Main article: Geography of Brazil Topography map of Brazil. Brazil occupies a large area along the eastern
coast of South America and includes