As a Brazilian Portuguese teacher, I’m the “representative” of Brazil to most of my students. And my students often want to know a little more about the differences between the Brazilian and the US governments.
Why?
Because of many reasons.
Firstly, many of my students are from the US. It’s not for nothing that around 400,000 Brazilians live in the US.
Secondly, many people want to know more about the “country of reference” in the Americas (so much so that people call the US “America”) and how it compares to other nations in the region.
I’m sure people from Uruguay, Guatemala, Peru, and other countries in Latin America often get asked questions comparing their countries to the US.
So, I’d naturally get those, too.
And, to avoid repeating the same answer over and over (at least the basics), I wrote this article.
In this article, we will explore the main differences between the Brazilian and the US governments.
Of course, you can always ask more questions in the comments section below!
The Basics: the nitty-gritty of the Brazilian government
Brazil is a federal republic with a constitution adopted in 1988, according to US Passport Service Guide.
The government consists of the federal, state, and municipal levels.
An elected president heads the executive branch. The president appoints the cabinet members – and often, the vice-president (from another party, we’ll talk about that later) pitches in to select the cabinet members.
The legislative branch comprises 81 senators (senadores) and 513 deputies (deputados), divided among the 26 states according to population.
The judicial branch has state and federal court systems, with the Superior Courts being the highest at the federal level.
(Now, I’ll talk about something I have only indirect knowledge of; if I’m wrong, please feel free to indicate what I got wrong.)
On the other hand, the US is also a federal republic with a constitution.
The three branches of government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The executive branch is headed by an elected president and vice president, who appoint cabinet members.
The legislative branch consists of 100 senators and 435 representatives, divided among the 50 states.
The judicial branch has a federal court system, with the highest Supreme Court.
Now that we got the basics down, let’s dive into them. We’re bound to have some repetition.
Brazil's Government
Brazil is a federal republic with a constitution adopted in 1988 (our seventh). The government consists of the federal government, state governments, and municipalities. The three branches of government are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch is headed by an elected president and vice president, who serve a four-year term with the possibility of re-election.
The president is responsible for appointing cabinet members and can veto legislation passed by the legislative branch. The vice president is responsible for assisting the president and taking over if the president cannot fulfill their duties (in case of death, when in a trip abroad, etc.).
The Legislative Branch
The legislative branch consists of 81 senators and 513 deputies. Senators serve an eight-year term (and only half the seats are up for election in each turn), while deputies serve a four-year term (all seats up for election). The number of senators and deputies is divided among the 26 states according to population.
We have both state deputies (deputados estaduais) and federal deputies (deputados federais). I’m referring to the federal ones in this article, elected by each state and representing the state that elected them.
The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch has state and federal court systems, with the Superior Courts being the highest at the federal level. The Superior Courts consist of the Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Regional Courts, and the Federal Courts of First Instance.
Brazil's Approach to Business Development
Brazil encourages strong business development through various initiatives. This includes promoting investment in infrastructure, providing tax incentives for certain industries, and improving the business environment through regulatory reforms.
For example, the private initiative SEBRAE is a Brazilian organization that supports small businesses. It provides assistance, training, and resources to help entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed.
If you’re considering opening a small business, SEBRAE has training about your industry. It has consultants who will work with you to create a marketing and financial plan and assess your chances in the market.
But this is only one of Brazil's several governmental and private initiatives at the moment helping promote businesses and entrepreneurship.
Now, the US Government
Again, I’m talking about things I’m only aware of, but know nothing about in depth. Please let me know if I got anything wrong.
Just to recap, the US is a federal republic with a constitution. The three branches of government are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch is headed by an elected president and vice president, who serve a four-year term with the possibility of re-election.
The president is responsible for appointing cabinet members and has the power to veto legislation passed by the legislative branch.
The vice president is responsible for assisting the president and taking over if the president is unable to fulfill their duties.
The Legislative Branch
The legislative branch consists of 100 senators and 435 representatives.
Senators serve a six-year term, while representatives serve a two-year term. The number of senators and representatives is divided among the 50 states.
The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch has a federal court system, with the Supreme Court being the highest in the land. The Supreme Court consists of nine justices appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
US's Approach to Business Development
The US encourages strong business development through a range of initiatives. The US has a relatively free market economy that allows for significant private sector investment. The country also provides tax incentives for certain industries and supports small businesses through initiatives such as the Small Business Administration.
