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Direct Democracy

Brazil Brazil

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Article 14. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through universal suffrage and direct, secret voting, with equal value for all, and, in accordance with the law, by means of: I – plebiscite; II – referendum; III – popular initiative. Article 49. It is the exclusive competence of the National Congress: XV – to authorize referendums and convene plebiscites;
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 2, 14, 18 (3, 4), 27 (4), 49 (XV), 61 (2): https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Plebiscites and Referendums: http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos/plebiscito-e-referendo Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm
Verified: 2024/10/24
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Article 14. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through universal suffrage and direct, secret voting, with equal value for all, and, in accordance with the law, by means of: I – plebiscite; II – referendum; III – popular initiative. Article 49. It is the exclusive competence of the National Congress: XV – to authorize referendums and convene plebiscites;
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 2, 14, 18 (3, 4), 49 (XV): https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Plebiscites and Referendums: http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos/plebiscito-e-referendo Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm
Verified: 2024/10/24
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD004

Optional referendums (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Brazil has legal provisions for optional referendums at the national level. Article 14. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through universal suffrage and direct, secret voting, with equal value for all, and, in accordance with the law, by means of: I – plebiscite; II – referendum; III – popular initiative. Article 49. It is the exclusive competence of the National Congress: XV – to authorize referendums and convene plebiscites;
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 2, 14, 18 (3, 4), 49 (XV): https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Plebiscites and Referendums: http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos/plebiscito-e-referendo Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm
Verified: 2024/10/24
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Brazil has legal provisions for citizen's initiatives at the national level. Article 14. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through universal suffrage and direct, secret voting, with equal value for all, and, in accordance with the law, by means of: III – popular initiative. Article 27. § 4. The law shall provide for the popular initiative in the state legislative process. Article 29. XIII – popular initiative for bills of specific interest to the municipality, city, or neighborhoods, through the expression of support from at least five percent of the electorate; Article 61. § 2. The popular initiative may be exercised by presenting to the Chamber of Deputies a bill signed by at least one percent of the national electorate, distributed across at least five states, with no less than three-tenths of one percent of voters in each state.
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 14, 18 (3, 4), 27 (4), 29 (XIII), 49 (XV), 61 (2): https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Plebiscites and Referendums: http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos/plebiscito-e-referendo Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm
Verified: 2024/10/24
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Article 29. XIII – popular initiative for bills of specific interest to the municipality, city, or neighborhoods, through the expression of support from at least five percent of the electorate; Article 61. § 2. The popular initiative may be exercised by presenting to the Chamber of Deputies a bill signed by at least one percent of the national electorate, distributed across at least five states, with no less than three-tenths of one percent of voters in each state.
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 29 (XIII), 61 (2): https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Plebiscites and Referendums: http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos/plebiscito-e-referendo Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm
Verified: 2024/10/24
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD007


Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Brazil has legal provisions for recall elections at the national level.
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 14: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Law on Elections, Law No. 9,504, September 30, 1997: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/lei-das-eleicoes/lei-das-eleicoes-lei-nb0-9.504-de-30-de-setembro-de-1997 Electoral Code, Law No. 4,737/1965: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/codigo-eleitoral-1/codigo-eleitoral-lei-nb0-4.737-de-15-de-julho-de-1965
Verified: 2024/10/24
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD129


Question:Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer: a. Always binding
Comments: Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: Article 2. Plebiscites and referendums are consultations put to the people to deliberate on matters of significant relevance, of a constitutional, legislative, or administrative nature. § 1. The plebiscite is convened prior to a legislative or administrative act, allowing the people, through voting, to approve or deny what has been submitted to them. § 2. The referendum is convened after a legislative or administrative act, and it is the responsibility of the people to ratify or reject it.
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 14, 49: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Law on Elections, Law No. 9,504/1997: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/lei-das-eleicoes/lei-das-eleicoes-lei-nb0-9.504-de-30-de-setembro-de-1997 Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm Plebiscite and Referendum: https://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos
Verified: 2024/10/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD130


Question:Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer: c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments: In Brazil, referendums can address both constitutional and other significant issues. They are used to decide on matters of constitutional relevance, legislative proposals, or administrative decisions. Plebiscite and referendum are consultations to the people to decide on matters of relevance to the nation in constitutional, legislative, or administrative issues. (Source: Plebiscite and Referendum)
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 14, 49: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm Plebiscite and Referendum: https://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos
Verified: 2024/10/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD131


Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Brazil allows for direct democracy at sub-national levels, including regional and local levels. The plebiscite and the referendum are called by legislative decree. In other matters, under the jurisdiction of states, the Federal District, and municipalities, the plebiscite and the referendum will be called in accordance with the respective state constitution and the Organic Law. (Source: Plebiscite and Referendum) Constitution: Article 14. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through universal suffrage and direct and secret voting, with equal value for all, and, in accordance with the law, through: I – plebiscite; II – referendum; III – popular initiative. Article 18. The political-administrative organization of the Federative Republic of Brazil comprises the Union, the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities, all autonomous, according to this Constitution. § 3. States may incorporate themselves with one another, subdivide, or dismember to annex to others, or form new states or federal territories, subject to approval by the directly interested population through a plebiscite, and by the National Congress, through a complementary law. § 4. The creation, incorporation, merging, and dismemberment of municipalities shall be done by state law, within the period determined by federal complementary law, and shall depend on prior consultation, through a plebiscite, of the populations of the municipalities involved, after the publication of the Municipal Viability Studies, presented and published in accordance with the law. Article 29. XIII – popular initiative for bills of specific interest to the municipality, city, or neighborhoods, through a manifestation of at least five percent of the electorate;
Source: Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 14, 18(3, 4), 29 (XIII), 49: https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998: https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm Plebiscite and Referendum: https://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos
Verified: 2024/10/25
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
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