Country Profile
Brazil,officially the Federative Republic of Brazil is the largest country in South America and the world's 5th largest country, both by Geographical Area (85 Million Sq Km)an by Population(193 Million as per 2011 Estimate)
Brazil occupies a large area along the eastern coast of South America and shares a border with every country in South America except Ecuador and Chile.
Brazil is the only Portuguese Speaking Country in the Americas(landmasses of North America and South America) and the largest lusophone(Portuguese Speaking) country in the world.
Amazon the world's second-longest river and the largest in terms of volume of water is in Brazil.
The Amazon Rainforest basin encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), of which five and a half million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres)and the majority of the forest is contained within Brazil(60%)followed by Peru(13%)Colombia(10%) and with minor amounts in Venezuela.Ecuador,Bolivia,Guyana and French Guiana.
Capital Brasilia
Currency Real
Official Language Portuguese
Population 193 Million (2011 Estimate)
Religion Roman Catholicism(Brazil has the world's largest Catholic population)
Flag of Brazil
History
Brazil was a Colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdom of Portugal,Brazil and the Algarves was formed.
The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese Colonial Empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro,after Napoleon invaded Portugal.
Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil,a Unitary State Governed under a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary System.On 12 October 1822, Pedro was declared the first Emperor of Brazil and crowned Dom Pedro I on Dec 01,1822.
Pedro I abdicated on 7 April 1831 and went to Europe to reclaim his daughter's crown leaving behind his five year old son and heir, who was to become Dom Pedro II.
Brazil country became a Presidential Republic in 1889, when a military Coup d'etat Proclaimed the Republic although the Bicameral Legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824.When the monarchy was overthrown on 15 November 1889 there was little desire in Brazil to change the form of Govt. and Pedro II was at the height of his popularity among his subjects.
Brazil's current constituion, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a Federal Republic formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States and the 5,564 Municipalities.From the proclamation of the Republic in 1889 until 1967 the country was officially styled Republic of the United States of Brazil.
On March 15, 1967, the country's official name was changed to Federative Republic of Brazil. On that same date, Arthur da Costa e Silva was sworn in as President.
Politics and Government
Brazil is a Federal Presidential Representative Democratic Republic where the President is both the Head of State and Head of Govt and of a Multi-Party System.
The President leads the Executive branch of the Federal Govt. and is the Commander-in-Chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces.
The Presidential System was established in 1889, upon the proclamation of the republic in a Military Coup d'etat against the Emperor Dom Pedro II.Since then, Brazil had 6 Constitutions 2 dictatorships and 3 Democratic Periods.
The President is elected by univeral suffrage for a 4 year term and is eligible for re-election for another term sequentially.
Dilma Vana Rousseff( first female elected President of Brazil) of Worker's Party(PT) is the 36th and current President of Brazil in office from Jan 01,2011.
National Congress of Brazil
The National Congress of Brazil is the legislative body of Brazil's Federal Govt.The Congress is Bicameral
Federal Senate(Upper House) which comprises 81 seats. Three Senators from each of the 26 States and three Senators from the Federal District are elected on a majority basis to serve eight-year terms.Elections are staggered so that two-thirds of the upper house is up for election at one time and the remaining one-third four years later.
Chamber of Deputies(Lower House)which comprises 513 deputies, who are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms.
2010 Brazilian Presidential Election
The Brazilian presidential election was held in 2010 with two rounds of balloting. The first round was held on Oct 3,2010 along with other elections as part of the 2010 General Election.
No Presidential Candidate polled 50 % of the vote on October 3,2010 and a Run-Off was held on Oct 31,2010 between -
Dilma Rousseff of Worker's Party(PT) and
Jose Serra of Brazilian Social Democracy Party(PSDB)
Results 2010 Brazilian Presidential Election
| Running mate | 1st Round | 2nd Round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popular vote | |||||
| Absolute | Percentage | Absolute | Percentage | ||
| Dilma Rousseff (PT) | Michel Temer (PMDB) | 47,651,434 | 46.91% | 55,752,529 | 56.05% |
| José Serra (PSDB) | Indio da Costa (DEM) | 33,132,283 | 32.61% | 43,711,388 | 43.95% |
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