CÂMARA DOS DEPUTADOS

THE BRAZILIAN LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

Cristiano Ferri Soares de Faria Juliana Carla de Freitas Valle

Translation Christiane Almeida de Aguiar Lacombe Ana Lúcia Henrique

Center for Documentation and Information Publications Department Brasilia - 2006 CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

LEGISLATIVE DIVISION Head: Afrísio Vieira Lima Filho

CENTER FOR DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION Head: Jorge Henrique Cartaxo

PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT Head: Pedro Noleto

Revised by: Cássia Regina O. M. Botelho and Jorge Luiz Rodrigues de Barros Translation: Christiane Almeida de Aguiar Lacombe and Ana Lúcia Hen- rique Coordination: Gardel Rodrigues Amaral

Chamber of Deputies Center for Documentation and Information — CEDI Publications Department — CODEP Anexo II – Térreo - Praça dos Três Poderes 70160-900 - Brasília (DF) Phone: (55 61) 3216-5802 Fax: (55 61) 3216-5810 E-mail: [email protected]

SERIES Reference Books. Guides and manuals # 15

Dados Internacionais de Catalogação-na-publicação (CIP) The Chamber Library. Catalogue Section.

Faria, Cristiano Ferri Soares de. The Brazilian Legislative Branch : Chamber of Deputies / Organization : Cristiano Ferri Soares de Faria, Juliana Carla de Freitas do Valle. — Brasília : Câmara dos Deputados, Coordenação de Publicações, 2006. 40 p. : il. color. — (Série : Fontes de referência. Guia e manuais ; n. 15)

ISBN 85-7365-448-1

1. Chamber of Deputies, Brazil. 2. Brazil, Congress, Câmara dos Deputados. I. Faria, Cristiano Ferri Soares de. II. Valle, Juliana Carla de Freitas do, III. Série.

CDU 342.532(81) ISBN 85-7365-448-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

A DEMOCRATIC, OPEN AND TRANSPARENT HOUSE 5

THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CHAMBER RULES AND MANUAL 7

THE FEDERAL SENATE 8

THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 9

OVERSIGHT 9

TYPES OF LEGISLATION LAID BEFORE THE NATIONAL CONGRESS 10

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES BODIES 11

PRESIDING BOARD ...... 11

THE SPEAKER OF THE CHAMBER ...... 12

THE FLOOR ...... 13

COMMITTEES ...... 13

STANDING COMMITTEES ...... 15

TEMPORARY COMMITTEES ...... 16

JOINT COMMITTEES ...... 17

MAJORITY AND MINORITY ...... 18

LEADERSHIP OFFICES ...... 18

THE LEADERS COMMISSION ...... 19

PARLIAMENTARY ATTORNEY ...... 19

PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER ...... 22

COUNCIL ON ETHICS AND PARLIAMENTARY BEHAVIOR ...... 22

TYPES OF SESSIONS IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 23 LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM (E-CHAMBER) – TRANSPARENCY 23

PORTABLE E-CHAMBER ...... 24

THE BRAZILIAN PARLIAMENT – ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE 24

DISQUE-CÂMARA (DIAL-UP CHAMBER) ...... 24

PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE ...... 25

CITIZEN-LETTER ...... 25

COMMITTEE ON PARTICIPATIVE LEGISLATION ...... 26

THE PARLIAMENTARIAN’S OFFICE ...... 26

CONSULTING SERVICES ON BUDGETARY AND FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND LEGISLATIVE CONSULTING SERVICES ...... 27

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES PREMISES 28

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS ...... 29

HIGHLIGHTS 29

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE ...... 29

THE CENTER FOR DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION ...... 30

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ...... 30

TECHNICAL BODY QUALIFICATION ...... 32

HUMAN RESOURCES ...... 35

CULTURAL POLICY ...... 36

PRODUCTION OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES ...... 38

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS FLUXOGRAM ...... 39

CONTACTS 40 A D ules f ftr fild ih ec, oiaiy n social and solidarity peace, dignity. with filled future a of builders becoming of challenge the overcome together so may us we Join that all! you welcome We to. belong to privilege the have we House the about more know to wish who foreigners guarantor forinstitutionalstability. the and democracy of pillar the as it recognize who those all to Deputies of Chamber the of doors the open we work, we way the and structure our responsibilities, our about talk we When all. struggle after justice social the and development economic in for weapons important into legislation turn will who ones the are They them. of aware citizen, anonymous Moreover,the particularly people, the make to necessary is it institution, the Chamber knows that writing laws is not enough. and most transparent of the three Branches. As a law-making open most the into Power Legislative the developing help to proud therefore, is, society,and towards looks Chamber the and considered such an attitude sufficient to justify itself. Now, good. every effort to promote the collective interest and the common their make to them continue expect monitor they representative’sand performance, now and voters Fortunately, day term. polling the at throughout begin politicians and people put in the ballot box. Today, on the contrary, relations between was ballot the as soon as vanished representatives their and elected in Brazil ended at the polls. Every tie between citizens Brasilia, February15 the and Brazilians the salute we as feeling our is This The Chamber of Deputies was self-centered, inward-looking In earlier times the relationship between the elector and the EMOCRATIC The BrazilianLegislativeBranch Speaker of theChamberofDeputies , O PEN Deputy Aldo Rebelo

