Brazil

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{| align=right cellspacing=0 width=325px class="infobox toccolours" style="padding: 0.8em 0.8em 0.8em 0.8em; margin: 0em 0em 0.75em 0.75em; background: #fcfcfc; vertical-align: right; border-h: 1px #c6c6c6 solid; border-top: 1px #c6c6c6 solid; border-left: 1px #c6c6c6 solid; border-right: 1px #c6c6c6 solid; border-bottom: 1px #c6c6c6 solid; border: 1px #c6c6c6 solid; font-size: 85%; span: 1px #c6c6c6 solid;"
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|-
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| style="font-size: 11pt; background: #fcfcfc; text-align: center;" colspan=2 | '''''Império do Brasil'''''<br>'''Empire of Brazil'''
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| style="font-size: 11pt; background: #fcfcfc; text-align: center;" colspan=2 | '''''República dos Estados Unidos do Brasil'''''<br>'''Republic of the United States of Brazil'''
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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| style="text-align: center;" width=50% | [[Image:Brazil flag.PNG|125px|Flag of Brazil]] || style="text-align: center;" width=50% | [[Image:Coat of arms of Brazil.PNG|85px|Coat of arms of Brazil]]
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| style="text-align: center;" width=50% | [[Image:125px-Flag of Brazil 15-19 November svg.png|125px|Flag of Brazil]] || style="text-align: center;" width=50% | [[Image:85px-Coat of arms of Brazil svg.png|85px|Coat of arms of Brazil]]
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|-
| style="border: 0px; text-align: center;" | <small>Flag</small> || style="border: 0px; text-align: center;" | <small>Coat of arms</small>
| style="border: 0px; text-align: center;" | <small>Flag</small> || style="border: 0px; text-align: center;" | <small>Coat of arms</small>
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| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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| align=center colspan=2 style="padding: 0em 0em 0.5em 0em; text-align: center; background: #fcfcfc;" | '''Motto'''<br>"Independência ou Morte!" <small>(Portuguese)</small><br><small>"Independence or Death!"</small>
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| align=center colspan=2 style="padding: 0em 0em 0.5em 0em; text-align: center; background: #fcfcfc;" | '''Motto'''<br>"Ordem e Progresso" <small>(Portuguese)</small><br><small>"Order and Progress"</small>
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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| align=center colspan=2 style="padding: 0em 0em 0.5em 0em; text-align: center; background: #fcfcfc;" | '''Anthem'''<br>''[[Hino da Independência]]''
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| align=center colspan=2 style="padding: 0em 0em 0.5em 0em; text-align: center; background: #fcfcfc;" | '''Anthem'''<br>''Hino Nacional Brasileiro''<br><small>(National Anthem of Brazil)</small>
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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| align=center colspan=2 style="padding: 0em 0em 0.5em 0em; text-align: center; background: #fcfcfc;" | [[Image:Map of Brazil.PNG|250px|Location of Brazil]]
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| align=center colspan=2 style="padding: 0em 0em 0.5em 0em; text-align: center; background: #fcfcfc;" | [[Image:250px-LocationBrazil_svg.PNG|250px|Location of Brazil]]
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
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|'''Capital''' <br><br>'''Largest city'''
|'''Capital''' <br><br>'''Largest city'''
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|Rio de Janeiro<br><small>[http://tools.wikimedia.de/~magnus/geo/geohack.php?params=22_54_30_S_43_14_37_W_type:city(6,150,000)_region:BR-RJ 22°54′30″S, 43°14′37″W]</small><br>São Paulo
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|Brasília<br><small>[[Image:18px-Erioll_world_svg.png|18px]] [http://toolserver.org/~magnus/geo/geohack.php?pagename=Brazil&params=15_45_S_47_57_W_type:country(8514877) 15°45′S 47°57′W]</small><br>São Paulo
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
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| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''Demonym''' || Brazilian
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| '''Demonym''' || Brazilian
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''Government'''<br>&nbsp;- Emperor<br>&nbsp;- Prime Minister
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|'''Government'''<br>&nbsp;- President<br>&nbsp;- Vice-President
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| Constitutional monarchy<br>[[Luís I of Brazil|Luís I]]<br>Alexsander da Rosa
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|Unitary presidential republic<br>[[João de Oliveira Mendonça]]<br>Afonso Branco
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''Independence'''<br>&nbsp;- Declared<br>&nbsp;- Recognized
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|'''Independence'''<br>&nbsp;- Declared<br>&nbsp;- Recognized<br>&nbsp;- Republic<br>&nbsp;- Coup d'état
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|from Portugal<br>September 7, 1822<br>August 29, 1825
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|from Portugal<br>September 7, 1822<br>August 29, 1825<br>November 15, 1889<br>March 31, 1964
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
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|'''Area''' <br>&nbsp;- Total<br><br>&nbsp;- Water (%)
|'''Area''' <br>&nbsp;- Total<br><br>&nbsp;- Water (%)
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|<br>8,691,092 km²<br>3,355,635 sq mi<br>0.66
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|<br>8,514,877 km²<br>3,287,597 sq mi<br>0.65
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''Population''' <br>&nbsp;- 2007 estimate<br>&nbsp;- 2000 census<br>&nbsp;- Density<br>&nbsp;
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|'''Population''' <br>&nbsp;- 2008 estimate<br>&nbsp;- 2007 census<br>&nbsp;- Density<br>&nbsp;
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|<br>193,334,553<br>173,198,407<br>22.25 /km²<br>57.61 /sq mi
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|<br>186,757,608<br>183,987,291<br>22/km²<br>57/sq mi
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
|'''GDP''' (PPP)<br/>&nbsp;- Total<br/>&nbsp;- Per capita
|'''GDP''' (PPP)<br/>&nbsp;- Total<br/>&nbsp;- Per capita
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|2007 estimate<br>n/a<br>n/a
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|2007 estimate<br>$3.88 trillion<br>$20,777
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
|'''GDP''' (nominal)<br/>&nbsp;- Total<br/>&nbsp;- Per capita
|'''GDP''' (nominal)<br/>&nbsp;- Total<br/>&nbsp;- Per capita
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|2007 estimate<br>n/a<br>n/a
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|2007 estimate<br>$2.24 trillion<br>$11,973
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''Gini''' || n/a (<font color="gray">n/a</font>) (unranked)
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|'''Gini''' (2005) || [[Image:Red arrow up.PNG|10px]] 60.6 (<font color="#e0584e">high</font>)
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''HDI''' || n/a (<font color="gray">n/a</font>) (unranked)
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|'''HDI''' (2005) || [[Image:10px-Green Arrow Up Darker.PNG|10px]] 0.790 (<span style="color:#fc0">medium</span>)
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
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| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
|-
|-
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|'''Time zone'''<br/>&nbsp;- Summer (DST)
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|'''Time zone''' <br>- Summer (DST)
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|BRT (UTC -3 to -5)<br>BRST (UTC -2 to -5)
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|BRT (UTC -2 to -4)<br>BRST (UTC -2 to -3)
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|-
| colspan="2" | <hr>
| colspan="2" | <hr>
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|}
|}
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The '''Empire of Brazil''' (Portuguese: ''Império do Brasil'') is the largest and most populous country in Latin America, and one of the largest - in size and population - in the world. Its territory covers 8,691,092 km² between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean, and it is the eastern-most country of the Americas.
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'''Brazil''' (Portuguese: ''Brasil''), officially the '''Republic of the United States of Brazil''' (Portuguese: ''República dos Estados Unidos do Brasil'') is a country in South America. With a population of over 185 million and an area of 8,514,877 km² (3,287,597 sq mi), it is one of the largest and most populous countries in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the overseas department of French Guiana; and on the northwest, west, southwest, and south by the Confederate States of Latin America. Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.
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It borders Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the department of French Guiana to the north, Colombia to the northwest, Bolivia and Peru to the west, Argentina and Paraguay to the southwest, and Uruguay to the south. Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo, Fernando de Noronha, Trindade e Martim Vaz and Atol das Rocas.
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Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822. Initially independent as the Empire of Brazil, 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. Its current constitution defines Brazil as a federal republic, but in practice the country is a unitary state in which the states enjoy little autonomy. Brazil comprises 21 States (including the ''Distrito Federal'', or "Federal District") and 5,564 Municipalities.
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A tropical climate is predominant. In the south of the country, subtropical climate prevails. Brazil is cut through by the Equator and Tropic of Capricorn. It is home to varied fauna and flora and extensive natural resources.
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Economic reforms have transformed Brazil into a great power. The country is a founding member of the League of Nations. A predominantly Roman Catholic, Portuguese-speaking, and multiethnic society, Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.
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Brazil was colonized by Portugal from 1500 until its independence in 1822. Upon gaining independence, Brazil became a constitutional monarchy, and remains one to this day. While the Brazilian government remains openly contemptuous and skeptical of democracy - which it describes as "tyranny by majority" and "the god that failed" - Brazilians nevertheless enjoy plentiful civil liberties; the economy is among the freest in the world; and political debate is open and lively. Brazil does have open elections, however, the franchise is restricted to those who successfully pass a political and economic aptitude test and own property, and only local officials are directly elected; others are either indirectly elected or appointed.
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The Brazilian population tends to concentrate along the coastline in large urban centers. While Brazil has one of the largest populations in the world, population density is low and the inner continental land has large areas of low population. It is a multiracial country composed of European, Amerindian, African and Asian elements. The official language is Portuguese, and it is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas. Catholicism is both the state religion and the most widely practiced religion; however, all faiths are tolerated, and the non-Catholic population, particularly the Protestant communities, has experienced significant growth in the last decades. Brazil has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world.
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The Brazilian economy is among the largest, most robust, and most powerful in the world. The country is highly developed and industrialized, with a large and rapidly expanding middle class, high standards of living, and one of the highest rates of economic growth in the world.
