ABSTRACT
Political parties have existed in Brazil since independence in 1822, and since World War II they have played an important role in the nation's politics. Brazil's military has been monitoring and shaping Brazilian government dating back to the late nineteenth century. The Brazilian monarchy replaced the Portuguese one, to which it was directly related and remained closely tied. Contemporary Brazilian politics remains preoccupied with two fundamental realities: rapid economic growth and modernization, and the correction of persistent imbalances based on region, class, and race. The Brazilian electoral systems have been manipulated historically by regimes for explicit political objectives and short-term advantage, using controls over enfranchisement, voting procedures, and formulas for representation. Through 1842 Brazil used indirect, multistage elections, with deputies allocated at-large for the states. Perhaps the most striking quality of Brazilian party politics has been its lack of institutionalization, its weak national organizations, and its ineffective control.
