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| In 2020 the government of Brazil pledged to reduce its annual [[greenhouse gas]]es emissions by 43% by 2030. It also set as indicative target of reaching [[carbon neutrality]] by the year 2060 if the country gets 10 billion dollars per year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Felin |first1=Bruno |title=STATEMENT: Brazil Sets Weak 2030 Emission Reduction Target |url=https://www.wri.org/news/2020/12/statement-brazil-sets-weak-2030-emission-reduction-target |website=World Resources Institute |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref> | | In 2020 the government of Brazil pledged to reduce its annual [[greenhouse gas]]es emissions by 43% by 2030. It also set as indicative target of reaching [[carbon neutrality]] by the year 2060 if the country gets 10 billion dollars per year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Felin |first1=Bruno |title=STATEMENT: Brazil Sets Weak 2030 Emission Reduction Target |url=https://www.wri.org/news/2020/12/statement-brazil-sets-weak-2030-emission-reduction-target |website=World Resources Institute |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref> |
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| == Government and politics ==
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| {{Main|Politics of Brazil|Federal government of Brazil|Elections in Brazil}}
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| [[File:Reflexos do Planalto.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Palácio do Planalto]], the official workplace of the [[President of Brazil]].]]
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| The form of government is a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[Federation|federative]] [[republic]], with a [[presidential system]].<ref name="Constituição" /> The president is both head of state and head of government of the Union and is elected for a four-year term,<ref name="Constituição" /> with the possibility of re-election for a second successive term. The current president is [[Jair Bolsonaro]]. The previous president, [[Michel Temer]], replaced [[Dilma Rousseff]] after her [[Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff|impeachment]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/31/americas/brazil-rousseff-impeachment-vote/index.html|title=Brazil's Senate ousts Rousseff in impeachment vote|first1=Catherine E. |last1=Shoichet |first2=Euan |last2=McKirdy|website=CNN|access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref> The President appoints the [[Minister of State|Ministers of State]], who assist in government.<ref name="Constituição" /> Legislative houses in each political entity are the main source of law in Brazil. The [[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress]] is the Federation's bicameral legislature, consisting of the [[Chamber of Deputies of Brazil|Chamber of Deputies]] and the [[Senate of Brazil|Federal Senate]]. Judiciary authorities exercise jurisdictional duties almost exclusively. Brazil is a [[democracy]], according to the [[Democracy Index]] 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democracy Index 2010 |url=http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf|website=eiu.com|access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref>
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| The political-administrative organization of the Federative Republic of Brazil comprises the Union, the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities.<ref name="Constituição" /> The Union, the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities, are the "spheres of government". The [[federation]] is set on five fundamental principles:<ref name="Constituição" /> sovereignty, citizenship, dignity of human beings, the social values of labor and freedom of enterprise, and political [[pluralism (political theory)|pluralism]]. The classic tripartite branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial under a checks and balances system) are formally established by the Constitution.<ref name="Constituição" /> The executive and legislative are organized [[Separation of powers|independently in all three spheres of government]], while the judiciary is organized only at the federal and state and Federal District spheres.
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| All members of the executive and legislative branches are directly elected.<ref name=embassy>{{cite web |url=http://www.brasembottawa.org/en/brazil_in_brief/political_institution.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725100724/http://www.brasembottawa.org/en/brazil_in_brief/political_institution.html |archive-date=25 July 2011 |title=Embassy of Brazil – Ottawa |quote=Political Institutions – The Executive |access-date=19 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/government/brazil_government.html |title=City Mayors |quote=Brazil federal, state and local government |access-date=19 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title = Contributions to the Physical Geography of the Mississippi River, and Its Delta|last = Fontaine|first = Edward|journal = Journal of the American Geographical Society of New York|issn = 1536-0407|volume = 3|year = 1872|pages = 343–78|doi = 10.2307/196424|jstor = 196424}}</ref> Judges and other judicial officials are appointed after passing entry exams.<ref name=embassy /> For most of its democratic history, Brazil has had a multi-party system, proportional representation. Voting is compulsory for the literate between 18 and 70 years old and optional for illiterates and those between 16 and 18 or beyond 70.<ref name="Constituição" />
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| [[File:Brasilia Congresso Nacional 05 2007 221.jpg|thumb|left|[[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress]], seat of the [[legislative branch]].]]