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==Politics==
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Brazil is a highly-decentralized confederal constitutional monarchy (originally a unitary state) in which state and local governments wield considerable autonomy over their affairs, and the federal government's powers are circumscribed by the constitution. Aside from providing national defense, courts, and law enforcement, the government exercises little power. Education, maintenance of infrastructure, health issues, etc. are the jurisdiction of state and local governments, although in practice these things are handled entirely (or mostly, in the case of infrastructure) by the private sector. The Brazilian constitution is among the most liberal in the world, and guarantees the rights to life, liberty, property, privacy, self-defense, the right to adopt whatever lifestyle one wishes, and the right to chart one's own destiny and do whatever they wish provided they follow the law and do not infringe upon the rights of others.
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===Monarchy===
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[[Image:180px-Brazilian Emperors Coat of Arms Complete.jpg|180px|thumb|right|<small>Coat of arms of the Brazilian Imperial House.</small>]]
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While Brazil is a constitutional monarchy in that the Emperor's duties are confined to those delineated by the constitution, he nevertheless exercises more power - and plays a more prominent role - than most constitutional monarchs play. Rather than being limited to performing ceremonial duties, the Emperor also has the authority to name senators and judges; the authority to break deadlocks by summoning and dissolving parliaments and cabinets; and the power to make and ratify treaties. He is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, although this is strictly a titular role; ''de facto'' command of the military is held by the Ministry of Defense.
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The Emperor is widely respected as a symbol of national unity and deeply revered for his wisdom, tact, and pragmatism; most of the time, he oversees the nation's political transactions from behind the scenes with an air of impartiality. He is seen as a fatherly figure and a moderating influence on the nation, and his statements carry great moral weight. His image adorns the obverse of every coin and banknote, and most homes and businesses display his portrait as well, as a sign of respect and love for their Emperor, whose benign rule, moral authority, incorruptibility, and selfless devotion to his nation and people endear him to Brazilians of every race, color, class, creed, and background. The Emperor views his role as "protecting the people from their government," and "providing moral leadership through the exercise of humble service to the people."
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It should also be noted that the Emperor, like every other Brazilian, is not above the law. His constitutional duties are taken very seriously, and the constitution prescribes his mandatory abdication if he is found guilty of corruption or violating the constitution.
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====<center>List of Brazilian monarchs</center>====
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{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
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|- style="background:#efefef;"
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! Name !! Reign !! Consort !! Royal House
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|-
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| Pedro I || October 12, 1822 - April 7, 1831 || Maria Leopoldina of Austria<br>Amélia of Leuchtenberg || House of Braganza
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|-
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| Pedro II || April 7, 1831 - December 5, 1891 || Teresa of the Two Sicilies || House of Braganza
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|-
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| Isabel || December 5, 1891 - November 14, 1921 || Gaston, Count of Eu || House of Braganza
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|-
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| Pedro III || November 14, 1921 - July 5, 1981 || Maria of Bavaria || House of Orléans-Braganza
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|-
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| [[Luís I of Brazil|Luís I]] || July 5, 1981 - present || Maria Pavlovna, Grand Duchess of Russia || House of Orléans-Braganza
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|}
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===Prime Minister===
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The Prime Minister is the head of government of the Empire of Brazil. The Prime Minister is elected by a majority of the members of the General Assembly upon the proposal of the Emperor; the vote is by secret ballot. Upon being elected, the Prime Minister is formally appointed to the position by the Emperor. The Prime Minister is the ''de facto'' wielder of executive powers and exercises many of the executive functions that are not vested in the Emperor. He heads a cabinet composed of members selected by himself, who are then appointed by the Emperor.
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===<center>Cabinet</center>===
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{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
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|- style="background:#efefef;"
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! Position held !! Name
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|-
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| Prime Minister || Alexsander da Rosa
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|-
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| Deputy Prime Minister || Olavo de Carvalho
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|-
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| Minister of Commerce || Afonso Luiza Rezende
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|-
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| Minister of Foreign Relations || José Cabral Guimarães Rosa
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|-
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| Minister of Interior || Paulo Inácio dos Santos
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|-
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| Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals || João Vieira Soares
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|-
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| Minister of National Defense || Deodoro de Alencar Tavares
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|-
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| Minister of the Pen || Francisco de Oliveira Pinheiro
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|-
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| Minister of State Affairs || Antonio Aureliano Gomes
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|-
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| Minister of Treasury || Fernando Cautiero e Silva
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|}
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===General Assembly===
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The General Assembly, known informally as the Imperial Parliament, is the national legislature of the Empire. It is comprised of two houses: the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). Members of the former are indirectly elected by state legislatures and serve five-year terms (there are no term limits); members of the latter are appointed by the Emperor from a list of candidates chosen by indirect ballot. Senators serve for life.
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The Chamber of Deputies has the power to initiate legislation; the Senate cannot initiate legislation, though it can block or defer bills. Bills that pass through both houses are either signed into law by the Prime Minister, or vetoed by him (although, if his veto is overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses, it becomes law without his signature). However, before any law can take effect, it must also receive Royal Assent; if the Emperor refuses to grant this, the bill fails to become law, although the Chamber of Deputies can re-introduce the bill if it so chooses. Note that even if the General Assembly overrides the Prime Minister's veto, the bill still needs Royal Assent to become law.
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The General Assembly is presided over by the President of the General Assembly, whose official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The President is, ideally, politically neutral and not concerned with substantive issues. In the event of a tie, he is permitted to vote, but only according to established conventions. The President of the General Assembly is appointed by the Emperor from a list of three candidates, chosen by indirect ballot. The current holder of this office is Jânio de Lira Franco.
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===Supreme Federal Tribunal===
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The Supreme Federal Tribunal is the highest court of law of the Empire of Brazil. The court also functions as a last resort tribunal, and its rulings therefore cannot be appealed. It can declare the unconstitutionality of laws passed by the General Assembly. This happens when the court judges a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality. Members are appointed by the Emperor and serve for life, unless they become incapacitated, violate the constitution, or are found guilty of corruption, in which case they are removed. The Supreme Federal Tribunal is presided over by the Chief Justice. The current holder of this position is Marco Lúcia Grau, who was appointed in November 1989.
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===Local, state, and district governments===
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There are four levels of government in Brazil: Local (city), district, state, and federal.
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Only local officials are directly elected in Brazil. District council members are elected by a slate of electors comprising the mayors of each city within that district. Members of state legislatures are elected by a slate of electors composed of each of the state's district commissioners. State governors are indirectly elected by the legislature of their state. The length of a governor's tenure, and the number of terms he can serve, varies by state.
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==Foreign relations==
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For many years, Brazil followed an independent foreign policy based on the principles of "positive non-alignment; indiscriminate open-mindedness to the world; and complete non-interference in the internal affairs of other states." Brazil rarely intervened in international disputes, except to offer mediation services as an impartial arbiter; did not hold membership in any international organizations; and was not in any alliances with other countries. Above all else, it sought to zealously guard the country's sovereignty and maintain a low profile - even in regional affairs. Critics regularly attacked Brazilian foreign policy as "isolationist," which most Brazilians regarded as a misnomer, considering the country's extensive cultural exchanges, diplomatic contacts, and commercial relations with other nations.
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Beginning in late 2007, Brazil gradually began to assume a more active role in global politics. For example, it intervened decisively in [[Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zaire|Congo-Zaire]]'s civil war by deploying military advisors and supplying the government with military hardware. The Brazilian and Congolese governments have quickly struck up a close friendship, and Brazil is regarded as one of the strongest supporters of Congo-Zaire's president, General Kabika Tshinyama.