th AND , 2006 T RANSPARENT H OUSE 5

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

T sessions. Hence, each ordinary legislative session begins on begins session legislative ordinary each Hence, sessions. legislative four in divided is Congress each reason, this For represent. they people the of needs the feel and states their The National Congress recesses so that its members may visit 31 Congress started on February 1 52 English. The in Legislature, to friend false a is therefore, deputies’ and, the Portuguese in with “Legislatura” called coincide is period to This term. planned basis, year four in a works Congress The year. calendar the from different is Calendar,which Parliamentary a follow sittings lawmaking The process. the legislative in participation the houses house, both grants each process of competence private within subjects from apart therefore, other; the by revised be must houses the of any before laid bill a bicameralism, the adopts Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. As the country properties. and Brazil has a bicameral legislative assembly, moneys composed by the agencies’ federal or branch Union’s Unions’ departments the the of any also only but properties not and moneys regarding operation budgetary and financial accounting, every of oversight the for responsible is Besides the prerogative of making laws, the National Congress by theFundamentalLaw. abide must it act, Chamber.infra-constitutional the any of As rules that determines the structure, organization and and principles operation of set a is It Brazil. in procedures law-making regulating theStateorganization. rules other among law-making of power the states 1988 5th, HE st However, the sittings do not take place at the whole period. Congress. National The called is Parliament Brazilian The The Chamber Rules and Manual is a very important tool to October of as effective Constitution Brazilian current The , 2007. C ONSTITUTION The BrazilianLegislativeBranch

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THE C HAMBER st 2003 and will last to January R ULES

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CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 8 each candidate, candidates take the seats. The list includes two substitutes for proportional, but obeys the majority principle. The most voted prescribed bytheConstitutionframers. and unless them, among privileges Republic or distinction be cannot there Federal the to important equally are considered units Federation The area. or population of regardless Senators, three have District Federal the and state every is, Units. Therefore, in the Senate the representation is equal, that where theFederalGovernmentseatislocated. Brasilia, includes which District, Federal the and autonomy, and prerogatives own their with State-members, the Union), (the body central a is there Hence, territory. national the on effective federal structure presupposes power decentralization T ends onDecember22 2 February • Nowcomposedby81Senators. • Eight-year-term,coincident totwodeputies’ terms(Congress); two-thirds oftheseats; • Directelectionseveryfouryears,alternatingbetween oneand • Three SenatorsforeachstateandtheFederalDistrict; • Majoritaryelectoralsystem; • HE Federation Unitsrep h Sntr rpeet h itrss f h Federation the of interests the represent Senators The The federalism. the on based is Senate Federal The Box 1–FederalSenate not is Senate Federal the to election the Consequently, F EDERAL nd tp o Jl 17 July on stops S ENATE The BrazilianLegislativeBranch resentativ nd . es; th rsat o uut 1 August on restarts , st and T assets andvalues. request information from any person managing public monies, might and duty by this perform aided to Account of Court is Federal the Congress The law. the to according spent are or temporarilyremovedfromcivilservice. dismissed being of penalty under information requested the all release must Branch Legislative the of houses the of any by called officer public The acts. their about - President the to subordinated agencies federal or departments branch of the may question Ministers of State- respectively,or any public officer in charge representatives, states’ Chamber and the Senate, as well as any of their Committees, and people As Branch supervises the allocation and use of public resources. O decisions. nationwide and Below, welistsomeofthebasicfeaturesChamber: debates important most the of closely,more people most represents stages that also house • Nowcomposedby513Deputies. • Four-year-term,coincidenttoaCongress; • Maximumof70Representativesperstate(e.g.SãoPaulo); (e.g. Acre); • Minimumof8RepresentativesperstateandtheFederalDistrict system (state’s population); • Representativeselectedaccordingtoproportionalelectoral • HE VERSIGHT P Similarly, the National Congress must verify if public funds public Similarly,if verify must Congress National the In addition to its intrinsic power of law making, the Legislative Box 2–ChamberofDeputies The Deputies. of Chamber the before laid are bills Most eo C ple’s representatives; HAMBER The BrazilianLegislativeBranch

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CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 10 (a sufficient second of those present) in both houses before houses both in present) those of second sufficient (a be is not qualified, and, therefore it requires simple majority vote to members approval for quorum of the floor, chamber each majority on considered absolute the of presence the ordinary laws. Though the Proposal to Statutory Law requires votes. The billmustbesignedintolawbythePresident. Senators’ 41 and votes Representatives’ 257 means which – chamber entire each of vote one) plus members majority the absolute (half an least at requires bill this law, become Totext. Constitutional the by stated exclusively and explicitly d) The individualrightsandguarantees. and Legislative (Executive, Powers Judiciary), of separation The c) b) The direct,secret,universalandregularvote; a) The Federation be cannot 60, §4oftheConstitution: they that structure modified. They are the permanent clauses listed at the article so Brazilian the are to principles important constitutional some Besides, Presidential need approval. not does Resolution) (Joint Constitution of (3/5 voting the of to Amend Proposal The House. each rounds in votes) favorable qualified two through pass must not process cautious more required to any a other the measure. The constitutional to amendment principles, submitted fundamental is the amendment and structure State’s the Law,prescribes Organic which the alter may it Because text. constitutional original the to changes Propose Amendment): C T YPES ONGRESS rpsl o mn te osiuin (Constitutional Constitution the Amend to Proposal Proposal to Statutory Law (Bill) Law Statutory to Proposal Proposal to Supplementary Law (Bill)