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| Together with several smaller parties, four political parties stand out: [[Workers' Party (Brazil)|Workers' Party]] (PT), [[Brazilian Social Democracy Party]] (PSDB), [[Brazilian Democratic Movement]] (MDB) and [[Democrats (Brazil)|Democrats]] (DEM). Fifteen political parties are represented in Congress. It is common for politicians to switch parties, and thus the proportion of congressional seats held by particular parties changes regularly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southtravels.com/america/brazil/government.html |title=Government – Brazil |publisher=Southtravels.com |date=5 October 1988 |access-date=17 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128075345/http://www.southtravels.com/america/brazil/government.html |archive-date=28 November 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Almost all governmental and administrative functions are exercised by authorities and agencies affiliated to the Executive.
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| The country has more than 40 active political parties, and only one of them defines itself as a right-wing party ([[Social Liberal Party (Brazil)|PSL]]), with a clear political imbalance. The country has several far-left parties like [[Socialism and Liberty Party|PSOL]], [[Workers' Cause Party|PCO]], [[United Socialist Workers' Party|PSTU]], [[Brazilian Communist Party|PCB]], [[Communist Party of Brazil|PC do B]], left parties like [[Workers' Party (Brazil)|PT]], [[Brazilian Socialist Party|PSB]], [[Democratic Labour Party (Brazil)|PDT]], [[Green Party (Brazil)|PV]], [[Sustainability Network|Rede]] and [[Solidariedade]] and center-left like [[Brazilian Social Democracy Party|PSDB]], [[Democrats (Brazil)|DEM]], [[Party of National Mobilization|PMN]] and [[Cidadania]]. Ten parties declare themselves as the center: [[Brazilian Democratic Movement|MDB]], [[Liberal Party (Brazil, 2006)|PL]], [[Social Democratic Party (Brazil, 2011)|PSD]], [[Christian Labour Party|PTC]], [[Christian Democracy (Brazil)|DC]], [[Republican Party of the Social Order|PROS]], [[Avante (political party)|Avante]], [[Patriota]], [[Podemos (Brazil)|Podemos]] and [[Party of the Brazilian Woman|PMB]]. Five parties declare themselves as center-right: [[Brazilian Labour Party (current)|PTB]], [[Progressistas]], [[Social Christian Party (Brazil)|PSC]], [[Brazilian Labour Renewal Party|PRTB]] and [[Republicans (Brazil)|Republicanos]]. The only party that claims to be purely liberal, without further consideration, is [[New Party (Brazil)|Novo]]. When asked about their ideological spectrum, Brazilian parties tend to give obtuse and non-conclusive answers on the subject.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/republica/apenas-um-partido-se-define-como-de-direita-no-brasil-esquerda-tem-sete/|title=Apenas um partido se define como de direita no Brasil; Esquerda tem sete|website=Gazeta do Povo}}</ref>
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| === Law ===
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| {{Main|Law of Brazil|Law enforcement in Brazil|Crime in Brazil}}
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| [[File:Supremo Brasil.jpg|thumb|left|[[Supreme Federal Court of Brazil]] serves primarily as the Constitutional Court of the country]]
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| Brazilian law is based on the [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] legal system<ref>[http://www.oas.org/juridico/mla/en/bra/en_bra-int-des-ordrjur.html "The Brazilian Legal System"], Organization of American States. Retrieved 17 May 2007.</ref> and [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] concepts prevail over common law practice. Most of Brazilian law is codified, although non-codified statutes also represent a substantial part, playing a complementary role. Court decisions set out interpretive guidelines; however, they are seldom binding on other specific cases. Doctrinal works and the works of academic jurists have strong influence in law creation and in law cases.