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In December 2007, Brazil, fearing the growing clout of the American Empire and the Soviet Union, reluctantly formed a mutual defense alliance, the [[Coalition of Sovereign Nations|Coalition of Sovereign Nations (CoSN)]], with several other states. While Brazil maintains relatively warm relations with the Americans (and continues to actively trade with them), it views them with far more suspicion than before, and is not as uncritical of them as it once was.
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As of December 2007, Brazil maintains diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world, regardless of political ideology, the sole exceptions being the Soviet Union and the Alexandrian Empire; Brazil severed relations with both countries on December 27, 2007, on the grounds of "subversion."
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Brazil joined the United Nations on December 22, 2007.
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===<center>Foreign relations by country</center>===
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{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
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|- style="background:#efefef;"
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! Country !! Diplomatic relations !! Current relationship !! Current Brazilian ambassador
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|-
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|| Alexandrian Empire || No || Very strained || none
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|-
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|| American Empire || Yes || Strained || Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro
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|-
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|| Australia || Yes || Very warm || Antonio de Aguiar Patriota
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|-
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|| Congo-Zaire || Yes || Warm || Emílio Alfredo de Varnhagen
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|| France || Yes || Very warm || Prince Eudes Maria
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|-
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|| Germany || Yes || Neutral || Prince Fernando Diniz
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|-
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|| Iran || Yes || Very warm || Prince Antônio João
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|-
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|| Italy || Yes || Warm || Prince Alberto Maria
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|-
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|| Mexico || Yes || Very warm || Prince Pedro de Alcântara Henrique
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|-
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|| Romania || Yes || Very warm || Prince Francisco Maria
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|-
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|| Saudi Arabia || Yes || Neutral || Ronaldo de Moraes
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|-
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|| Soviet Union || No || Very strained || none
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|| Spain || Yes || Neutral || Osvaldo Nabuco
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|-
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|| Sweden || Yes || Very warm || Princess Maria Teresa
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|-
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|| United Kingdom || Yes || Very warm || Princess Isabel Maria
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|-
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|| United Provinces || Yes || Neutral || Paulo Lupi
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|-
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|| Yugoslavia || Yes || Warm || Princess Eleonora Maria
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|}
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==States of Brazil==
==States of Brazil==
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[[Image:Map of Brazil states.PNG|right|]]
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[[Image:Republican Brazil map.PNG|right|]]
#Amazonas
#Amazonas
#Pará
#Pará
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#Santa Catarina
#Santa Catarina
#Rio Grande do Sul
#Rio Grande do Sul
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#Cisplatina
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#Distrito Federal
====<center>List of Brazilian states</center>====
====<center>List of Brazilian states</center>====
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! State !! Abbreviation !! Capital !! Area !! Population (2005) !! Density
! State !! Abbreviation !! Capital !! Area !! Population (2005) !! Density
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| Alagaos || AL || Maceió || 27,767.7 km² <small>(20th)</small> || 3,015,912 <small>(18th)</small> || 108.61 <small>(3rd)</small>
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| Alagaos || AL || Maceió || 27,767.7 km² || 3,015,912 || 108.61
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| Amazonas || AM || Manaus || 1,947,626.1 km² <small>(1st)</small> || 4,279,690 <small>(15th)</small> || 2.2 <small>(21st)</small>
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| Amazonas || AM || Manaus || 1,947,626.1 km² || 4,279,690 || 2.2
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| Bahia || BA || Salvador || 564,692.7 km² <small>(6th)</small> || 13,815,334 <small>(4th)</small> || 24.46 <small>(14th)</small>
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| Bahia || BA || Salvador || 564,692.7 km² || 13,815,334 || 24.46
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| Ceará || CE || Fortazela || 148,825.6 km² <small>(13th)</small> || 8,097,276 <small>(9th)</small> || 54.40 <small>(10th)</small>
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| Ceará || CE || Fortazela || 148,825.6 km² || 8,097,276 || 54.40
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| Cisplatina || CI || Montevideo || 176,215 km² <small>(12th)</small> || 3,323,906 <small>(17th)</small> || 19 <small>(15th)</small>
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| Distrito Federal || DF || Brasília || 5,802 km² || 2,383,784 || 410.9
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| Espírito Santo || ES || Vitória || 46,077.5 km² <small>(18th)</small> || 3,408,365 <small>(16th)</small> || 73.97 <small>(6th)</small>
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| Espírito Santo || ES || Vitória || 46,077.5 km² || 3,408,365 || 73.97
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|-
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| Goiás || GO || Goiânia || 623,529.7 km² <small>(4th)</small> || 9,258,753 <small>(7th)</small> || 14.85 <small>(17th)</small>
+
| Goiás || GO || Goiânia || 623,529.7 km² || 9,258,753 || 14.85
|-
|-
-
| Maranhão || MA || São Luís || 331,983.3 km² <small>(7th)</small> || 6,103,327 <small>(12th)</small> || 18.38 <small>(16th)</small>
+
| Maranhão || MA || São Luís || 331,983.3 km² || 6,103,327 || 18.38
|-
|-
-
| Mato Grosso || MT || Cuiabá || 1,498,059.1 km² <small>(2nd)</small> || 6,602,336 <small>(11th)</small> || 4.4 <small>(20th)</small>
+
| Mato Grosso || MT || Cuiabá || 1,498,059.1 km² || 6,602,336 || 4.4
|-
|-
-
| Minas Gerais || MG || Belo Horizonte || 586,528.3 km² <small>(5th)</small> || 19,237,450 <small>(2nd)</small> || 32.79 <small>(13th)</small>
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| Minas Gerais || MG || Belo Horizonte || 586,528.3 km² || 19,237,450 || 32.79
|-
|-
-
| Pará || PA || Belém || 1,390,504.1 km² <small>(3rd)</small> || 7,565,173 <small>(10th)</small> || 5.44 <small>(19th)</small>
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| Pará || PA || Belém || 1,390,504.1 km² || 7,565,173 || 5.44
|-
|-
-
| Paraíba || PB || João Pessoa || 56,439.8 km² <small>(16th)</small> || 3,595,886 <small>(14th)</small> || 63.71 <small>(7th)</small>
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| Paraíba || PB || João Pessoa || 56,439.8 km² || 3,595,886 || 63.71
|-
|-
-
| Paraná || PR || Curitiba || 199,314.9 km² <small>(11th)</small> || 10,261,856 <small>(6th)</small> || 51.48 <small>(11th)</small>
+
| Paraná || PR || Curitiba || 199,314.9 km² || 10,261,856 || 51.48
|-
|-
-
| Pernambuco || PE || Recife || 98,311.6 km² <small>(14th)</small> || 8,413,593 <small>(8th)</small> || 85.58 <small>(5th)</small>
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| Pernambuco || PE || Recife || 98,311.6 km² || 8,413,593 || 85.58
|-
|-
-
| Piauí || PI || Teresina || 251,529.2 km² <small>(9th)</small> || 3,006,885 <small>(19th)</small> || 11.95 <small>(18th)</small>
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| Piauí || PI || Teresina || 251,529.2 km² || 3,006,885 || 11.95
|-
|-
-
| Rio de Janeiro || RJ || Rio de Janeiro || 43,696.1km² <small>(19th)</small> || 15,383,407 <small>(3rd)</small> || 352.05 <small>(1st)</small>
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| Rio de Janeiro || RJ || Rio de Janeiro || 43,696.1km² || 15,383,407 || 352.05
|-
|-
-
| Rio Grande do Norte || RN || Natal || 52,796.8 km² <small>(17th)</small> || 3,003,087 <small>(20th)</small> || 56.88 <small>(9th)</small>
+
| Rio Grande do Norte || RN || Natal || 52,796.8 km² || 3,003,087 || 56.88
|-
|-
-
| Rio Grande do Sul || RS || Porto Alegre || 281,748.5 km² <small>(8th)</small> || 10,845,087 <small>(5th)</small> || 38.49 <small>(12th)</small>
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| Rio Grande do Sul || RS || Porto Alegre || 281,748.5 km² || 10,845,087 || 38.49
|-
|-
-
| Santa Catarina || SC || Florianópolis || 95,346.2 km² <small>(15th)</small> || 5,866,568 <small>(13th)</small> || 61.53 <small>(8th)</small>
+
| Santa Catarina || SC || Florianópolis || 95,346.2 km² || 5,866,568 || 61.53
|-
|-
-
| São Paulo || SP || São Paulo || 248,209.4 km² <small>(10th)</small> || 40,442,795 <small>(1st)</small> || 162.93 <small>(2nd)</small>
+
| São Paulo || SP || São Paulo || 248,209.4 km² || 40,442,795 || 162.93
|-
|-
-
| Sergipe || SE || Aracaju || 21,910.3 km² <small>(21st)</small> || 1,967,761 <small>(21st)</small> || 89.81 <small>(4th)</small>
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| Sergipe || SE || Aracaju || 21,910.3 km² || 1,967,761 || 89.81
|}
|}
-
==Economy==
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==Politics==
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The Empire of Brazil's economy has undergone profound and dynamic change since the early 1930s, when then-Emperor Pedro III made a very daring and risky gamble. While the rest of the world embraced various strains of statism as a "solution" to the Great Depression, Pedro decided to try something entirely different. He hired a team of economists and businesspersons versed in the teachings of the Austrian School, and gave them the task of drafting and implementing an economic plan. Their plan, which called for free trade, the repeal of all subsidies, privatization of state-run industries, a balanced budget, radical cuts in spending, the elimination of wage and price controls, repeal of antitrust laws, and the removal of almost all regulations on business, was implemented shortly afterwards, albeit with some reluctance. It was indeed a gamble, but it paid off immensely. Within a few years, Brazil recovered from the Depression; by 1940, the economy had recovered to pre-Depression levels, unemployment was at its lowest rate in many years, the currency was stable (the country had adopted a gold standard), prices were declining, and the standard of living rose. The number of people living below the poverty line fell as the country's middle-class - previously modest in size - grew dramatically. By 1960, Brazil had a First World country. Its economy has continued to grow ever since; there has not been a single recession since the 1930s, when the country adopted full-reserve banking.
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hAxuEi Hey, thanks for the article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
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===Money and banking===
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===National Congress===
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The currency of Brazil is called the ''real'', but bank notes are generally named after the bank issuing them. Bank notes are required by law to be immediately redeemable in gold (once they are redeemed for gold, the notes are burned). One ''real'' represents 1/12 a troy ounce of gold.
+
