Article



Dados vol. 52 n. 2 Rio de Janeiro 2009

Continuities and discontinuities in the Brazilian Federation: how 1988 made 1995 possible

Arretche, Marta

Abstract

The article shows that the drafters of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution approved political institutions that combine broad jurisdictional authority to the Federal government along with limited institutional veto powers to subnational governments. The study has examined 59 initiatives of legislation addressing federal matters voted by the Chamber of Deputies from 1989 to 2006. The article explores how political institutions affect the decision-making process of federal issues, by distinguishing main actors´ preferences from federal institutions, controlled by presidential terms.

Keywords: federalism, decision-making process, 1988 Constitution

DOI: 10.1590/S0011-52582009000200004

Full text

Continuities and discontinuities in the Brazilian Federation: how 1988 made 1995 possible