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| The legal system is based on the [[Constitution of Brazil|Federal Constitution]], promulgated on 5 October 1988, and the fundamental law of Brazil. All other legislation and court decisions must conform to its rules.<ref>José Afonso da Silva, ''Curso de Direito Constitucional Positivo'' (Malheiros, 2004; {{ISBN|85-7420-559-1}}), p. 46.</ref> {{As of|2007|04}}, there have been 53 amendments. States have their own constitutions, which must not contradict the Federal Constitution.<ref>Silva, ''Curso de Direito Constitucional Positivo'', p. 592.</ref> Municipalities and the Federal District have "organic laws" ({{lang|pt|leis orgânicas}}), which act in a similar way to constitutions.<ref name="DeffentiBarral2011">{{cite book|author1=Fabiano Deffenti|author2=Welber Oliveira Barral|title=Introduction to Brazilian Law|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Ba2J5eD8wYC&pg=PA20|access-date=6 June 2013|year=2011|publisher=Kluwer Law International|isbn=978-90-411-2506-4|pages=20–}}</ref> Legislative entities are the main source of statutes, although in certain matters judiciary and executive bodies may enact legal norms.<ref name="Constituição" /> Jurisdiction is administered by the judiciary entities, although in rare situations the [[Constitution of Brazil|Federal Constitution]] allows the Federal Senate to pass on legal judgments.<ref name="Constituição" /> There are also specialized military, labor, and electoral courts.<ref name="Constituição" /> The highest court is the [[Supreme Federal Court]].
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| This system has been criticized over the last few decades for the slow pace of decision-making. Lawsuits on appeal may take several years to resolve, and in some cases more than a decade elapses before definitive rulings.<ref>Miguel Glugoski and Odete Medauar, [http://www.usp.br/jorusp/arquivo/2003/jusp667/pag0304.htm "Nossos direitos nas suas mãos"], [[University of São Paulo|USP]] Journal, 24–30 November 2003. Retrieved 17 May 2007.</ref> Nevertheless, the Supreme Federal Tribunal was the first court in the world to transmit its sessions on television, and also via [[YouTube]].<ref>Diego Abreu, [http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Brasil/0,,MUL1326475-5598,00.html "Primeira Corte do mundo a ter canal de vídeo no YouTube é o STF"], [http://g1.globo.com/ G1]. {{in lang|pt}} Accessed 12 October 2009.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706160609/http://esma.tjpb.jus.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109%3Astf-primeira-corte-no-mundo-no-youtube&catid=1%3Anoticias&Itemid=20 "STF: Primeira corte do mundo no YouTube"]. [http://esma.tjpb.jus.br/ ESMA-PB]. {{in lang|pt}} Accessed 12 October 2009.</ref> In December 2009, the Supreme Court adopted [[Twitter]] to display items on the day planner of the ministers, to inform the daily actions of the Court and the most important decisions made by them.<ref>[http://www.stf.jus.br/portal/cms/verNoticiaDetalhe.asp?idConteudo=117153 "Página do STF no Twitter está no ar"] (12 January 2009). [http://www.stf.jus.br/ STF Official Website]. {{in lang|pt}} Consulted on 5 December 2009.</ref>
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| === Military ===
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| {{Main|Brazilian Armed Forces}}
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| | image1 = 23 10 2020 Comemoração do Dia do Aviador e da Força Aérea Brasileira (50521336872) (cropped).jpg
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| | caption1 = [[Brazilian Air Force]] [[Saab JAS 39 Gripen#Brazil|Saab Gripen NG]]
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| | image2 = GLAM MB Chegada do PHM "Atlântico" (29323273127).jpg
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| | caption2 = [[Brazilian Navy]]'s [[flagship]] [[PHM Atlântico|PHM ''Atlântico'']]
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| }}