[[Image:National Congress of Brazil.jpg|left|thumb|The National Congress in Brasília, the capital of Brazil.]]
 +
Brazil's legislature is the bicameral National Congress (Portuguese: ''Congresso Nacional''), which consists of the Senate (the upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house).
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The Central Bank of Brazil prints notes according to the amount of gold it has. State banks, commercial banks, and government and independent auditors monitor the Central Bank's activities. Brazil has full-reserving banking, and fractional-reserve banking is illegal. This banking system has virtually eliminated the business cycle. Brazilian banks have a world-renowned reputation for their secrecy, rivalling even Swiss and Liechtensteiner banks. This has earned the country a good deal of (completely ignored) criticism from other countries, due to the large number of people who deposit their money in Brazilian bank accounts to avoid taxation.
+
The Federal Senate (''Senado Federal'') contains 63 seats: three senators from each State (including the ''Distrito Federal''); the Chamber of Deputies (''Câmara dos Deputados'') comprises 310 deputies.
-
Credit is based entirely on voluntary systems such as bank savings bonds and term deposits. Interest rates are set by the market, rather than by the government. The government gave up its monopolies on banking and gold minting in the late 1940s.
+
Elections for both are held regularly, however, only two parties have representation in the National Congress: the "official" party (National Renewal Alliance Party) and the "loyal opposition" party (Brazilian Democratic Movement), which are also the only two legal parties. The role and powers of Congress are severely circumscribed by the 1967 Constitution, effectively reducing it to a rubberstamp body.
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===Taxation===
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===Judiciary===
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Each state collects revenue through a poll, or head, tax; the federal government, in turns, taxes the states (rather than the people directly) in proportion to their populations. Capital gains, corporate income, personal income, property, real estate, luxury goods, retail sales, gifts, services, and inheritance are not taxed. The tax rates are among the lowest in the world, earning the country a reputation as a tax haven. Brazil regularly tops the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's "List of Unco-operative Tax Havens," a distinction Brazil takes great pride in. Deficit spending is strictly unconstitutional; the only way the government can increase spending is by raising taxes. Ever since the country adopted laissez faire in the 1930s, the treasury has run surpluses every year.
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[[Image:Stf_01.jpg|215px|right|thumb|The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil.]]
 +
The judicial branch is composed of federal, state, and municipal courts. The minimum and maximum ages for appointment to the superior courts are thirty-five and sixty-five; mandatory retirement is at age seventy. These federal courts have no chief justice or judge. The two-year presidency of each court is by rotation and is based on respecting seniority.
-
===Trade===
+
Brazil's highest court is the Federal Supreme Court (''Supremo Tribunal Federal'', or STF). Created in October 1890, the STF has eleven members appointed by the president. The STF decides conflicts between the executive and legislative branches, disputes among states, and disputes between the federal government and states. In addition, it rules on disputes involving foreign governments and extradition. The STF issues decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, acts, and procedures of the executive and legislative branches, and warrants of injunction. The president of the STF is third in the line of presidential succession and would preside over an impeachment trial held by the Senate.
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The country has adopted nearly 100% free trade; the only restrictions on trade are in weapons (excluding individual firearms) and nuclear materials. There are no tariffs, quotas, excises, or duties on imports or exports. As such, the country enjoys a high - and rapidly growing - volume of trade. The country's major trading partners include the [[Coalition of Sovereign Nations|CoSN]] member states; the American Empire; Yugoslavia; and Italy.
+
-
===Labor===
+
The TFR (Federal Court of Appeals) was created under the 1946 constitution. As the last court of appeals for nonconstitutional questions, the TFR reviews decisions of the TRFs (Regional Federal Courts) and tries governors and federal judges. The president appoints its members: One-third are picked from the ranks of TRF judges; one-third from the ranks of State Supreme Court judges; and one-third from the ranks of state and federal public prosecutors.
-
The government does not set or regulate wages. Wages are decided by mutual agreement between the prospective employer and employee. Labor unions are legal, but do not enjoy a privileged status, and only a small percentage of the workforce is unionized. The rights to strike and of collective bargaining are constitutionally guaranteed for workers, although the former does not apply to those working in law enforcement or the armed forces. Labor conditions are among the freest and least regulated in the world.
+
-
===Privatization===
+
Brazil's judicial system has a series of special courts, in addition to the regular civil court system, covering the areas of military, labor, and election affairs. The Superior Military Court (''Superior Tribunal Militar'', or STM), created in 1808 by João VI (king of Portugal, 1816-26), is the oldest superior court in Brazil. It is composed of fifteen judges appointed by the president. Three members must have the rank of admiral in the [[Brazilian Navy]] (''Marinha do Brasil''), three must be general officers of the [[Brazilian Air Force]] (''Fôrça Aérea Brasileira'', or FAB), four must be army generals, and five must be civilians. The latter must be over age thirty and under age sixty-five. Two of the civilians are alternately chosen from among military justice auditors and military court prosecutors; three are lawyers with noted judicial knowledge and ten years of professional experience. The STM has jurisdiction over crimes committed by members of the armed forces. It is also used extensively to try civilians accused of crimes against "national security."
-
Education, healthcare, energy, the postal service, transportation, telecommunications, utilities, and social services are all fully privatized. The vast majority of infrastructure is also privatized, with the exception of some roads and inter-city and inter-state rails, which are owned and maintained by state and local governments. Aside from the courts, military, and police, virtually everything is handled entirely by the private sector (or, some cases, by state and local governments). Businesses are almost entirely unregulated. As a result, there is an extremely high level of foreign investment in Brazil, and the country is a popular destination for outsourcing.
+
-
===Industries===
+
The government of Getúlio Vargas created the Superior Electoral Court (''Tribunal Superior Eleitoral'', or TSE) in 1932 in an effort to end election fraud and manipulation. The TSE has jurisdiction over all aspects of elections and regulates the functioning of political parties. Its powers include supervising party conventions and internal elections; granting or canceling registration of parties; registering candidates and certifying those elected; regulating and supervising party access to free television and radio time during an election; and registering voters.
-
The country's largest industries include motor vehicles, chemicals, lumber, aircraft, machinery, natural gas, hydropower, petroleum, tourism, and agriculture. Brazil is self-sufficient in energy production and does not rely on imports. Brazil is also the largest producer of coffee (by far) in the world.
+
-
==Demographics==
+
The TSE has seven members, each with a two-year mandate. By secret ballot, the STF chooses three of its members to sit on the TSE, and the STJ chooses two of its members. The president appoints two lawyers from among a six-name list submitted by the STF. The TSE elects its president and vice president from among the members of the STF.
-
===Age structure===
+
-
0-14 years = 25.3%
+
-
<br>15-64 years = 68.4%
+
-
<br>65 years and over = 6.3%
+
-
===Sex ratio===
+
The system of labor courts was created by Getúlio Vargas in the 1930s to arbitrate labor-management disputes, which previously had been settled by police action. The 1946 constitution created the Superior Labor Court (''Tribunal Superior do Trabalho'', or TST). The labor court system has jurisdiction over all labor-related questions. It registers labor contracts, arbitrates collective and individual labor disputes, recognizes official union organizations, resolves salary questions, and decides the legality of strikes. The president appoints twenty-seven judges to the TST. Seventeen of the judges - eleven career labor judges, three labor lawyers, and three labor court prosecutors - receive lifetime terms (to age seventy). Ten temporary judges are appointed from lists evenly divided between the confederations of labor and management.
-
At birth = 1.05 male(s)/female
+
-
<br>Under 15 years = 1.04 male(s)/female
+
-
<br>15-64 years = 0.983 male(s)/female
+
-
<br>65 years and over = 0.697 male(s)/female
+
-
<br>Total population = 0.976 male(s)/female
+
-
===Infant mortality rate===
+
The Public Ministry is an important independent body in Brazil's judicial system. Its principal component, the Office of the Solicitor General of the Republic (''Procuradoria Geral da República'', or PGR), is composed of several public prosecutors selected by public examination. The PGR's headquarters is in Brasília, and it has branches in every state. The PGR is charged with prosecuting those accused of federal crimes, those accused of offending the president and his ministers, and all federal officials and employees accused of crimes. The president has the power to appoint and dismiss the solicitor general at will.
-
Total = 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births
+
-
<br>Male = 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
+
-
<br>Female = 3.42 deaths/1,000 live births
+
-
===Life expectancy at birth===
+
Finally, the Office of the Federal Attorney General (''Advocacia- Geral da União'', or AGU) defends the federal government against lawsuits and provides legal counsel to the executive branch.
-
Total population = 78.87 years
+
-
<br>Male = 75.6 years
+
-
<br>Female = 82.36 years
+
-
===Total fertility rate===
+
The judicial branch's powers are very limited. The 1967 Constitution, which removed all privileges previously enjoyed by judges, also granted the president the right to forcibly remove or retire judges if so chose. More than one judge has been subjected to removal or retirement for inefficiency or insufficient loyalty to the junta.
-
2.13 children born/woman
+
-
===HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate===
+
===Cabinet===
-
0.3%
+
The composition of the current cabinet is as follows:
-
===Nationality===
+
*Minister of Aeronautics: Sérgio Fortes
-
Noun: Brazilian(s)
+
*Minister of Agriculture: Antônio Corrêa Prestes
-
<br>Adjective: Brazilian
+
*Minister of the Army: João Vieira Soares
 +
*Minister of Communications: Vítor Ribeiro
 +
*Minister of Education: Mário Rodrigues
 +
*Minister of External Relations: Deodoro Cabral
 +
*Minister of Finance: José Salazar
 +
*Minister of Health: Francisco Pinheiro
 +
*Minister of Industry and Commerce: Augusto Geisel
 +
*Minister of Interior: Afonso Luiza Rezende
 +
*Minister of Justice: Paulo Inácio dos Santos
 +
*Minister of the Navy: Carlos Guimarães Rosa
 +
*Minister of Transport: Fernando Cautiero e Silva
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===Ethnic groups===
+
===Constitution===
-
White = 50.8%
+
After the coup d'état of 1964, the controllers of the new regime kept the 1946 constitution and promised to restore democracy as soon as possible. However, they eventually did not and were faced with a dilemma, as every measure they took was strictly against the current constitution, including the coup itself.
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<br>Mulatto (mixed white and black) = 22.5%
+
-
<br>Black = 17.3%
+
-
