CONSTITUTION OF BEAZIL. 287 



Each of the twenty States has its two chambers and its president ; and each 

 passes special laws subordinate to the general principles of the constitution of the 

 United States of Brazil. All lands and mines not yet disposed of belong to the 

 nation, those only excepted which may seem indii^pensable to the Union for frontier 

 defence, or for the construction of strategical routes and railways of general 

 interest. Two conterminous States may conclude special conventions between 

 themselves, provided they involve no political element. But they cannot declare 

 war against other States, nor refuse to accept as legal tender the metal or paper 

 currency recognised by the Union, nor reject any legislative, administrative, or 

 judiciary measures proclaimed by the Federal Republic. In respect of foreign 

 matters the twenty States act in concert and have no individual political status. 



The Chamber of Deputies, which assembles at Rio de Janeiro, pending the 

 foundation of a future federal capital on the Goyaz plateaux, consists of popular 

 representatives, elected in the proportion of at least four members for each State 

 and for the neutral municipality of the republic ; and in the general proportion of 

 one to every 70,000 of the inhabitants. As in the United States of North America, 

 which have served as a model for the Brazilian legislators, the Chamber of 

 Deputies corresponds numericall}^ to the strength of the several States measured by 

 the test of population, whereas the Senate represents the States as equals by 

 right, irrespective of the number of their inhabitants. The Senate accordingly 

 consists of 63 members, that is to say, three for each State and for the neutral 

 municipality. As in the northern Republic, the members of the Senate retire by 

 rotation. Its legal duration being for nine years, one-third are replaced by new 

 members after three years, and at the end of the sixth year fresh elections take 

 place for the second third of the Senators. 



Although the president and vice-president were raised to power in virtue of 

 a military revolution, the constitution provides an elective and popular origin for 

 the two chiefs of the executive. Both are nominated by direct suffrage, and by 

 an absolute majority of votes ; but failing such a majority, congress decides. 

 Four years is the period fixed for the exercise of the presidential power, which 

 cannot be held by the same person twice consecutively. The president appoints 

 and dismisses the Ministers of State at pleasure ; he commands the land and sea 

 forces, and appoints the heads of the civil departments dependent on the federation, 

 the members of the Supreme Court of Justice, the ambassadors and consuls, 

 declares war and concludes peace. He approves and publishes the laws passed 

 by congress ; but he possesses the right of veto, sending back questions to be 

 again discussed by the chambers, and decided not by a bare majority, but by a 

 substantial majority of two-thirds. The Senate on its part enjoys the almost 

 delusive privilege of trjing the president if impeached by the Chamber of 

 Deputies. In point of fact the head of the Republic is armed with monarchical 

 powers far greater than those claimed by the emperor. Thus the Judiciary body, 

 which by a legal fiction is held to enjoy an influence equal to that of the legis- 

 lative and executive todies, is in reality in the hands of the president, who names 

 all its members. 