The Differences Between Brazilian and American Governments
Bureaucracy-wise, the Brazilian and American governments seem particularly alike – after all, when you look at them on paper, both are federative republics. But there is more than meets the eye, and that’s what we’ll investigate in this section.
Corruption
Corruption is a significant issue in Brazil.
Transparency International states Brazil is perceived as more corrupt than the US. Corruption affects many aspects of Brazilian society, including the government, businesses, and public services.
As a Brazilian who is somewhat a news junkie, I’ve always followed the news surrounding corruption in my country… and one week won’t go by without the news of some corruption incident, like the dollars in the underpants [in Portuguese] or any other colorful corruption case that pops up frequently.
The problem is that this is so common in our media and everyday life that Brazilians tend to accept it as a fact that can’t be fought or resisted.
On the other hand, the US is not immune to corruption. Corporate lobbying is a significant issue in the country, with large corporations using their financial power to influence policy decisions.
Social Programs
Brazil is known for its successful social programs, such as the Bolsa Familia program, which provides financial assistance to low-income families.
The country also invests in sports. The investment is not enough, since most of the money goes to soccer, our adopted national sport. Other than during the Olympics, when people see other sports Brazil competes in, there isn’t enough investment [in Portuguese].
Immigration
Brazilians have a somewhat open mind about immigrants in the country. Brazilians tend not to discriminate based on someone’s origins.
Of course, discrimination still happens, especially if the new immigrant is from less known countries (from the Brazilian perspective), usually non-English speaking countries. Also, all things being equal, Brazilians tend to discriminate more based on your financial standing – perceived or true. If you’d like to know more about discrimination (and racism, a closely related topic), I can’t recommend Lily Schwartz’s book enough [this is an affiliate link].
Brazilians also have a funny opinion about Brazilian immigration. If you go live abroad and you’re Brazilian, people have two common opinions that can exist concomitantly – that you’re weak and hate our country and that Brazil didn’t offer you the proper conditions to stay and thrive.
For instance, I’m tired of hearing from my friends that I’m wasting away in Brazil. They say I’d be in a much better place in countries such as Canada or the US. But at the same time, they praise me for choosing (choosing!) to remain in Brazil.
If you’re from the US, please let me know in the comments below what you think about immigration from and to your country. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.
Official Instance of Brazil’s government on immigration
In recent years, Brazil has witnessed a significant shift in its immigration policy, reflecting the nation's evolving stance on the matter.
Historically, Brazil has been a country of immigrants, with waves of Europeans, Asians, and Middle Easterners arriving in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
However, the country's approach to immigration underwent a transformation in the 21st century, with the Brazilian government taking steps to modernize its policies and adapt to contemporary challenges.
The Brazilian government has made concerted efforts to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for immigrants.
The 2017 Migration Law, for instance, replaced the outdated Foreigner Statute of 1980 and marked a significant departure from the previous security-focused approach. The new law emphasizes the rights of migrants, regardless of their legal status, and promotes their social integration. This legislative shift underscores Brazil's commitment to recognizing the contributions of immigrants and ensuring their protection and well-being.
Furthermore, Brazil has actively sought to establish itself as a regional leader in migration governance.
The country has played a pivotal role in regional dialogues and has proactively offered humanitarian visas to those fleeing crises, such as the Venezuelan exodus. However, like many nations, Brazil grapples with challenges, including integrating newcomers and addressing concerns related to border security. Yet, the overarching narrative remains one of openness and a recognition of the multifaceted benefits of immigration.
Recent Political Events
Recent political events in Brazil and the US have drawn comparisons between the two countries.
The far-right riots in Brazil, which led to the ousting of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, have been compared to the January 6 insurrection in the US, according to The Guardian.
While the rioters had some similarities to their American counterparts, the response from Brazilian authorities differed, with left-leaning President Lula de Silva denouncing the mob and promising legal accountability for their crimes.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, while Brazil and the US share similarities in their government structures, such as being federal republics with three branches of government, they have significant differences.
Brazil is considered more corrupt but has successful social programs and sports investments. The US has flaws, such as corporate lobbying (not that Brazil is free from it), but it is praised for education and protecting natural assets.
It's important to note that both countries have strengths and weaknesses, and there is always room for improvement.
By understanding the similarities and differences between the Brazilian and US governments, we can learn from each other and work towards creating better societies.
Well, so much for some comparisons of our governments and countries. Now, please let me know in the comments below what you think about the subject!