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:
- sovereignty;
- citizenship;
- the dignity of the human person;
- the social values of labour and of the free enterprise;
- 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:
- to build a free, just and solidary society;
- to guarantee national development;
- to eradicate poverty and substandard living conditions
and to reduce social and regional inequalities;
- 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:
- national independence;
- prevalence of human rights;
- self-determination of the peoples;
- non-intervention;
- equality among the states;
- defense of peace;
- peaceful settlement of conflicts;
- repudiation of terrorism and racism;
- cooperation among peoples for the progress of mankind;
- 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.