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en eatd no a. rsdnil prvl s necessary before thebillbecomespubliclaw. is approval Presidential law. into enacted being s o nc, ln wt te rsdn Bad f h Senate, the of Board Presiding the with along enact, to as such duties, exclusive has Board Presiding The peers. their collegiate among elected a Representatives seven is by It composed body, Chamber. the of services administrative C any agencyorgovernmentbodyofthethree branches. in inspection and auditing, examinations, procedures, pursue to CFFC the to request to possible also is It CFFC. – Control and Oversight Financial of Committee the to or subjected oversight to activity or agency body, the whose includes Committee jurisdiction the to presented departments are They branch agencies. government or the of promote control to and Committee oversight a or representative a by used but withexplicitpermissionoftheLegislativebranch. are notsentontothePresident. they therefore, houses; its and/or Congress National the of specific purpose. They regulate matters within the competence Proposals (Concurrent Resolutions) null andvoid. declared is it days, Temporary120 the within consider Order need they but President, Congress referral to the be enacted into by law. If Congress issued does not are They laws. as HAMBER h Peiig or drcs h lgsaie ok n the and work legislative the directs Board Presiding The P Proposal to Oversight and Control Delegated Laws Resolution and Decree Legislative to Proposal Orders Temporary RESIDING The BrazilianLegislativeBranch

OF B D OARD EPUTIES : These are laws issued by the President, Tee r tmoay ue ta act that rules temporary are These : B ODIES : these are rules with a : This is the instrument 11

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

h aedet t te osiuin a wl a t propose to as well as Constitution, the to amendments the 12 amendments to the Chamber Rules and Manual.

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order by the immediate deputies: the Vice-Presidents, Secretaries Vice-Presidents, the deputies: immediate the by or entities. any from statements person and against acts or omissions from government complaints authorities petitions, Receive • matters on information render inherent totheirduties; to State of Ministers Call • • Holdpublichearings; this duty. The Committeesmay: perform to established be also might Senators and Deputies of the acts of the public power. Joint Committees composed by oversight pursue and branch Legislative the of consideration process. They study the technical aspects of the matters under motion forFloorconsideration. one-third of the total members of the Chamber have signed a • Matters on which the Committees have concluding power, if power; concluding have not do Committees the which on Matters • ordinarily takepartoftheFloormeetings. for most deliberations. say All 513 final Chamber Representatives may the is it words, other in decisions; Chamber the of those withhighernumberofterms, order,this in Substitutes, and or, finally, among eldest, the by The Committees are collegiate bodies that aid the legislative C It considersthefollowingmatters: most for body upper the is chamber) plenary (or Floor The T chaired are sessions Floor the absent, is Speaker the If HE OMMITTEES F The BrazilianLegislativeBranch LOOR 13

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 14 Committees lastnomore thanfouryears(aCongress). TemporaryThe period. assigned previously a after or bill the with a specific purpose. They are extinguished after acting on created are Committees Temporarythe hand, Institution. other the the On of part are they Moreover, Chamber. the of permanent rules the in codification of level a a to risen have They feature. have Committees Standing The Temporary. be effective, though. to floor the to brought be must motion necessary.The found is consideration Floor whenever members Chamber the of one-tenth of support with motion a introduce may Floor, deputy Chamber a the on bill a up call To mandatory. always on allsubjectsundertheirjurisdiction. deliberate to power the have Committees the fact the to due prerogative this grant Rules The Floor. the by matters consideration on power concluding further of need no with jurisdiction, matter subject their within have Committees the that states Manual and Rules Chamber The consideration. Floor to submitted not are power conclusive committees the under bills .i.e., Constitution, the by stated as bills certain approve from theCPL,theywillbeturnedintobills. indication favorable a receive proposals those If citizens. the from bills of drafts proposed receive CPLto The created was CPL. – Legislation Participative on Committee the for except and nature intheadministrativeunitsofthreebranches. inspections examinations, search, auditing on an accounting, financial, budgetary and operating the Determine • The concluding power allows the committees to definitely to committees the allows power concluding The power, concluding so-called the have Committees The hr ae w tps f omtes Sadn and Standing Committees: of types two are There not is Committees the of power concluding the However, The BrazilianLegislativeBranch • CommitteeonLegislative Participation; • CommitteeonFinancial OversightandControl; • CommitteeonFinances and Taxation; • CommitteeonEducation andCulture; and Commerce Development, Industry; Economic on Committee • • CommitteeonHumanRightsandMinorities; • CommitteeonUrbanDevelopment; • CommitteeonConsumerProtection; • CommitteeontheConstitutionandJustice andCitizenship; and ComputerSciences; Technology, Communications and Science on Committee • Development; • Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry, Supply and Rural Development; • Committee on the Amazon, National party Integration and Regional the follow Committees: chairman) the proportionality principle. to In the Chamber, there deputies are the 20 Standing seats, (immediate Boards of Committees’ the number at positions the the and reason, chairmanship this For groups. party Standing one than more on Committee. position member a hold of can number twelve total than the more Representatives of - disregarding nor the hundredths fraction. No Representatives) Representative Representatives) (17 (61 half a and h sas t h Cmite bln t te ate or parties the to belong Committees the at seats The three than less have might Committee Standing No S TANDING The BrazilianLegislativeBranch C OMMITTEES 15