<br>Asian = 5.4%
+
-
<br>Middle Eastern = 2.7%
+
-
<br>Amerindian = 0.36%
+
-
<br>Mestizo = 0.32%
+
-
<br>Unspecified = 0.62%
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-
===Religions===
+
The so-called Institutional Acts issued by the president were, in practice, placed higher than the Constitution and could amend it – but they were not foreseen in the constitution, which made them illegal.
-
Roman Catholic = 81.6%
+
-
<br>Baptist = 2.6%
+
-
<br>Buddhist = 2.11%
+
-
<br>Seventh-day Adventist = 1.62%
+
-
<br>Lutheran = 1.5%
+
-
<br>Calvinist = 1.5%
+
-
<br>Jewish = 1.04%
+
-
<br>Muslim = 1.01%
+
-
<br>Hindu = 0.72%
+
-
<br>Shinto = 0.5%
+
-
<br>Mormon = 0.41%
+
-
<br>Pentecostal = 0.36%
+
-
<br>Jehovah's Witness = 0.33%
+
-
<br>Traditional African religion = 0.3%
+
-
<br>Spiritist = 0.3%
+
-
<br>Anglican = 0.05%
+
-
<br>Agnostic = 0.545%
+
-
<br>Atheist = 0.005%
+
-
<br>Other = 3.5%
+
-
===Languages===
+
In 1967 the situation had come to a point that was unbearable: the military could not keep the farce of democracy any more and was eager to enable itself with "proper" laws to fight ''subversivos'' (anyone that opposed the regime). The constitution was denounced as "obsolete" as the "new institutions" were not foreseen in it.
-
Portuguese (official)
+
-
<br>Spanish (widely spoken)
+
-
<br>English (widely spoken)
+
-
<br>Almost 200 indigenous languages
+
-
===Literacy rate===
+
A new constitution was written by a team of lawyers commissioned by Marshal Humberto de Alencar Castello Branco, then president, amended (under the instructions of Castello Branco himself) by the Minister of Justice, Carlos Medeiros Silva and voted as whole by the Brazilian Congress (already purged of most opponents of the status quo).
-
Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write
+
-
<br>Total population: 99.2%
+
-
<br>Male: 99.2%
+
-
<br>Female: 99.2%
+
-
==Culture==
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The main features of the new Constitution were:
-
{{Brazil symbols}}
+
-
A wide variety of elements influenced Brazilian culture. Its major early influence derived from Portuguese culture, because of strong colonial ties with the Portuguese empire. Among other inheritances, the Portuguese introduced the Portuguese language, the Roman-Germanic legal system, and the colonial architectural styles. Other aspects of Brazilian culture are contributions of European and Asian immigrants, Native South American people (such as the Tupi), and African slaves. Thus, Brazil is a multicultural and multiethnic society. Italian, German and other European immigrants came in large numbers and their influences are felt closer to the Southeast and South of Brazil. Amerindian peoples influenced Brazil's language and cuisine and the Africans, brought to Brazil as slaves, influenced Brazil's music, dance, cuisine, religion and language.
+
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In the 1950s, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Baden Powell de Aquino, and João Gilberto popularized the Bossa Nova style in music. Later Elis Regina, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque and Nara Leão had an important role in shaping Música Popular Brasileira (literally translated as "Brazilian Popular Music," often abbreviated to MPB). In the late 1960s, tropicalismo was popularized by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
+
*Restriction of political rights: free elections would only be held at state and county level, but not in federal territories or cities considered as of interest of national security for whatever reason (such cities were specified as those lying by the international border, state capitals, "important" industrial centers, university towns, jungle towns, towns close to power plants, mining sites, etc). About 500 cities/towns were listed, the largest and most important ones.
 +
*Restriction of civil rights: any meeting, assembly, or gathering of people should be formal, must be previously authorized, and conducted under supervision. Unauthorized meetings would be disbanded by the police and participants sued (or imprisoned).
 +
*Creation of a military police to patrol the cities and "provide public security", reducing the autonomy of the existing civilian police.
 +
*Removal of all privileges of judges, allowing the president to force them to retire or to remove them.
 +
*Disbanding of all political parties (which had existed for only twenty years) and creation of a bipartisan system comprising the official party, the National Renewal Alliance Party (ARENA), and the controlled opposition, the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB).
 +
*Creation of an indirect election system (''Colégio Eleitoral'') to choose the president.
 +
*Limitation of federated states' autonomy.
 +
*Granting the president the right to issue decrees (''Decretos-Lei'') that would be binding after 30 days if the Congress "did not have the time" to vote on them.
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Brazilian Carnival (Portuguese: ''Carnaval'') is an annual celebration held 40 days before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent. Brazilian Carnival has distinct regional characteristics. Other regional festivals include the Boi Bumbá and Festa Junina (''June Festivals'').
+
In 1969 this already very restrictive Constitution was widely amended by the junta and made even more dictatorial. The 1969 amendment is sometimes regarded as another Constitution. It brought some extra tools for the regime:
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===Religion===
+
*State of emergency
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The most popular religion in Brazil is Roman Catholicism, which is also the state religion (however, all faiths are tolerated). The country has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world. Adepts of Protestantism are rising in number. Until 1970, the majority of Brazilian Protestants were members of "traditional churches", mostly Lutherans, Presbyterians and Baptists. Since then, numbers of Pentecostal and Neopentecostal members have increased significantly (although the number of Protestants is still dwarfed by the number of Catholics). Islam in Brazil was first practiced by African slaves. A recent trend has been the increase in conversions to Islam among non-Arab citizens. Around 1,950,000 Muslims live in Brazil as of 2007. The largest population of Buddhists in Latin America lives in Brazil, mostly because the country has the largest Japanese population outside Japan (around 2% of the population is of Japanese descent).
+
*Capital punishment
 +
*Exile as punishment
 +
*Suspension of ''habeas corpus''
 +
*Special military courts to try members of the military accused of crimes
 +
*Transfer of command of the military police from each federal state to the Ministry of War
 +
*Restrictions on travel
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===Sport===
+
==Economy==
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Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team is currently ranked second in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings. They have been victorious in the World Cup tournament a record five times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Basketball, volleyball, auto racing, and martial arts also attract large audiences. Though not as regularly followed or practiced as the previously mentioned sports, tennis, team handball, swimming, and gymnastics have found a growing number of enthusiasts over the last decades. In auto racing, Brazilian drivers have won the Formula 1 world championship eight times: Emerson Fittipaldi (1972 and 1974), Nelson Piquet (1981, 1983 and 1987) and Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990 and 1991). The circuit located in São Paulo, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, hosts the annual Grand Prix of Brazil.
+
Brazil has pursued generally sound economic policies for two decades. Since the mid-1980s, the government has sold many state-owned companies, and privatization is continuing as of June 2008. The government's role in the economy is mostly limited to regulation, although the state continues to operate the Central Bank, "strategic" defense industries such as Engesa and Embraer, and national infrastructure (roads, railways, airports, ports and harbors). Brazil is strongly committed to free trade and has welcomed large amounts of foreign investment. Brazil's approach to foreign direct investment is codified in the country's Foreign Investment Law, which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Brazilians. Registration is simple and transparent, and foreign investors are guaranteed access to the official foreign exchange market to repatriate their profits and capital.
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In basketball, Brazil’s men’s team has won the Basketball World Championship twice, in 1959 and 1963. The women’s team has won the FIBA World Championship for Women only once, in 1994. Currently though, both national teams have become less competitive; as of June, 2007, FIBA ranks the men's team 17th in the world and the women's team as 4th. volleyball, the country didn’t enjoy much success until the early 1990s, but as of 2006, Brazil’s men’s national team is on top of the FIVB rank, winning multiple titles. The women’s team also won several competitions and is currently ranked second in the world by FIVB. Some sport variations have their origins in Brazil. Beach football, ''futsal'' (official version of indoor football) and footvolley emerged in the country as variations of football. In martial arts, Brazilians have developed Capoeira, Vale tudo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
+
Brazil's taxes are among the lowest in the world. There is a 10% flat-rate income tax; a 15% tax on corporate income; and a 10% value added tax. No other forms of taxation exist in Brazil, and the government has continually cut taxes in concert with its reductions in government spending.
-
===Cuisine===
+
Banking in Brazil is characterized by stability, privacy and protection of clients' assets and information. The country's tradition of bank secrecy is codified in law. Only the Confederate States of Latin America (ECAL) has more laissez faire banking than Brazil.
-
Brazilian cuisine is a mix of the cuisines of its inhabitants and immigrants: Native Americans, Portuguese, Africans, Italians, Spaniards, Germans, Syrians, Lebanese, and others. The country is divided into five main cuisine regions:
+
-
# North (Picadinho de Jacaré, Tacacá, and Açaí)
+
The government does not set wages, prices, or interest rates. The Brazilian government consistently manages to balance the budget, and keeps inflation in check by minimizing the amount of currency printed. There is talk of converting to a gold standard, though the government will not confirm or deny this.
-
# Northeast (Vatapá, Moqueca, and Acarajé)
+
-
# Central-West (Pamonha and Pequi)
+
-
# Southeast (Feijoada)
+
-
# South (Churrasco)
+
-
Other popular dishes include:
+
Brazil's lax regulations make it a profitable and popular destination for outsourcing, ensuring that both skilled and unskilled jobs are plentiful. For the few who cannot find jobs, public works programs and the armed forces provide employment opportunities.
-
*Caipirinha
+
-
*Pão de Queijo
+
-
*Brigadeiro
+
-
*Pastel
+
-
*Tapioca
+
-
===<center>National holidays</center>===
+
Healthcare and social security have both been fully privatized, although the government still retains the Ministry of Health (which is now responsible mainly for ensuring Brazilian children are vaccinated, overseeing Brazil's anti-malaria program, and ensuring that public sanitation is maintained). The government ended its subsidies to agriculture in 1998 (the government's role in agriculture now is limited to regulating food quality, food inspection and safety, and consumer protection).
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{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
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|- style="background:#efefef;"  
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Education is free and compulsory for children, although the government has actively worked to decrease its role in this area, content to leave the running of schools to churches, families, and local communities; however, education remains closely scrutinized, and those who teach "subversive" topics face a heavy fine, imprisonment, or even exile.
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! Date !! English Name !! Local Name !! Remarks
+
 