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| The armed forces of Brazil are the [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel|largest]] in Latin America by active personnel and the largest in terms of military equipment.<ref>[http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI14439-15273-2,00-UMA+NOVA+AGENDA+MILITAR.html Uma Nova Agenda Militar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325232014/http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0%2C%2CEMI14439-15273-2%2C00-UMA%2BNOVA%2BAGENDA%2BMILITAR.html |date=25 March 2017 }} Revista Época. Retrieved on 19 February 2009.</ref> It consists of the [[Brazilian Army]] (including the [[Brazilian Army Aviation Command|Army Aviation Command]]), the [[Brazilian Navy]] (including the [[Brazilian Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] and [[Brazilian Naval Aviation|Naval Aviation]]), and the [[Brazilian Air Force]]. Brazil's [[conscription]] policy gives it one of the world's largest military forces, estimated at more than 1.6 million [[Military Reserve|reservists]] annually.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/brazil/|title=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=26 March 2010}}</ref>
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| Numbering close to 236,000 active personnel,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2004-2006/2006/Decreto/D5670.htm|title=Decreto Nº 5.670 de 10 de Janeiro de 2006|publisher=Presidência da República|language=pt|access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> the Brazilian Army has the largest number of armored vehicles in [[South America]], including armored transports and [[battle tank|tanks]].<ref name="militarypower1" /> It is also unique in Latin America for its large, elite forces specializing in unconventional missions, the [[Brazilian Special Operations Command]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdaopesp.eb.mil.br/ |title=Brigada de Operações Especiais |editor=Exército |access-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923015650/https://www.bdaopesp.eb.mil.br/ |archive-date=23 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defesanet.com.br/sof/cb_bda_opesp_1.htm|title=Defesanet – Brigada de operações especiais|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropaselite.t35.com/BRASIL_Brigada_de_Operacoes_Especiais_Parte-1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028052113/http://tropaselite.t35.com/BRASIL_Brigada_de_Operacoes_Especiais_Parte-1.htm|archive-date=28 October 2010|title=Brigada de Operações Especiais – Bda Op Esp|website=tropaselite.t35.com|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> and the versatile Strategic Rapid Action Force, made up of highly mobilized and prepared Special Operations Brigade, [[Parachute Infantry Brigade (Brazil)|Infantry Brigade Parachutist]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarypower.com.br/combatentes.htm|title=Military Power|access-date=27 June 2010|place=Brasil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdainfpqdt.eb.mil.br/|title=Brigada de Infantaria Pára-quedista|publisher=Exército|access-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605010004/http://www.bdainfpqdt.eb.mil.br/|archive-date=5 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1st Jungle Infantry Battalion (Airmobile)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1bis.eb.mil.br/|title=1º Batalhão de Infantaria de Selva (Aeromóvel)|publisher=Exército|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> and 12th Brigade Light Infantry (Airmobile)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdaamv.eb.mil.br/|title=12º Brigada de Infantaria Leve (Aeromóvel)|publisher=Exército|place=Brasil|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> able to act anywhere in the country, on short notice, to counter external aggression.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropaselite.t35.com/BRASIL_FORCA%20DE%20ACAO%20RAPIDA.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018073453/http://tropaselite.t35.com/BRASIL_FORCA%20DE%20ACAO%20RAPIDA.htm|archive-date=18 October 2010|title=Força de Ação Rápida – FAR|website=tropaselite.t35.com|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> The states' [[Military Police (Brazil)|Military Police]] and the [[Military Firefighters Corps]] are described as an ancillary forces of the Army by the constitution, but are under the control of each state's governor.<ref name="Constituição" />