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 16 Deputies of Chamber the of building the outside duties parliamentary judicial, the to and life public economic andsocialorder ofthecountry. to interest relevant of fact Vice-President orStateMinisters • Referring to charges of responsibility crime of the President, • Amendment totheChamberRules; • CodeBills, • Amendment totheConstitution; proposals: External and Committees Committees. Investigative Committees, • Committeeon Transportation • Committeeon Tourism andSports; • CommitteeonLabor, Administration andCivilService; • CommitteeonSocialSecurityandFamily; Crime; Organized against Fight and Security Public on Committee • Sustainable • CommitteeonForeignRelationsandNationalDefense; and Environment • CommitteeonMinesandEnergy; the on Development; Committee • T External Committees External The Investigative Committees (CPI) Special Committees are designed to report on the following Special TemporaryCommittees: of kinds three are There EMPORARY C OMMITTEES The BrazilianLegislativeBranch permit the performance of specific of performance the permit investigate a certain n Seil omtes lo c o jdig f proposal a if judging on act also Committees Special and members to a representative joint committee. This committee • The NationalCongressRepresentativeJointCommittee members. State the among services and goods of circulation free grant will Mercosur Uruguay. and Paraguay Argentina, Brazil, by International the on Latin of Integration Economic on Agreement signed America, debates and negotiations all follow to is task Countries) American South the of Market (Common • JointParliamentaryCommitteeontheMercosur the Annual Budgetandadditional credits. to and law directives budget the to Plan, Union’squadrennial • JointCommitteeontheBudget financial andbudgetaryfeasibilityaswell. and legislation to compliance the judging matter, subject the considering bill, total the on act will which Committee Special budgetary and/or three subject matters are involved, the bill feasibility may be referred to a financial adequacy. than If more opinion. final the so-called They have bill’s the analyzes bills the Taxation(CFT) and Finances on Committee The considers general. in legislation country’s (CCJC) the and Constitution Citizenship the to compliance on and Justice Constitution, on Committee The not. or consideration further the take vote and decide whether the bill must be discharged from they i.e., jurisdiction, matter subject its on prerogative special a have committees two that, of top On admissibility). of judge so-called (the not or Constitution the with complies Before the houses recess, the National Congress assigns Congress National the recess, houses the Before Mercosur the on Committee Parliamentary Joint The the to related bills the considers it duties, other Among J Committees Standing the matter, subject the Besides OINT C The BrazilianLegislativeBranch OMMITTEES 17

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 18 edr f h Gvrmn. h Gvrmn laesi is leadership Government The Government. the of Leader for seatsinthePresiding Board. run to candidates register and Members also Committee assign Leaders The discussed. being of are issues relevance while national sessions Floor the in anytime line political certain a defend to speak might Leaders Committees. the in them. represent will who Among other prerogatives, the leaders indicate Leaders the party vote Party their elect group Executive’s the against group party ideas. biggest the or party biggest the be will Minority the Government, pro is Majority the if Therefore Brazil. in Minority the called is Government) Branch’sExecutive (The the Party of Chief the about thought other. any than representatives more having i.e. plurality, simple a with group Party or party the be will Majority a the group in party or party a in majority absolute no is there if that states Manual and Rules Chamber The parties. political several of be achieved with a Parliamentary group formed by a coalition can it though Chamber, the at majority absolute one-party a 513 have to difficult very is it system, electoral has proportional the to Chamber Due the representatives. 257 have Since must Majority the Brazil. members, in Majority called representatives is of one) plus members the of (half majority the Congress’ prerogativesandlegislativecompetences. maintain to period recess whole the through working keeps A party or parliamentary group composed by the absolute the by composed group parliamentary or Aparty M h Peiet a asg a ersnaie o e the be to Representative a assign may President The party a of member a as or individually representatives The L Majority’s the to opposing group party or party bigger The EADERSHIP AJORITY

AND O M FFICES The BrazilianLegislativeBranch INORITY leaders). (deputy leaders immediate five and Leader a by composed Board. a 2-yearterm. the righttocompensationformoralormaterial damages. mind in bearing damages, the repair to reply proper a for ask the public, made Parliamentary are Attorney has the members right to clarify its the facts , and or to Chamber news the defamatory about Whenever Office. Defense Public the or Service Prosecution Public the lawyer, a through Chamber, to related charges in society, parliamentary institutionalduties the before members and Leaders, PartyGroupLeadersandGovernmentLeader. National the at of represented interests categories Congress. diverse and the groups conciliates the it because process The Parliamentary Attorney works along with the Presiding Speaker,with the by indicated 11members, Composition: the of defense judicial extra and judicial the Provides bodies its Chamber, the of defense the for Responsible P Party Leader, Minority Leader, Majority Composition: legislative the to essential is Commission Leaders The Body fordiscussionandpoliticalnegotiation. T HE ARLIAMENTARY L The BrazilianLegislativeBranch EADERS C A OMMISSION TTORNEY

19

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 22 Representatives onmattersofitsjurisdiction. to instruction; and its answer all queries from to process the Presiding Board, Committees and procedures disciplinary necessary the the all initiate observe also parliamentary must of It preservation dignity. the for principles, ethical of under theadviceofPresidingBoard. Behavior Parliamentary and Code andontheChamberRulesManual. Ethics the in found are These be rules process. to disciplinary parliamentary procedures the the in forth observed sets which regulation special ethic its to related rules behavior. breaches member a whenever Chamber of Deputies is responsible for disciplinary measures Representative isinvolved. Substitute breaches ofparliamentaryprivileges. and Officer avoid Commissioner for responsible are respectively.They Commissioners, be to members its The Council on Ethics and Parliamentary Behavior of the of Behavior Parliamentary and Ethics on Council The C a when investigations conducts Commissioner The of four assigns Board Presiding the election, its After P Among other duties, the Council must care for the observance act will Council the process, disciplinary a of case the In The Council on Ethics and Parliamentary Behavior follows ARLIAMENTARY OUNCIL