-
|-
+
Brazil trades extensively with most countries, though its largest trading partner, by far, is the ECAL.
-
| January 1 || nowrap | New Year's Day || Confraternização Universal, Ano Novo ||
+
 
-
|-
+
The country's largest industries include motor vehicles, chemicals, lumber, aircraft, machinery, natural gas, hydropower, petroleum, tourism, and agriculture. Brazil is self-sufficient in energy production and does not rely on imports. Brazil is also the largest producer of coffee (by far) in the world.
-
| moveable || Carnival || Carnaval || Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, although festivities begin on the preceding Friday.
+
 
-
|-
+
==Foreign relations==
-
| moveable (44 days before Good Friday) || Ash Wednesday || Quarta-feira de Cinzas || Only the morning is considered a holiday.
+
Since the 1970s, Brazil has pursued a generally non-aligned, neutral foreign policy. It actively seeks to have as friendly a relationship as possible with all countries, is strongly committed to free trade, and frequently intervenes as a mediator to resolve international disputes. With its "go-it-alone" foreign policy, Brazil has few true friends or true foes. What follows is a brief description of its relations with various countries.
-
|-
+
 
-
| moveable || Good Friday || Sexta-Feira da Paixão, Sexta-Feira Santa ||
+
===United States===
-
|-
+
In the early years of the military dictatorship, Brazil was enthusiastically and unabashedly pro-American, and rarely if ever wavered in its support of the United States. This changed in the early 1970s, when Brazil adjusted its foreign policy more in line with the Third World mainstream, and made efforts to cultivate warmer relationships with Marxist-Leninist countries; however, it maintained its warm relationship with the United States, even if it did adopt a more independent foreign policy. Bilateral relations did become noticeably frigid during the Carter Administration, when Carter's denunciations of Brazilian human rights abuses, coupled with his total silence in the face of human rights by communist countries, caused Brazil to angrily tear up its mutual defense treaty with the United States in 1978.
-
| moveable || Easter || Páscoa ||
+
 
-
|-
+
This changed in the 1980s, when the conservative Ronald Reagan was elected. Criticism of Brazil was effectively muted; bilateral trade expanded; and Brazil's economic liberalization won praise in Washington and led to record levels of foreign investment in Brazil. While the two countries never resumed their mutual defense alliance, they regularly participated in war games together, and their governments exchanged visits biannually.
-
| moveable (62 days after Good Friday) || Corpus Christi || ||
+
 
-
|-
+
Relations during the 1990s were fair, and were neither intimate nor hostile, although Brazilian-American trade remained extensive, and bilateral relations were described as "friendly." Occasional criticism of Brazilian human rights abuses does cause bilateral relations to cool briefly from time to time, though.
-
| Second Sunday in May || Mother's Day || Dia das Mães
+
 
-
|-
+
===Confederate States of Latin America (ECAL)===
-
| June 6 || Emperor's Birthday || Imperador Aniversário ||
+
Relations between Brazil and its larger, more prosperous neighbor have varied from high intimacy to extreme hostility, but usually hover between those two extremes, if leaning more toward the latter. As a distinguished Western-style liberal democracy, the ECAL naturally feels antipathy toward Brazil's military government. Yet pragmatism and practicality exercised by both sides have meant the two were never outright enemies. Though harsh words are exchanged from time to time, their dependence on one another - both are major trading partners, and Brazil's anti-terrorist operations against FARC in the Amazon are beneficial to the ECAL - force them to overlook their differences. Citizens travel freely between both countries, and while the Latin American government remains highly critical of the Brazilian government, both countries are working to patch up their differences. As of 2008, relations are relatively warm, if still strained.
-
|-
+
 
-
| July 10 || Coronation Day || Dia do Coroação || Commemorates the coronation of [[Luís I of Brazil|Emperor Luís I]].
+
===Western Canada===
-
|-
+
Brazil and Western Canada have never had close relations. Neither allies nor enemies, and with minimal bilateral trade, relations between the two have always been minimal. However, Brazil's rising prominence in the world economy, increasing trade between the two, and Brazil's efforts to mediate the Spanish-Portuguese dispute, have resulted in a gradual warming of relations recently.
-
| July 14 || Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Genocide || Dia de Comemoração de Vítimas de Genocídio || Honors the victims of the French Revolution.
+
 
-
|-
+
===Portugal===
-
| Second Sunday of August || Father's Day || Dia dos Pais ||
+
In spite of Brazil's anticommunism, its relationship with Portugal, the former colonial power, is fair. The countries' shared culture has meant close personal ties between the Brazilian and Portuguese people. Brazil actively trades with Portugal, even though the latter is a communist country.
-
|-
+
 
-
| August 25 || Soldier's Day || Dia do Soldado || Commemorates Brazilian war hero Luís Alves de Lima e Silva.
+
===Spain===
-
|-
+
Relations are mostly friendly with Spain, due to their similar politics. However, largely to avoid antagonizing the ECAL, Brazil has refrained from becoming too friendly with Spain.
-
| September 7 || Independence Day || Dia da Independência ||
+
 
-
|-
+
===Israel===
-
| October 12 || Our Lady of Aparecida || Nossa Senhora de Aparecida || Also celebrated as Children's Day (Dia das Crianças) on the same date.
+
Brazil and Israel, traditionally close, remain staunch allies. Cooperation in many areas - military, diplomatic, cultural - is extensive. Brazil is regarded as one of Israel's most faithful foreign backers, and there are rumors that Mossad has a presence in Brazil, though neither country has commented on this.
-
|-
+
 
-
| November 1 || All Saints' Day || Dia de Todos-os-Santos ||
+
===Italy===
-
|-
+
Italian-Brazilian relations are mostly friendly. Italy is one of Brazil's largest trade partners, and many Brazilians have Italian heritage.
-
| November 2 || All Souls' Day || Dia de Finados ||
+
 
-
|-
+
===Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth===
-
| November 15 || Freedom Day || Dia da Liberdade || Celebrates the failure of Deodoro da Fonseca's coup, and the triumph of monarchism in Brazil.
+
Brazil and Poland-Lithuania's shared economic liberalism and low profiles in global politics have resulted in mostly friendly bilateral relations.
-
|-
+
 
-
| December 24 || Christmas Eve || Véspera de Natal ||
+
===Serbia===
-
|-
+
Relations with Serbia are extremely warm. Their shared opposition to "imperialism" (i.e., foreign interventionism of which they do not approve) has forged a strong bond.
-
| December 25 || Christmas Day || Natal || Commemorates the birth of Christ.
+
 
-
|}
+
===Hungary===
 +
Like Serbia, Hungary is a country which Brazil counts among its close friends. Relations have warmed further in response to their common position on the Spanish-Portuguese spat.
 +
 
 +
===United Kingdom===
 +
Anglo-Brazilian relations are mostly neutral. Though the two countries trade and maintain diplomatic relations, Brazil's human rights policies and Britain's "hyper-interventionist" foreign policy preclude closer relations.
 +
 
 +
===South Africa===
 +
to be added
 +
 
 +
===Alexandrian Empire===
 +
to be added
 +
 
 +
===Sonora===
 +
to be added
 +
 
 +
===France===
 +
to be added
[[Category:Brazil| ]]
[[Category:Brazil| ]]
[[Category:Nations]]
[[Category:Nations]]

Current revision as of 21:42, 24 October 2013

República dos Estados Unidos do Brasil
Republic of the United States of Brazil

Flag of Brazil Coat of arms of Brazil
Flag Coat of arms

Motto
"Ordem e Progresso" (Portuguese)
"Order and Progress"

Anthem
Hino Nacional Brasileiro
(National Anthem of Brazil)

Location of Brazil

Capital

Largest city
Brasília
15°45′S 47°57′W
São Paulo

Official languages Portuguese

Demonym Brazilian

Government
 - President
 - Vice-President
Unitary presidential republic
João de Oliveira Mendonça
Afonso Branco

Independence
 - Declared
 - Recognized
 - Republic
 - Coup d'état
from Portugal
September 7, 1822
August 29, 1825
November 15, 1889
March 31, 1964

Area
 - Total

 - Water (%)

8,514,877 km²
3,287,597 sq mi
0.65

Population
 - 2008 estimate
 - 2007 census
 - Density
 

186,757,608
183,987,291
22/km²
57/sq mi

GDP (PPP)
 - Total
 - Per capita
2007 estimate
$3.88 trillion
$20,777

GDP (nominal)
 - Total
 - Per capita
2007 estimate
$2.24 trillion
$11,973

Gini (2005) 60.6 (high)

HDI (2005) 0.790 (medium)

Currency Real (R$) (BRL)

Time zone
- Summer (DST)
BRT (UTC -2 to -4)
BRST (UTC -2 to -3)

Internet TLD .br

Calling code +55

Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil), officially the Republic of the United States of Brazil (Portuguese: República dos Estados Unidos do Brasil) is a country in South America. With a population of over 185 million and an area of 8,514,877 km² (3,287,597 sq mi), it is one of the largest and most populous countries in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and the overseas department of French Guiana; and on the northwest, west, southwest, and south by the Confederate States of Latin America. Numerous archipelagos are part of the Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until its independence in 1822. Initially independent as the Empire of Brazil, 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. Its current constitution defines Brazil as a federal republic, but in practice the country is a unitary state in which the states enjoy little autonomy. Brazil comprises 21 States (including the Distrito Federal, or "Federal District") and 5,564 Municipalities.