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| Brazil's navy, the second-largest in the Americas, once operated some of the most powerful warships in the world with the two {{Sclass|Minas Geraes|battleship|0}} [[dreadnought]]s, which sparked a [[South American dreadnought race]] between Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.<ref>Scheina (1987), p. 81.</ref> Today, it is a [[green-water navy|green water]] force and has a group of specialized elite in retaking ships and naval facilities, [[GRUMEC]], unit specially trained to protect Brazilian oil platforms along its coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropaselite.t35.com/BRASIL_GRUMEC.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327162505/http://tropaselite.t35.com/BRASIL_GRUMEC.htm|archive-date=27 March 2010|title=Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate – GruMeC|website=tropaselite.t35.com|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> It is the only navy in Latin America that operates an [[aircraft carrier]], [[PHM Atlantico]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mar.mil.br/menu_v/ccsm/perguntas/perguntas_mais_frequentes.htm#44.44 |number=44 |title=More asked questions |publisher=Marinha |access-date=16 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714231056/https://www.mar.mil.br/menu_v/ccsm/perguntas/perguntas_mais_frequentes.htm |archive-date=14 July 2007}}</ref> and one of the ten navies of the world to operate one.<ref name="militarypower1">{{cite web|place=Brasil|url=http://www.militarypower.com.br/mundo.htm|title=Military Power|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref>
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| The Air Force is the largest in Latin America and has about 700 manned aircraft in service and effective about 67,000 personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fab.mil.br/portal/imprensa/fab_numeros.php |title=Sala de imprensa – FAB em números |publisher=Força Aérea Brasileira |language=pt |access-date=12 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617153748/http://www.fab.mil.br/portal/imprensa/fab_numeros.php |archive-date=17 June 2008}}</ref>
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| Brazil has not been invaded since 1865 during the [[Paraguayan War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI14439-15273-3,00-UMA+NOVA+AGENDA+MILITAR.html |title=Especial – NOTÍCIAS – Uma nova agenda militar |publisher=Revistaepoca.globo.com |access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref> Additionally, Brazil has no contested territorial disputes with any of its neighbors<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/brazil/ |title=CIA – The World Factbook |publisher=Cia.gov |access-date=2 October 2013}}</ref> and neither does it have rivalries, like Chile and Bolivia have with each other.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200610/25/eng20061025_315049.html |title=People's Daily Online – Bolivia bans Argentina from reselling gas to Chile |publisher=English.peopledaily.com.cn |date=25 October 2006 |access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3632235.stm |work=BBC News |title=Fresh anger over Bolivia gas plan |date=16 April 2004 |access-date=1 April 2010}}</ref> The Brazilian military has also three times intervened militarily to overthrow the [[Government of Brazil|Brazilian government]].<ref name="revistaepoca.globo.com">{{cite web|url=http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/1,,EMI14440-15273,00.html |title=Especial – NOTÍCIAS – Os pés de barro de um gigante |publisher=Revistaepoca.globo.com |access-date=19 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825094407/http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/1%2C%2CEMI14440-15273%2C00.html |archive-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref> It has built a tradition of participating in UN [[peacekeeping]] missions such as in [[Haiti]], [[East Timor]] and [[Central African Republic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/world/brazil-is-leading-a-largely-south-american-mission-to-haiti.html |work=The New York Times |title=Brazil Is Leading a Largely South American Mission to Haiti |first=Larry |last=Rohter |date=1 August 2004 |access-date=1 April 2010}}</ref> Brazil signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament – No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017}}</ref>
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| === Foreign policy ===
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| {{Main|Foreign relations of Brazil}}
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| [[File:Brasilia-2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Itamaraty Palace]], the seat of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Brazil)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]]]