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T nomto i acsil o te est: www.camara.gov. website: the on accessible is information available on the Internet -, a few minutes after any activity. All immediately available - as soon as the stenography notes are almost are results voting and speeches debates, Floor The to bill development and transparency to the legislative process. and theCommitteeshe/sheisassignedto. introduced he/she bills the speeches, voting, performance, and crossing data binding, to it is Thanks possible to (e-mail). find out address promptly each electronic Representative’s that, than More sent totheuser’s be can on thematterdevelopment updates results. voting the and text original the to proposal, follow its development, and check the amendments Through the e-Chamber, the citizen may look up for a specific access to find any measure being developed at the Chamber. electronic user computer any allows (e-Chamber) Deputies T L to payspecialhomageimportantindividuals. four hours,butcanbeextendedforuptoonehour. last They Business. of and Order the discussion in matters the on deliberation to extraordinary exclusively The dedicated sessions. are ordinarysessions the to hours and/or Fridays, from9amto2pm. are hold from Monday to Thursday, from 2 pm to 7 pm and, on sittings last five hours for debate and deliberation. The sittings RANSPARENCY EGISLATIVE YPES The E-Chamber was designed to facilitate people’s access of Chamber the of Information Legislative of System The Solemn Sessions Sessions Extraordinary Sessions: Ordinary

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SESSIONS I NFORMATION

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OF D HAMBER EPUTIES ) – 23

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 24 gov.br, atanytime. cidadao@camara. to: message electronic an Friday,send or to Monday pm, 6 to am 8 from 619 619 0800 number the call or phonecall. email fax, by answered finally be to charge in services the to immediately by the Chamber dial-up service team will be sent and otherunitsoftheChamber. or accusations proposals to the Representatives, Parliamentary Committees suggestions, complaints, messages, send T the Chamberpremises. in installed net communication cordless the to linked (PDA) access to any information using a Personal Electronic Device prompt have may the Representatives the e-Chamber, to portable Thanks activities. Floor and Committees’ as well as the Federal,StateandLocalLevels. goal is to stimulate the integration of the Legislative Power on main whose Net, Participation and Integration Legislative – ranking forthreeyears. iBest the in sites best 10 top the among been has which br, HE h pral eCabr ytm los ces o bills, to access allows system e-Chamber portable The P Program Interlegis the joined Chamber the addition, In To use the Chamber of Deputies hot line, the citizen should answered be cannot that complaints and issues The to citizen the for available is number telephone free toll A D B ORTABLE ISQUE RAZILIAN -C ÂMARA E-C P HAMBER The BrazilianLegislativeBranch (D ARLIAMENT IAL -

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PEOPLE ot, o n Fdrl ersnaie r omte, o the Presiding Boardorto thee Ombudsman’s office. to Committee, or Representative additional Federal any without to them, costs, send and complaints or requests suggestions, their write can Individuals citizens. of number the onlythingtodoiswritingmessageand sendingit. available at the Post Office. It is not necessary to use stamps: envelope pre-paid the using letter a post to is needs he/she All cent. a spending without question any ask and Deputies Parliamentary Ombudsman’s actions. a two-yearterm,termextensionnotallowed. Chamber,the with of President the by assigned ombudsmen of Chamber the by taken Deputies, procedures the on inquiry any answer must ombudsman Parliamentary the matter, the on jurisdiction with court other any of or Court Accounts Federal Attorney General’s Office, the Public Prosecution Service, the the in practiced Public Administration. illegalities and irregularities about bodies government and individuals of accusations on investigations examines and takes all the necessary steps for the preliminary The citizen-letter aims at bring the Chamber closer to a larger of Chamber the to write also can citizen Brazilian The C the covers widely Chamber the of media internal The Substitute 2 and General-Ombudsman 1 Composition: In addition to sending the complaints and statements to the receives, Office Ombudsman’s Parliamentary The P ARLIAMENTARY ITIZEN The BrazilianLegislativeBranch -L ETTER O MBUDSMAN ’ S O FFICE 25

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 26 towards becoming alaw. development its step, check by bill, step follow, the and read amendments the to able are party interested other any and Representative the Hence, Internet. on accessed be to is released at the Legislative Information System (e-Chamber) Chamber of Deputies Journal and in single copies The , and the Parliamentarian. bill the texts of of the bills and the Speakers decision are printed on the advice the on based receive, should bill a referral of kind what on decision the makes who website. Deputies Speaker the of analysis the to of them send to is step next The Chamber the on displayed text their have and numbered electronically are authentication, after right Board, the at received bills the Parliamentarian’sOffice, technical- a of events political naturerelatedtothelegislativeactivities. other and sessions floor the assist sittings. the including and follow to duty activities, Office Parliamentarian’s the it’s Therefore, legislative the guide and preside to is: that Board, Presiding the and Chamber the of Rules and Manual set forth a few procedures for the Speaker legislative on Chamber the and Board Constitution The procedures. and Presiding matters the of members other and day BrazilianlifestraighttotheirCongressrepresentatives. day-to- and real the of needs the and demands ideas, their welcomes CPLassociations and class The entities who wish system. to present law-making the to access easier citizens of substitutes. number equal an and members permanent 18 by composed The Parliamentarian’s Office advises and aids the Speaker T the allows Chamber the Committee, this of help the With is (CPL) Legislation Participative on Committee The C o isac, olwn te ok efre b the by performed work the following instance, For HE OMMITTEE

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LEGISLATION aaes adtr, cnmss junlss architects, of professionals journalists, and specialists education scientists, economists, social auditors, managers, engineers, also but matters judicial on experts only not has staffServices degrees. Consulting doctorate The and master competitive examinationoftestsandtitles. a through selected professionals, specialized and graduated tenured civil servants of the Chamber of Deputies. These are “Orçamento daUnião”(UnionBudget). the Chamber of Deputies website (www.camara.gov.br) under on level accessible an in found be only can information such level, Public Administration Federal the of bodies the Among financial and ordinary citizen to pursue an budget oversight of the public expenses. on data implementation the of the Union Budget. Representative This measure allowed the the and public to the to available make to first the was Oversight foundations totheParliamentaryaction. technical the providing while action, of alternatives propose and researches perform facts, different analyze to possibility exemption. technical and Therefore, the consultants (senior policy specialists) have the objectivity relevance, of criteria the obey non- they Besides, exclusive. confidential, is it of is most and partisan, work Their process. legislative the of steps the all in Congress National and Committees Chamber experts, who of are provide teams technical multidisciplinary by expertise composed Services are to They Deputies. the Representatives, Consulting Legislative of Chamber the to consulting technical of bodies institutional the and Oversight Many of the Consultants are post-graduated, holding both holding post-graduated, are Consultants the of Many to exclusively entitled is position staff Consulting The Financial and Budgetary on Services Consulting The Financial and Budgetary the on Services Consulting The AND C ONSULTING L The BrazilianLegislativeBranch EGISLATIVE S ERVICES C ONSULTING

