Brazilian National Congress facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National CongressCongresso Nacional |
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| 57th Legislature of the National Congress | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
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| History | |
| Founded | 6 May 1826 |
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New session started
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1 February 2025 |
| Leadership | |
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Davi Alcolumbre, UNIÃO
Since 1 February 2025 |
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Hugo Motta, Republicans
Since 1 February 2025 |
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Government Leader
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Randolfe Rodrigues, PT
Since 3 January 2023 |
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Majority Leader
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Aguinaldo Ribeiro, PP
Since 19 April 2024 |
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Minority Leader
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Fernando Giacobo, PL
Since 28 February 2025 |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
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Federal Senate political groups
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PL (14)
PSD (14) MDB (11) PT (9) UNIÃO (7) PP (7) Republicans (4) PSB (4) Podemos (4) PDT (3) PSDB (3) NOVO (1) |
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Chamber of Deputies political groups
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Government (372)
Brazil of Hope (80) UNIÃO (60) PP (49) MDB (44) PSD (44) Republicans (44) PDT (17) PSB (15) PSOL-REDE (14) PRD (5) Supported by (28) Podemos (15) Avante (8) Solidarity (5) Opposition (113) PL (91) PSDB-Cidadania (17) NOVO (5) |
| Elections | |
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Federal Senate voting system
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Plurality voting, alternating every four years between single-member elections (FPTP) and dual-member elections (Block voting) |
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Chamber of Deputies voting system
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Open list proportional representation (D'Hondt method) with a 2% election threshold |
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Last general election
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2 October 2022 |
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Next general election
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4 October 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Nereu Ramos Palace, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil | |
| Website | |
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The National Congress (in Portuguese, Congresso Nacional) is like the main law-making body for the entire country of Brazil. It's a very important part of Brazil's government. Unlike many local governments, the National Congress has two main parts, almost like two different teams working together. These two parts are called the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
The Congress meets every year in Brasília, which is the capital city of Brazil. They usually work from February 2nd until December 22nd, with a short break in the middle of the year.
The Federal Senate represents the different states and the Federal District of Brazil. Each state and the Federal District sends three senators to the Senate. These senators are chosen by people voting and serve for eight years. Every four years, some of the senators are re-elected. The Chamber of Deputies, on the other hand, represents the people living in each state. Its members, called federal deputies, are elected for four years. The number of deputies each state gets depends on its population, with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 70. All members of the Chamber of Deputies are re-elected every four years.
The leaders of each part of the Congress, the President of the Senate and the President of the Chamber, are chosen from among their members. The President of the Senate also leads the entire National Congress when both parts meet together. These leaders play a key role in how the government runs.
Contents
How Brazil's National Congress Works
Brazil's National Congress is a bicameral legislature. This means it has two separate houses or chambers. These two houses work together to create and approve laws for the country.
The Federal Senate: Representing the States
The Federal Senate is known as the upper house of the National Congress. It was first created in 1824. The Senate makes sure that all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District have an equal voice. Each of these areas sends three senators to Brasília.
Senators are elected by the people for an eight-year term. Elections for the Senate are staggered. This means that not all senators are elected at the same time. Every four years, either one-third or two-thirds of the Senate seats are up for election. This helps to keep some experienced members in the Senate at all times.
The Chamber of Deputies: Representing the People
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the National Congress. It has 513 federal deputies. These deputies are elected to represent the people of each state. They serve for a four-year term.
The number of deputies a state has depends on its population. States with more people get more deputies. However, there's a rule: every state must have at least 8 deputies, and no state can have more than 70. Unlike the Senate, all 513 deputies are elected at the same time every four years.
The National Congress Building
The National Congress has been located in Brasília, Brazil's capital, since the 1960s. Before that, it was in Rio de Janeiro. The current building is very famous for its unique design.
A Special Design in Brasília
The National Congress building was designed by a famous architect named Oscar Niemeyer. It's one of the most recognizable buildings in Brasília. It has two distinct parts that look like giant bowls or semi-spheres. The one on the left is where the Senate meets. The one on the right is for the Chamber of Deputies.
Between these two semi-spheres, there are two tall, vertical office towers. The building is located right in the middle of the Monumental Axis, which is a main street in Brasília. In front of the building, there's a large grassy area often used for public events. Behind it is the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Plaza). This plaza is also home to the President's office and the Supreme Court.
The building is so special that it was declared a historical heritage site in 2007. It's also part of Brasília's original urban design, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
A Place for Public Voices
The National Congress building has sometimes been a central place for large public gatherings and demonstrations. For example, in June 2013, many Brazilians gathered to express their views on public services. On January 8, 2023, some people entered the Congress building without permission, causing damage. In April 2025, thousands of Indigenous people also gathered to protest about land rights, with some entering the area in front of the building. These events show how important the Congress is as a place where people can make their voices heard in Brazil's democracy.
A Brief History of Brazil's Parliament
Brazil's parliament has a long and interesting history. It started way back in 1826, during the time of the Brazilian Empire. Back then, it was called the General Assembly. The Senate members used to serve for life!
When Brazil became a Republic, the parliament was renamed the National Congress. Today, both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies have fixed terms. Senators serve for eight years, and deputies serve for four years. Each time a new group of deputies starts their four-year term, it marks the beginning of a new 'legislature' or period of work for the Congress.
Images for kids
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Chamber of Deputies
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Committee room
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Noble Room of the Senate
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Aerial view
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Exterior view of the Chamber of Deputies
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Exterior view of the Senate chamber
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The National Congress building at night
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Front façade and lawn, showing the twin towers
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The Congress as seen from the Monumental Axis
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Legislative police officers outside the National Congress building
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Protesters during an anti-government demonstration in front of the Congress, 13 March 2016
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See also
In Spanish: Congreso Nacional de Brasil para niños
- Chamber of Deputies (Brazil)
- Federal Senate (Brazil)
- List of legislatures by country
- Palácio do Planalto
- Politics of Brazil
