Changes

== Government ==

== Government ==

[[Image:Lula da Silva.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Expresident [[Lula da Silva]] and wife Marisa Leticia.]]

[[File:Jair Bolsonaro official photo.jpg|thumbnail|240px|President Jair Messias Bolsonaro]]

Brazil is a federal republic with 26 states and a federal district. The 1988 constitution grants broad powers to the federal government, made up of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president holds office for four years, with the right to re-election for an additional four-year term, and appoints his own cabinet. There are 81 senators, three for each state and the Federal District, and 513 deputies. Senate terms are eight years, staggered so that two-thirds of the upper house is up for election at one time and one-third four years later. Chamber terms are four years, with elections based on a complex system of proportional representation by states. Each state is eligible for a minimum of eight seats; the largest state delegation (São Paulo's) is capped at 70 seats. This system is weighted in favor of geographically large but sparsely populated states.

Brazil is a federal republic with 26 states and a federal district. The 1988 constitution grants broad powers to the federal government, made up of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president holds office for four years, with the right to re-election for an additional four-year term, and appoints his own cabinet. There are 81 senators, three for each state and the Federal District, and 513 deputies. Senate terms are eight years, staggered so that two-thirds of the upper house is up for election at one time and one-third four years later. Chamber terms are four years, with elections based on a complex system of proportional representation by states. Each state is eligible for a minimum of eight seats; the largest state delegation (São Paulo's) is capped at 70 seats. This system is weighted in favor of geographically large but sparsely populated states.

===Chief of State and Cabinet Members===

===Chief of State and Cabinet Members===

*President—[[Jair Bolsonaro]]

*President—[[Jair Bolsonaro]]

*Vice President—Hamilton Mourão

*Vice President—Hamilton Mourão

[[Image:Brasilia - Congress.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Brazilian Congress]]

[[Image:Brasilia - Congress.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Brazilian Congress]]

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===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

[[File:Clinton with Brazilian Foreign Minister Patriota.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Hillary Clinton]] and Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota at the U.S. Department of State.]]

[[File:Trump and Bolsonaro, March 2019.jpg|thumb|250px|Bolsonaro and U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] in March 2019]]

Brazil has traditionally been a leader in the inter-American community and played an important role in collective security efforts, as well as in economic cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. Brazil supported the Allies in both World Wars. During World War II, its expeditionary force in Italy played a key role in the Allied victory at Monte Castello. It is a member of the Organization of American States (OAS) and a party to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty). Recently, Brazil has given high priority to expanding relations with its South American neighbors and is a founding member of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Community of South American Nations (CASN) and Mercosul, a customs union including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela and Brazil, with Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador as associate members.

Brazil has traditionally been a leader in the inter-American community and played an important role in collective security efforts, as well as in economic cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. Brazil supported the Allies in both World Wars. During World War II, its expeditionary force in Italy played a key role in the Allied victory at Monte Castello. It is a member of the Organization of American States (OAS) and a party to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty). Recently, Brazil has given high priority to expanding relations with its South American neighbors and is a founding member of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Community of South American Nations (CASN) and Mercosul, a customs union including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela and Brazil, with Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador as associate members.