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AND

F INANCIAL O VERSIGHT 27

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 28 ubr f eaos I te hme, h architectural the which makesa145.000 m²builtarea. Chamber, the In ensemble is composed by Senators. the Main Building and of four Annexes, the number than bigger is Representatives of number the because purposes,” Niemeyer said. The Chamber aesthetic floor is larger than the Senate’s for merely is domes the of placement floor.”Chamber the houses The concave the and Senate the of chamber the is form convex The building. the of features the convex and the concave structures as the most important once, remarked, Niemeyer Foundations. Campos Milton and Guimarães Ulysses the to as well as Legislative, the of units administrative the to home and town in buildings highest the of them. houses of Parliament, by erecting two domes above each one forms. The architect highlighted the Plenary Chamber of both geometric its of simplicity the character,despite monumental size, its free spaces and visual depth, and gave the building a its topography,emphasized local the consideration into took Congress project is signed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, who was transferred from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia. The National Legislative branch since 1960, the year that the Federal Capital C consulting the results excellent services providetothosethatrequestthem. the favors and approach multidisciplinary a facilitates This Accounts. of Branch Court Executive the or the in positions former from experience relevant with them of most areas, knowledge of variety wide HAMBER Te aae f h Ntoa Cnrs i te et f the of seat the is Congress National the of Palace The The two towers of the building count 28 floors. They are They floors. 28 count building the of towers two The

OF D EPUTIES The BrazilianLegislativeBranch P REMISES of the Presiding Board, has implemented innovative initiatives, administrative structure. the integrate also bodies consulting two and secretariats two Resources DivisionandLegislativeDivision. Human Division, Administrative Offices: Director other three by aided is it and House, the of activities administrative the of control and coordination planning, the of care takes which Office, General-Director the and mentioned), (already Office the functional structure is composed by the Parliamentarian’s To accomplish this objective and support the legislative work, of mission Chamber’s the securing democracyandcitizenshiptotheBrazilian society. fulfill to order in responsible effectiveness, the and on efficaciousness efficiency, with and resources public of transparency use of principle the actions their on base body professional own its and Deputies H remain openuntiltheendofsession. session. plenary the of end the until or pm 6:30 to pm 1:30 from – II I –from9amto12am; Deputies lasteighthours,MondaytoFriday. IGHLIGHTS The Chamber’s General-Director Office, under the guidance bodies, advising three centers, three departments, Nine of Chamber Brazilian the of heads administrative The A In case of extraordinary session, the administrative services It isdividedintwoschedules: The ordinary Administrative office hours of the Chamber of A DMINISTRATIVE DMINISTRATIVE The BrazilianLegislativeBranch

S O TRUCTURE FFICE H OURS 29

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 30 rdo tto (ái Cmr) a rs Aec (Agência Agency Câmara) andatabloid “JornaldaCâmara”. Press a Câmara), (Rádio station radio a Câmara), (TV Station TV a Chamber,including the of media on a highly qualified service, composed by the communication Brazilian Parliament,from1500to2003. the and Brazil of History the with dealing focus, democratic and cultural a with Deputies, of Chamber The of History the for Center Documentation andmore13libraries. Senate the Center, Chamber the Net, by Web composed Libraries Virtual the of students. part is library and Center The researchers academic Institutions, Federal as such organizations UNESCO, World Bank,WHO,ILO,IMFandECLA. international from documents and periodical 3.000 titles, books, a collection of the most rare important Brazilian newspapers, them among books, 300.000 introduction anddevelopment,amongotheractivities. bill on information as well as branch Legislative Brazilian a the with citizen the provides varied series of national interest documents, on the history of (CEDI) Deputies of Chamber Administration. Public Federal the at position advanced an in Chamber the between the citizenship and the Legislative branch that places through its subordinate offices, promoting a closer interaction ute, h Cne hs mse a ue olcin of collection huge a amassed has Center the Further, the of Information and Documentation for Center The T The Secretary of Communication’s Office – SECOM - counts C In February 2004, the Center edited a series of titles including other for Chamber, the for services provides Center The HE OMMUNICATION C ENTER

FOR S The BrazilianLegislativeBranch D YSTEM OCUMENTATION

AND I NFORMATION es bu te alaetr atvte t al h Federal the all to activities parliamentary the about news et o h Cabr pol wl b ivtd o ie their the Parliament. give to invited in discussed matters relevant be and diverse the will about opinion people Chamber, the to sent questions the to answers the receiving to addition In future. a larger participation of individuals is being considered on the including weekends. premises. It’s a free service, open daily from 9:30 am to 5 am, to objective sole to theparties’ representationattheHouse. the with guarantee party representation on the programs, proportional created program, generated computer- a through representatives the of participation the to phoneandproposethequestion. only Toneeds issues. citizen nationwide the main participate on questions citizens the answer to Senators and Deputies, State, of Ministers brings that program, weekly a is Special Chamber The Special). (Chamber projects Especial Câmara as such through process legislative the in citizen Brazilian hearings live, and promotes the pro-active participation of the charge. of free It’s day. the of end the by information the receive to All them. Câmara to Agência address e-mail an for send is do to has subscribe one who person any to or newspapers events at the Chamber. The bulletins are sent to the Brazilian via internetandsatellitetransmission. country the across all Câmara Rádio to listen to possible is It kilometers. 200 of area an to up cities neighborhood District, To improve the Dial-up Chamber Service (0800 619 619), 619 (0800 Service Chamber Dial-up Tothe improve House the of visiting tour the promotes also SECOM The TV Câmara respects party representation and controls Committee the and sessions Floor the broadcasts TV The main the on bulletins electronic releases Agency The The Radio broadcasts the Floor sessions live, and presents The BrazilianLegislativeBranch 31