Economic reforms have transformed Brazil into a great power. The country is a founding member of the League of Nations. A predominantly Roman Catholic, Portuguese-speaking, and multiethnic society, Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.

Contents

[edit] States of Brazil

  1. Amazonas
  2. Pará
  3. Maranhão
  4. Piauí
  5. Ceará
  6. Rio Grande do Norte
  7. Paraíba
  8. Pernambuco
  9. Alagoas
  10. Sergipe
  11. Bahia
  12. Espírito Santo
  13. Rio de Janeiro
  14. Minas Gerais
  15. Goiás
  16. Mato Grosso
  17. São Paulo
  18. Paraná
  19. Santa Catarina
  20. Rio Grande do Sul
  21. Distrito Federal

[edit]
List of Brazilian states

State Abbreviation Capital Area Population (2005) Density
Alagaos AL Maceió 27,767.7 km² 3,015,912 108.61
Amazonas AM Manaus 1,947,626.1 km² 4,279,690 2.2
Bahia BA Salvador 564,692.7 km² 13,815,334 24.46
Ceará CE Fortazela 148,825.6 km² 8,097,276 54.40
Distrito Federal DF Brasília 5,802 km² 2,383,784 410.9
Espírito Santo ES Vitória 46,077.5 km² 3,408,365 73.97
Goiás GO Goiânia 623,529.7 km² 9,258,753 14.85
Maranhão MA São Luís 331,983.3 km² 6,103,327 18.38
Mato Grosso MT Cuiabá 1,498,059.1 km² 6,602,336 4.4
Minas Gerais MG Belo Horizonte 586,528.3 km² 19,237,450 32.79
Pará PA Belém 1,390,504.1 km² 7,565,173 5.44
Paraíba PB João Pessoa 56,439.8 km² 3,595,886 63.71
Paraná PR Curitiba 199,314.9 km² 10,261,856 51.48
Pernambuco PE Recife 98,311.6 km² 8,413,593 85.58
Piauí PI Teresina 251,529.2 km² 3,006,885 11.95
Rio de Janeiro RJ Rio de Janeiro 43,696.1km² 15,383,407 352.05
Rio Grande do Norte RN Natal 52,796.8 km² 3,003,087 56.88
Rio Grande do Sul RS Porto Alegre 281,748.5 km² 10,845,087 38.49
Santa Catarina SC Florianópolis 95,346.2 km² 5,866,568 61.53
São Paulo SP São Paulo 248,209.4 km² 40,442,795 162.93
Sergipe SE Aracaju 21,910.3 km² 1,967,761 89.81

[edit] Politics

hAxuEi Hey, thanks for the article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.

[edit] National Congress

The National Congress in Brasília, the capital of Brazil.

Brazil's legislature is the bicameral National Congress (Portuguese: Congresso Nacional), which consists of the Senate (the upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house).

The Federal Senate (Senado Federal) contains 63 seats: three senators from each State (including the Distrito Federal); the Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) comprises 310 deputies.

Elections for both are held regularly, however, only two parties have representation in the National Congress: the "official" party (National Renewal Alliance Party) and the "loyal opposition" party (Brazilian Democratic Movement), which are also the only two legal parties. The role and powers of Congress are severely circumscribed by the 1967 Constitution, effectively reducing it to a rubberstamp body.

[edit] Judiciary

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil.

The judicial branch is composed of federal, state, and municipal courts. The minimum and maximum ages for appointment to the superior courts are thirty-five and sixty-five; mandatory retirement is at age seventy. These federal courts have no chief justice or judge. The two-year presidency of each court is by rotation and is based on respecting seniority.

Brazil's highest court is the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, or STF). Created in October 1890, the STF has eleven members appointed by the president. The STF decides conflicts between the executive and legislative branches, disputes among states, and disputes between the federal government and states. In addition, it rules on disputes involving foreign governments and extradition. The STF issues decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, acts, and procedures of the executive and legislative branches, and warrants of injunction. The president of the STF is third in the line of presidential succession and would preside over an impeachment trial held by the Senate.

The TFR (Federal Court of Appeals) was created under the 1946 constitution. As the last court of appeals for nonconstitutional questions, the TFR reviews decisions of the TRFs (Regional Federal Courts) and tries governors and federal judges. The president appoints its members: One-third are picked from the ranks of TRF judges; one-third from the ranks of State Supreme Court judges; and one-third from the ranks of state and federal public prosecutors.

Brazil's judicial system has a series of special courts, in addition to the regular civil court system, covering the areas of military, labor, and election affairs. The Superior Military Court (Superior Tribunal Militar, or STM), created in 1808 by João VI (king of Portugal, 1816-26), is the oldest superior court in Brazil. It is composed of fifteen judges appointed by the president. Three members must have the rank of admiral in the Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil), three must be general officers of the Brazilian Air Force (Fôrça Aérea Brasileira, or FAB), four must be army generals, and five must be civilians. The latter must be over age thirty and under age sixty-five. Two of the civilians are alternately chosen from among military justice auditors and military court prosecutors; three are lawyers with noted judicial knowledge and ten years of professional experience. The STM has jurisdiction over crimes committed by members of the armed forces. It is also used extensively to try civilians accused of crimes against "national security."

The government of Getúlio Vargas created the Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral, or TSE) in 1932 in an effort to end election fraud and manipulation. The TSE has jurisdiction over all aspects of elections and regulates the functioning of political parties. Its powers include supervising party conventions and internal elections; granting or canceling registration of parties; registering candidates and certifying those elected; regulating and supervising party access to free television and radio time during an election; and registering voters.

The TSE has seven members, each with a two-year mandate. By secret ballot, the STF chooses three of its members to sit on the TSE, and the STJ chooses two of its members. The president appoints two lawyers from among a six-name list submitted by the STF. The TSE elects its president and vice president from among the members of the STF.

The system of labor courts was created by Getúlio Vargas in the 1930s to arbitrate labor-management disputes, which previously had been settled by police action. The 1946 constitution created the Superior Labor Court (Tribunal Superior do Trabalho, or TST). The labor court system has jurisdiction over all labor-related questions. It registers labor contracts, arbitrates collective and individual labor disputes, recognizes official union organizations, resolves salary questions, and decides the legality of strikes. The president appoints twenty-seven judges to the TST. Seventeen of the judges - eleven career labor judges, three labor lawyers, and three labor court prosecutors - receive lifetime terms (to age seventy). Ten temporary judges are appointed from lists evenly divided between the confederations of labor and management.

The Public Ministry is an important independent body in Brazil's judicial system. Its principal component, the Office of the Solicitor General of the Republic (Procuradoria Geral da República, or PGR), is composed of several public prosecutors selected by public examination. The PGR's headquarters is in Brasília, and it has branches in every state. The PGR is charged with prosecuting those accused of federal crimes, those accused of offending the president and his ministers, and all federal officials and employees accused of crimes. The president has the power to appoint and dismiss the solicitor general at will.

Finally, the Office of the Federal Attorney General (Advocacia- Geral da União, or AGU) defends the federal government against lawsuits and provides legal counsel to the executive branch.

The judicial branch's powers are very limited. The 1967 Constitution, which removed all privileges previously enjoyed by judges, also granted the president the right to forcibly remove or retire judges if so chose. More than one judge has been subjected to removal or retirement for inefficiency or insufficient loyalty to the junta.

[edit] Cabinet

The composition of the current cabinet is as follows:

  • Minister of Aeronautics: Sérgio Fortes
  • Minister of Agriculture: Antônio Corrêa Prestes
  • Minister of the Army: João Vieira Soares
  • Minister of Communications: Vítor Ribeiro
  • Minister of Education: Mário Rodrigues
  • Minister of External Relations: Deodoro Cabral
  • Minister of Finance: José Salazar
  • Minister of Health: Francisco Pinheiro
  • Minister of Industry and Commerce: Augusto Geisel
  • Minister of Interior: Afonso Luiza Rezende
  • Minister of Justice: Paulo Inácio dos Santos
  • Minister of the Navy: Carlos Guimarães Rosa
  • Minister of Transport: Fernando Cautiero e Silva

[edit] Constitution

After the coup d'état of 1964, the controllers of the new regime kept the 1946 constitution and promised to restore democracy as soon as possible. However, they eventually did not and were faced with a dilemma, as every measure they took was strictly against the current constitution, including the coup itself.

