CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL, 1988 with Reforms through 1996


PREAMBLE

We the representatives of the Brazilian People, convened in the National Constituent Assembly to institute a democratic state for the purpose of ensuring the exercise of social and individual rights, liberty, security, well-being, development, equality and justice as supreme values of a fraternal, pluralist and unprejudiced society, founded on social harmony and committed, in the internal and international orders, to the peaceful settlement of disputes, promulgate, under the protection of God, this CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL.


TITLE I. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Article 1. The Federative Republic of Brazil, formed by the indissoluble union of the states and municipalities and of the Federal District, is a legal democratic state and is founded on:

  1. sovereignty;
  2. citizenship;
  3. the dignity of the human person;
  4. the social values of labour and of the free enterprise;
  5. political pluralism.
Sole paragraph - All power emanates from the people, who exercise it by means of elected representatives or directly, as provided by this Constitution.

Article 2. The Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial, independent and harmonious among themselves, are the powers of the Union.

Article 3. The fundamental objectives of the Federative Republic of Brazil are:

  1. to build a free, just and solidary society;
  2. to guarantee national development;
  3. to eradicate poverty and substandard living conditions and to reduce social and regional inequalities;
  4. to promote the well-being of all, without prejudice as to origin, race, sex, colour, age and any other forms of discrimination.
Article 4. The international relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil are governed by the following principles:
  1. national independence;
  2. prevalence of human rights;
  3. self-determination of the peoples;
  4. non-intervention;
  5. equality among the states;
  6. defense of peace;
  7. peaceful settlement of conflicts;
  8. repudiation of terrorism and racism;
  9. cooperation among peoples for the progress of mankind;
  10. granting of political asylum.
Sole paragraph - The Federative Republic of Brazil shall seek the economic, political, social and cultural integration of the peoples of Latin America, viewing the formation of a Latin-American community of nations. 
Table of Contents Title II
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