ABSTRACT
The idea that historical processes experienced in Latin America may be compared to each other is already quite old, as is the debate over the differences between the Latin-American States and Anglo-America. In Portuguese America, the expansion of European settlements and institutions was more modest. The Tribunais da Relacao in Portuguese America followed the model where governing and judging were tightly bound to each other. Universities never existed in Portuguese America despite the massive participation of Americans in the administration. Created with the purpose of preserving order, the Audiencias were typical entities in a world where the administration of justice was viewed as an aspect of governance. The “enlightened reforms,” far from forsaking the model for the administration of justice, instead proposed solutions meant to contribute to greater efficacy. Reforms in Spain’s colonial possessions also implied an expanded jurisdiction over their territories when three new Audiencias were inaugurated.