The so-called Institutional Acts issued by the president were, in practice, placed higher than the Constitution and could amend it – but they were not foreseen in the constitution, which made them illegal.

In 1967 the situation had come to a point that was unbearable: the military could not keep the farce of democracy any more and was eager to enable itself with "proper" laws to fight subversivos (anyone that opposed the regime). The constitution was denounced as "obsolete" as the "new institutions" were not foreseen in it.

A new constitution was written by a team of lawyers commissioned by Marshal Humberto de Alencar Castello Branco, then president, amended (under the instructions of Castello Branco himself) by the Minister of Justice, Carlos Medeiros Silva and voted as whole by the Brazilian Congress (already purged of most opponents of the status quo).

The main features of the new Constitution were:

  • Restriction of political rights: free elections would only be held at state and county level, but not in federal territories or cities considered as of interest of national security for whatever reason (such cities were specified as those lying by the international border, state capitals, "important" industrial centers, university towns, jungle towns, towns close to power plants, mining sites, etc). About 500 cities/towns were listed, the largest and most important ones.
  • Restriction of civil rights: any meeting, assembly, or gathering of people should be formal, must be previously authorized, and conducted under supervision. Unauthorized meetings would be disbanded by the police and participants sued (or imprisoned).
  • Creation of a military police to patrol the cities and "provide public security", reducing the autonomy of the existing civilian police.
  • Removal of all privileges of judges, allowing the president to force them to retire or to remove them.
  • Disbanding of all political parties (which had existed for only twenty years) and creation of a bipartisan system comprising the official party, the National Renewal Alliance Party (ARENA), and the controlled opposition, the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB).
  • Creation of an indirect election system (Colégio Eleitoral) to choose the president.
  • Limitation of federated states' autonomy.
  • Granting the president the right to issue decrees (Decretos-Lei) that would be binding after 30 days if the Congress "did not have the time" to vote on them.

In 1969 this already very restrictive Constitution was widely amended by the junta and made even more dictatorial. The 1969 amendment is sometimes regarded as another Constitution. It brought some extra tools for the regime:

  • State of emergency
  • Capital punishment
  • Exile as punishment
  • Suspension of habeas corpus
  • Special military courts to try members of the military accused of crimes
  • Transfer of command of the military police from each federal state to the Ministry of War
  • Restrictions on travel

[edit] Economy

Brazil has pursued generally sound economic policies for two decades. Since the mid-1980s, the government has sold many state-owned companies, and privatization is continuing as of June 2008. The government's role in the economy is mostly limited to regulation, although the state continues to operate the Central Bank, "strategic" defense industries such as Engesa and Embraer, and national infrastructure (roads, railways, airports, ports and harbors). Brazil is strongly committed to free trade and has welcomed large amounts of foreign investment. Brazil's approach to foreign direct investment is codified in the country's Foreign Investment Law, which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Brazilians. Registration is simple and transparent, and foreign investors are guaranteed access to the official foreign exchange market to repatriate their profits and capital.

Brazil's taxes are among the lowest in the world. There is a 10% flat-rate income tax; a 15% tax on corporate income; and a 10% value added tax. No other forms of taxation exist in Brazil, and the government has continually cut taxes in concert with its reductions in government spending.

Banking in Brazil is characterized by stability, privacy and protection of clients' assets and information. The country's tradition of bank secrecy is codified in law. Only the Confederate States of Latin America (ECAL) has more laissez faire banking than Brazil.

The government does not set wages, prices, or interest rates. The Brazilian government consistently manages to balance the budget, and keeps inflation in check by minimizing the amount of currency printed. There is talk of converting to a gold standard, though the government will not confirm or deny this.

Brazil's lax regulations make it a profitable and popular destination for outsourcing, ensuring that both skilled and unskilled jobs are plentiful. For the few who cannot find jobs, public works programs and the armed forces provide employment opportunities.

Healthcare and social security have both been fully privatized, although the government still retains the Ministry of Health (which is now responsible mainly for ensuring Brazilian children are vaccinated, overseeing Brazil's anti-malaria program, and ensuring that public sanitation is maintained). The government ended its subsidies to agriculture in 1998 (the government's role in agriculture now is limited to regulating food quality, food inspection and safety, and consumer protection).

Education is free and compulsory for children, although the government has actively worked to decrease its role in this area, content to leave the running of schools to churches, families, and local communities; however, education remains closely scrutinized, and those who teach "subversive" topics face a heavy fine, imprisonment, or even exile.

Brazil trades extensively with most countries, though its largest trading partner, by far, is the ECAL.

The country's largest industries include motor vehicles, chemicals, lumber, aircraft, machinery, natural gas, hydropower, petroleum, tourism, and agriculture. Brazil is self-sufficient in energy production and does not rely on imports. Brazil is also the largest producer of coffee (by far) in the world.

[edit] Foreign relations

Since the 1970s, Brazil has pursued a generally non-aligned, neutral foreign policy. It actively seeks to have as friendly a relationship as possible with all countries, is strongly committed to free trade, and frequently intervenes as a mediator to resolve international disputes. With its "go-it-alone" foreign policy, Brazil has few true friends or true foes. What follows is a brief description of its relations with various countries.

[edit] United States

In the early years of the military dictatorship, Brazil was enthusiastically and unabashedly pro-American, and rarely if ever wavered in its support of the United States. This changed in the early 1970s, when Brazil adjusted its foreign policy more in line with the Third World mainstream, and made efforts to cultivate warmer relationships with Marxist-Leninist countries; however, it maintained its warm relationship with the United States, even if it did adopt a more independent foreign policy. Bilateral relations did become noticeably frigid during the Carter Administration, when Carter's denunciations of Brazilian human rights abuses, coupled with his total silence in the face of human rights by communist countries, caused Brazil to angrily tear up its mutual defense treaty with the United States in 1978.

This changed in the 1980s, when the conservative Ronald Reagan was elected. Criticism of Brazil was effectively muted; bilateral trade expanded; and Brazil's economic liberalization won praise in Washington and led to record levels of foreign investment in Brazil. While the two countries never resumed their mutual defense alliance, they regularly participated in war games together, and their governments exchanged visits biannually.

Relations during the 1990s were fair, and were neither intimate nor hostile, although Brazilian-American trade remained extensive, and bilateral relations were described as "friendly." Occasional criticism of Brazilian human rights abuses does cause bilateral relations to cool briefly from time to time, though.

[edit] Confederate States of Latin America (ECAL)

Relations between Brazil and its larger, more prosperous neighbor have varied from high intimacy to extreme hostility, but usually hover between those two extremes, if leaning more toward the latter. As a distinguished Western-style liberal democracy, the ECAL naturally feels antipathy toward Brazil's military government. Yet pragmatism and practicality exercised by both sides have meant the two were never outright enemies. Though harsh words are exchanged from time to time, their dependence on one another - both are major trading partners, and Brazil's anti-terrorist operations against FARC in the Amazon are beneficial to the ECAL - force them to overlook their differences. Citizens travel freely between both countries, and while the Latin American government remains highly critical of the Brazilian government, both countries are working to patch up their differences. As of 2008, relations are relatively warm, if still strained.

[edit] Western Canada

Brazil and Western Canada have never had close relations. Neither allies nor enemies, and with minimal bilateral trade, relations between the two have always been minimal. However, Brazil's rising prominence in the world economy, increasing trade between the two, and Brazil's efforts to mediate the Spanish-Portuguese dispute, have resulted in a gradual warming of relations recently.

[edit] Portugal

In spite of Brazil's anticommunism, its relationship with Portugal, the former colonial power, is fair. The countries' shared culture has meant close personal ties between the Brazilian and Portuguese people. Brazil actively trades with Portugal, even though the latter is a communist country.

[edit] Spain

Relations are mostly friendly with Spain, due to their similar politics. However, largely to avoid antagonizing the ECAL, Brazil has refrained from becoming too friendly with Spain.

[edit] Israel

Brazil and Israel, traditionally close, remain staunch allies. Cooperation in many areas - military, diplomatic, cultural - is extensive. Brazil is regarded as one of Israel's most faithful foreign backers, and there are rumors that Mossad has a presence in Brazil, though neither country has commented on this.

[edit] Italy

Italian-Brazilian relations are mostly friendly. Italy is one of Brazil's largest trade partners, and many Brazilians have Italian heritage.

[edit] Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Brazil and Poland-Lithuania's shared economic liberalism and low profiles in global politics have resulted in mostly friendly bilateral relations.

[edit] Serbia

Relations with Serbia are extremely warm. Their shared opposition to "imperialism" (i.e., foreign interventionism of which they do not approve) has forged a strong bond.

[edit] Hungary

Like Serbia, Hungary is a country which Brazil counts among its close friends. Relations have warmed further in response to their common position on the Spanish-Portuguese spat.

[edit] United Kingdom

Anglo-Brazilian relations are mostly neutral. Though the two countries trade and maintain diplomatic relations, Brazil's human rights policies and Britain's "hyper-interventionist" foreign policy preclude closer relations.

[edit] South Africa

to be added

[edit] Alexandrian Empire

to be added

[edit] Sonora

to be added

[edit] France

to be added

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