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 32 35 servantstospecialize onPeopleManagement. partnership with Universidade Another Federal classes). de Minas Gerais (two allows Managing Legislative and students) hundred one than more counting classes, (four Development Managerial - Brasilia of University the with partnership a in • to behighlighted: post-graduate and courses. seminars conferences, in participation for leave a obtained workers eight) seminars, fifty and and hundred (eight programs, 858 Besides, conferences, participants. assessment 10.766 than more with meetings, and trainings, integration adaptation, Technical-General), courses, and including Technical-Specific Institutional, five domains, as defined by CEFOR (Behavioral, Managerial, the comprehending implemented, were events qualification of Chamber the specializing and Representative workers. improving updating, training, selection, recruiting, admissions, the for responsible servants. civil Chamber the for qualification and training of programs by theCulturalSpace. cultural and historical collections of the institution are promoted society interests. In addition, many events to disseminate the and international art and cultural works are displayed, following Implementation of courses of Lato-Sensu Specialization h Cne fr ulfiain n Tann (EO) is (CEFOR) Training and Qualification for Center The on invested strongly has Chamber the of Office Head The T In the Cultural Space of the Chamber of Deputies, national Among the activities promoted by CEFOR, some deserve some CEFOR, by promoted activities the Among and training seven) eighty and hundred (four 487 2004, In ECHNICAL B ODY The BrazilianLegislativeBranch Q UALIFICATION

, h Cabr a 24 to ude ad or itrs from interns four) and hundred (two 204 has Chamber the • rga am t hgl qaiy evns n i ae or area his academic institutions, cultural institutions, companies and the with on knowledge of exchange servants the allows program qualify The work. highly to aims Program • Constitutional Law andWriting Workshops with thispurpose. Process, Legislative on Courses developed Chamber in addition to the computer science courses. civil CEFOR legislative servants) courses concerning the institutional functions city of the and state the members, (parliament so public external and acquired internal the was to available make solution could Chamber learning distance a 2003, • of theChamberbeforesociety. the dissemination and consolidation of a more positive image organization and structure. Hence, the idea is to contribute to history, work, its branch, Legislative the on country the over all students of knowledge the broaden to is 2003, 143, and 22 numbers Acts Board the by forth set as program, the of Accounts and the Foreign Relations of Department). Court Court, The Supreme Senate, purpose (Federal bodies other and Services) Consulting Legislative Parliamentarian, Secretary, and Documentation Information Center, Floor Office, Galleries, Social Ombudsman’s Communication (Committees, units Chamber the visit and seminars watch interns The CEFOR. the and Office Secretary Communication the Office, Head 2 under the of year, supervision the last introduced was internship undergraduate of program short-duration the Besides, market. labor the to youngsters the prepare to and environment academic the to to students. program college joint The purposes of the program are to broaden the connections with a internships in professional institutions implement educational (seven) 7 Post-graduation Courses - mlmnain f h dsac lann slto - solution learning distance the of Implementation negaut Itrsi Codnto - Coordination Internship Undergraduate The BrazilianLegislativeBranch nd Secretary and participation of the of participation and Secretary The Chamber Post-Graduation t present, At In 33

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 34 civil. This includes planning, writing of the public call notice, call public the of writing planning, includes This civil. concerning public competitive examinations for hiring tenured is attendingtheneeds ofthecitizenday-by-daylife. Congress information to the evaluate if its provide own legislative process to time, this program, exchange information and an uniformity legislation also it’s the Therefore, TownHalls. and cities the to get applicability to order in assemblies local the to fields Urban and Budgetary Educational, the in that aims to spread practical information Assemblies on Local the Federal in Legislation Congress The • their skillandmethodstodevelopabetterjob. improve they that so Parliaments other in experience work The main goal of this program is getting people to share their servant’seducation. the improving on experiences exchange the Chamber has brought up some initiatives to publicize and world, language Portuguese the of Parliaments integrate to • Technical Cooperation with Other Parliaments them, andsoforth. debating and voting bills, own his introducing Commission, Leaders the to representatives choosing Board, Presiding duties, a representatives their for balloting oath, representative’s the taking includes, perform which schools public and private secondary from students stay, their During life. day the representative’s of performance to importance the Brazilian the citizen’s day-by- feel to order in member a as work to program that aims at providing the youngsters the opportunity • Branch. Process Legislative Legislative the in Processes Political Budget, and Institutions the and Public on courses are There project. institutional Chamber the keeping always community the with interaction better promote to order in society general h Yuhs alaet - Parliament Youth’s The The CEFOR also deals with admissions to the Chamber, the to admissions with deals also CEFOR The The BrazilianLegislativeBranch h Yuhs alaet s a is Parliament Youth’s The - It’s a program a It’s - - In an effort iig f xet nttto t te mlmnain f tests, of implementation the In contracts. of implementation the of oversight and following to institution expert of hiring essential. approach this makes members institution the from decisions dynamic and informed require and routine Parliament the in up show which problems complex the with deal to need The institution. the modernizing and creating knowledge, sharing participation the of increased the has Chamber civil institution, servants the in the and management, society the of benefit and projects generated by the workers of the Chamber to the “Minds at Work” program, for The instance, which Resources. stimulates ideas Human Chamber the of modernization the Office Head intends to start a Resources new management policy and promote Human The Deputies. of Chamber the Office of Head Resources Human the of introduction the into developed Committee That created. was Resources Human the in Chamber premises place take events other and seminars conferences, specific the besides that, mind discussions that are inherent to the legislative process, many in keep to necessary is It society. Brazilian the of groups different the with relevance international and national of issues discuss to opportunities the institution is a basic condition to broaden the Parliament’s of body professional the of qualification The work. civil servants’ the of quality the on impact beneficial a had programs priority.top a as workers its for life of quality the improve The and SocialCommunication. Engineering, attributions Architecture Legislative – of Analyst position the for out carried was examination public a 2003, In September 2001, the Committee on the Management of The Chamber’s administration has considered programs to H UMAN The BrazilianLegislativeBranch R ESOURCES 35

