. Index  

. Flag  

. Geography  

. People 

. Government  

. Economy  

. Transportation  

. Commun'tions  

. Defense  

. Gender Issues  

. HR Issues  

. Media  

. Relevant Links  

. Feedback   

=========== 

Brazil

 
     
    • Names: 
     
        conventional long form: 
        Federative Republic of Brazil 
     
        conventional short form: 
        Brazil 
     
        local long form: 
        Republica Federativa do Brasil 
     
        local short form: 
        Brasil 
     
    • Digraph: 
      BR 
     
    • Type: 
      federal republic 
     
    • Capital: 
      Brasilia 
     
    • Administrative divisions: 
      26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins 
     
    • Independence: 
      7 September 1822 (from Portugal) 
     
    • National holiday: 
      Independence Day, 7 September (1822) 
     
    • Constitution: 
      5 October 1988 
     
    • Legal system: 
      based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 
     
    • Suffrage: 
      voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age 
     
    • Executive branch: 
     
        chief of state and head of government: 
        President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995) election last held 3 October 1994; next to be held October 1998); results - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%, Luis Inacio LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%, Leonel BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second free, direct presidential election since 1960 
     
        Cabinet; appointed by the president 
     
    • Legislative branch: 
      bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional) 
     
    • Women's Share of Seats in Parliament:

      • 5%-10% 
       
    • Judicial branch: 
      Supreme Federal Tribunal 
     
    • Political parties and leaders: 
      National Reconstruction Party (PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Luiz HENRIQUE da Silveira, president; Liberal Front Party (PFL), Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president; Workers' Party (PT), Rui Goethe da Costa FALCAO, president; Brazilian Workers' Party (PTB), Jose Eduardo ANDRADE VIEIRA, president; Democratic Workers' Party (PDT), Anthony GAROTINHO, president; Progressive Renewal Party (PPR), Espiridiao AMIN, president; Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Artur DA TAVOLA, president; Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE, president; Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, secretary general; Liberal Party (PL), Alvero VALLE, president 
     
    • Other political or pressure groups: 
      left wing of the Catholic Church and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical of government's social and economic policies 
     
    • Member of: 
      AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 
     
    • Diplomatic representation in US: 
     
        chief of mission: 
        Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA 
     
        chancery: 
        3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 
     
        telephone: 
        [1] (202) 745-2700 
     
        FAX: 
        [1] (202) 745-2827 
     
        consulate(s) general: 
        Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco 
     
        consulate(s): 
        Houston 
     
    • US diplomatic representation: 
     
        chief of mission: 
        Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY 
     
        embassy: 
        Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal 
     
        mailing address: 
        Unit 3500; APO AA 34030 
     
        telephone: 
        [55] (61) 321-7272 
     
        FAX: 
        [55] (61) 225-9136 
     
        consulate(s) general: 
        Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo 
     
        consulate(s): 
        Porto Alegre, Recife 
     
    • Flag: 
      green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) 
       
    • National Anthem and Lyrics