Brazilian National Congress
Introduction
The National Congress of Brazil (Congresso Nacional in Portuguese) is the body in charge of exercising legislative power at the federal level in Brazil. Its headquarters are located in the Nereu Ramos Palace in Brasilia, capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The National Congress is bicameral, formed by the Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) with 513 deputies and the Senate (Senado Federal do Brasil) with 81 senators.
Powers of the National Congress
Art. 48. It is up to the National Congress, with the sanction of the President of the Republic, not requiring what is specified in articles 49, 51 and 52, to rule on the matters of competence of the Union, especially on:.
• - Tax system, collection and distribution of income.
• - Multi-year plans, budget guidelines, annual budget, credit operations, public debt and mandatory circulation issues.
• - Establishment and modification of the troops of the Armed Forces.
• - National, regional and sectoral development plans and programs.
• - Limits of the national territory, air and maritime space and assets of the Union.
• - Incorporation, subdivision or dismemberment of areas of the Territories or States, after hearing the respective Legislative Assemblies.
• - Temporary transfer of the headquarters of the Federal Government.
• - Granting of amnesties.
• - Administrative and judicial organization of the Public Ministry and the Ex-officio Defense of the Union, and of the Territories and judicial organization of the Public Ministry and the Ex-officio Defense of the Federal District.
• - Creation, transformation and termination of positions, jobs and public functions.
• - Creation, structuring and powers of Ministries and Public Administration bodies.
• - Telecommunications and broadcasting matters.
• - Financial, exchange and monetary matters, financial institutions and their operations.
• - Currencies, their issuance limits, and amount of federal chattel debt.