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 36 of President Juscelino Kubitschek’s speech delivered at the at delivered speech Kubitschek’s Juscelino President of entrance there is a wall with a saying carved on it. It’s a peace receptions, official formal events and for exhibitions. Adjacent to used the Black Hall main houses both for area common cultural heritage. Brazilian the promotes also work inherent and architecture Chamber´s The culture. Brazilian the manifestations, to historical related particularly and intellectual artistic, of range Therefore the institution houses many events covering a wide are arolemodeltootherParliamentsaroundtheworld. the and Process actions and Legislative purposes its all support that Units Administrative Brazilian the that show they and remarkable, also are countries other with partnerships include that initiatives The continuous. are society Brazilian the to services better make to efforts The countries. other in and Brazil in institutions public federal other to model a and management public good of example an is It Administration. SISTAQ. of name the under it adopted which (STJ), Justice of Court Superior the to available made was public notes short-hand instance, For the Stenography System (SITAQ), used to register and make government. of branches other to charge, of free available, made were them of some and successful very are programs Such (CENIN). the Science Computer of for help Center the with information, legislative disseminate to systems computer and programs computer of development the on resources financial and human invested has Deputies of Chamber the countries, all of development the to essential h Cabr s n tp oiin n h Fdrl Public Federal the in position top a on is Chamber The is today society the in information to access the If n h Mi Bidn w fid h get lc Hl, a Hall, Black great the find we Building Main the In Chamber.the to priority a also are knowledge and Culture C ULTURAL P OLICY The BrazilianLegislativeBranch to Brasilia, in he late 50ies. Next to the Black Hall there is the Janeiro de Rio from capital the transferring bill the of signing to objectivecriteria. advance, in according year analyzed are requests a October.The till preferably Internet the on available sheet form a filling quest his submits citizen the participate to and events of events. differenton There’scalendar to requests a answer events amongotherculturalmanifestations. reading and poetry reading, lectures, political debates, cultural spaces promotes book launching, ballet presentations, plays, Cultural The expression. of freedom intellectual and artistic social values development: the Cultural Space – symbol of the Di CavalcantispeciallytotheChamber. by painted panel the and region); the of river important an of Alfredo Ceschiatti; the stained by glass panel called Araguaia (the name Fragment”) (“Angel Anjo de Fragmento Bulcão; Athos by piece) partition green (a Escultório Muro room; the and across blue all seen be can Ventaniathat panel (“Gale”) tile the white as such artists Brazilian well-known by pieces art several of of location the is Hall Green the floor), (the Der Rohe. VanMies architect the by designed chairs Barcelona the and Niemeyer’s Maria Ana by furnished it’s and Bulcão Athos by stained glass panel by Marianne Peretti, a wooden blue panel a there’s room, the In Chamber. the of Speaker the on calls courtesy and officials government or State to of Head by restricted visits is Hall Noble the weekdays, On Room. Noble The Cultural Center is a multiple and democratic space that and reflexion for space another has also Chamber The Chamber Plenary Guimarães Ulysses the to Adjacent The BrazilianLegislativeBranch 37

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 38 Source: The Parliamentarian’s Office andE-Chamber and LegislativeDecree) concluding power(ProposalstoStatutoryLaw 3. Billsreferredtothecommitteesunder - Others - Messages(fromtheExecutive) - ProposalsofResolution - ProposalstoLegislativeDecree - ProposalstoStatutoryLaw - ProposalstoSupplementaryLaw - Temporary Measures - Proposalsto Amendments totheConstitution 2. NumberofbillsconsideredbytheFloor - - SolemnSessions - Extraordinarydeliberativessessions - Ordinarynon-deliberativesessions - Ordinarydeliberativesessions 1. NumberofSessions Ge n eral Co P mmittees RODUCTION The BrazilianLegislativeBranch 2004 t h

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CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES 40 EMAIL: [email protected] General (PABX) Federal Senate Fax Ombudsman Fax Public Relations Fax General-Director Fax General-Secretary Fax International Consultancy Fax Presidency General (PABX) Chamber ofDeputies C ONTACTS ...... The BrazilianLegislativeBranch ...... + 0055613215-8000 + 0055613216-0000 + 0055613311-4141 + 0055613215-8505 + 0055613215-8500 + 0055613216-1754 + 0055613216-1750 + 0055613216-2015 + 0055613216-2000 + 0055613216-1008 + 0055613216-1000 + 0055613215-8045 + 0055613215-8061 + 0055613215-8045