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| Brazil's international relations are based on Article 4 of the [[Constitution of Brazil|Federal Constitution]], which establishes [[Non-interventionism|non-intervention]], [[self-determination]], [[Internationalism (politics)|international cooperation]] and the [[Peacebuilding|peaceful settlement of conflicts]] as the guiding principles of Brazil's relationship with other countries and multilateral organizations.<ref>[http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/titleI.html Article 4 of the Federal Constitution of Brazil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928070506/http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/titleI.html |date=28 September 2018 }} V-Brazil. Retrieved on 20 September 2011.</ref> According to the Constitution, the [[President of Brazil|President]] has ultimate authority over foreign policy, while the [[National Congress of Brazil|Congress]] is tasked with reviewing and considering all diplomatic nominations and [[Treaty|international treaties]], as well as legislation relating to Brazilian foreign policy.<ref>[http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/titleIV.html Article 84 of the Federal Constitution of Brazil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919114914/http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/titleIV.html |date=19 September 2019 }} V-Brazil. Retrieved on 20 September 2011.</ref>
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| Brazil's foreign policy is a by-product of the country's position as a [[regional power]] in [[Latin America]], a leader among [[developing countries]], and an emerging [[world power]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090710013700/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/news/docs/RL33456.pdf U.S. Congressional Report on Brazil] [[United States Congress]]. Retrieved on 23 June 2009.</ref> Brazilian foreign policy has generally been based on the principles of [[multilateralism]], peaceful dispute settlement, and [[non-interventionism|non-intervention]] in the affairs of other countries.<ref>Georges D. Landau, "The Decision-making Process in Foreign Policy: The Case of Brazil", Center for Strategic and International Studies: Washington DC: March 2003</ref> Brazil is a founding member state of the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]] (CPLP), also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth, an international organization and political association of [[Lusophone]] nations across four continents, where [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] is an official language.
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| An increasingly well-developed tool of Brazil's foreign policy is providing aid as a donor to other developing countries.<ref name="ODI1">Cabral and Weinstock 2010. [http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5120&title=brazil-election-emerging-donor-aid Brazil: an emerging aid player] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113185641/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5120&title=brazil-election-emerging-donor-aid|date=13 January 2011}}). London: [[Overseas Development Institute]]</ref> Brazil does not just use its growing economic strength to provide financial aid, but it also provides high levels of expertise and most importantly of all, a quiet non-confrontational diplomacy to improve governance levels.<ref name="ODI1" /> Total aid is estimated to be around $1 billion per year, which includes.<ref name="ODI1" /> In addition, Brazil already managed a [[United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti|peacekeeping mission in Haiti]] ($350 million) and makes in-kind contributions to the [[World Food Programme]] ($300 million).<ref name="ODI1" /> This is in addition to humanitarian assistance and contributions to multilateral development agencies. The scale of this aid places it on par with China and India.<ref name=ODI1 /> The Brazilian [[South-South]] aid has been described as a "global model in waiting".<ref>Cabral, Lidia 2010. [http://blogs.odi.org.uk/blogs/main/archive/2010/07/22/brazil_south_south_cooperation.aspx Brazil's development cooperation with the South: a global model in waiting] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430190841/http://blogs.odi.org.uk/blogs/main/archive/2010/07/22/brazil_south_south_cooperation.aspx|date=30 April 2011}}). London: [[Overseas Development Institute]]</ref>
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| === Law enforcement and crime ===
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| {{Main|Law enforcement in Brazil|Crime in Brazil}}
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| [[File:COT (6883689782).jpg|thumb|left|Field agents of the [[Federal Police of Brazil|Federal Police]]'s [[Comando de Operações Táticas|Tactical Operations Command]].]]
