Brazil

Federal Senate

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
282
(2023)

Notes: In 2021, the 261 laws adopted included 6 Constitutional Amendments, 12 Complementary Laws (to the Constitution), 172 Ordinary Law, and 71 Legislative decrees that carry the force of law.

Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
753
(2023-02)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
571
(2023-02)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
182
(2023-02)
Percentage of laws initiated by parliament in the previous legislature
76%
(2023-02)
Dates of the previous legislature
01 Feb 2019 to 31 Jan 2023
(2023-02)
Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree

Sources:

Brazilian Federal Constitution, art. 65

A bill of law approved by one House shall be reviewed by the other in a single reading of discussing and voting and sent for sanctioning or promulgation. If is either approved, dismissed or rejected by the reviewing House. If rejected, the bill is amended and returned to the House where it was proposed. Disagreement between the two chambers usually leads to the rejection of a bill.

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
Yes

Sources: Brazilian Federal Constitution, art. 66(4)

Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
49
(2023)

Notes: In 2022, there were 47 partial vetoes and 18 total vetoes.

Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
The legislation is returned to Parliament for re-examination
Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Parliament

Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation

There is a procedure for introducing emergency legislation into parliament
Yes
Number of times the procedure for emergency legislation was used, per year
52

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No