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| In Brazil, the [[Constitution of Brazil|Constitution]] establishes five different police agencies for law enforcement: [[Federal Police Department]], [[Federal Highway Police (Brazil)|Federal Highway Police]], [[Federal Railroad Police]], [[Military Police (Brazil)|Military Police]] and [[Civil Police (Brazil)|Civil Police]]. Of these, the first three are affiliated with federal authorities and the last two are subordinate to state governments. All police forces are the responsibility of the executive branch of any of the federal or state powers.<ref name="Constituição" /> The [[National Public Security Force]] also can act in public disorder situations arising anywhere in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brasil.gov.br/defesa-e-seguranca/2012/05/ordem-publica-e-prioridade-da-forca-nacional-de-seguranca |title=Ordem pública é prioridade da Força Nacional de Segurança |publisher=Portal Brasil |date=29 April 2012 |access-date=8 February 2015}}</ref>
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| The country still has above-average levels of violent crime and particularly high levels of gun violence and homicide. In 2012, the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) estimated the number of 32 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the [[List of countries by intentional homicide rate|highest rates of homicide of the world]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brasil.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,brasil-tem-maior-numero-absoluto-de-homicidios-do-mundo,1604827|title=Brasil tem maior número absoluto de homicídios do mundo|publisher=[[O Estado de S. Paulo]]|date=10 December 2014}}</ref> The number considered tolerable by the WHO is about 10 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Secretaria de Segurança Pública do Estado de São Paulo |url=http://www.ssp.sp.gov.br/estatistica/dados.aspx?id=E |title=Taxa de delito por 100 mil habitantes |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=14 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811121142/http://www.ssp.sp.gov.br/estatistica/dados.aspx?id=E |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018, Brazil had a record 63,880 murders.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Year of Violence Sees Brazil's Murder Rate Hit Record High |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/world/americas/brazil-murder-rate-record.html |work=The New York Times |date=10 August 2018}}</ref> However, there are differences between the crime rates in the [[States of Brazil|Brazilian states]]. While in [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]] the homicide rate registered in 2013 was 10.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, in [[Alagoas]] it was 64.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/noticias/uma-pessoa-e-assassinada-a-cada-dez-minutos-no-brasil|title=Os estados com mais homicídios no Brasil|magazine=[[Exame]]|date=11 November 2014|access-date=5 February 2015}}</ref>
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| Brazil also has high levels of incarceration and the third largest prison population in the world (behind only [[China]] and the [[United States]]), with an estimated total of approximately 700,000 prisoners around the country (June 2014), an increase of about 300% compared to the index registered in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/cotidiano/2014/06/1465527-brasil-passa-a-russia-e-tem-a-terceira-maior-populacao-carceraria-do-mundo.shtml|title=Brasil passa a Rússia e tem a terceira maior população carcerária do mundo|newspaper=[[Folha de S.Paulo]]|date=5 June 2014}}</ref> The high number of prisoners eventually overloaded the Brazilian prison system, leading to a shortfall of about 200,000 accommodations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2014/01/brasil-tem-hoje-deficit-de-200-mil-vagas-no-sistema-prisional.html|title=Brasil tem hoje deficit de 200 mil vagas no sistema prisional|publisher=G1|date=15 January 2014|access-date=21 March 2014}}</ref>
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| === Administrative divisions ===
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| {| class="infobox"
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| |style="text-align: center;"|{{Brazil Labelled Map}}[[States of Brazil]] and [[Regions of Brazil]]
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| {{Main|States of Brazil|Municipalities of Brazil}}
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| {{See also|Regions of Brazil}}
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| Brazil is a federation composed of 26 [[Federated state|states]], one [[federal district]], and the 5570 [[Municipality|municipalities]].<ref name="Constituição" /> States have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the Federal government. They have a governor and a unicameral legislative body elected directly by their voters. They also have independent Courts of Law for common justice. Despite this, states have much less autonomy to create their own laws than in the United States. For example, criminal and civil laws can be voted by only the federal bicameral Congress and are uniform throughout the country.<ref name="Constituição" />
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| The states and the federal district may be grouped into regions: [[Northern Region, Brazil|Northern]], [[Northeast Region, Brazil|Northeast]], [[Central-West Region, Brazil|Central-West]], [[Southeast Region, Brazil|Southeast]] and [[Southern Region, Brazil|Southern]]. The Brazilian regions are merely geographical, not political or administrative divisions, and they do not have any specific form of government. Although defined by law, Brazilian regions are useful mainly for statistical purposes, and also to define the distribution of federal funds in development projects.
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| Municipalities, as the states, have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the Union and state government.<ref name="Constituição" /> Each has a mayor and an elected legislative body, but no separate Court of Law. Indeed, a Court of Law organized by the state can encompass many municipalities in a single justice administrative division called ''[[comarca]]'' (county).
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| == Economy == | | == Economy == |