Brazil

As the largest country in South America, Brazil has more than 210 million inhabitants. Brasilia is the capital and the most populous region is Sao Paulo. The country is so large that it borders every South American country except Ecuador and Chile and covers approximately 47.3% of the entire continent. Brazil was a Portuguese colony, and when the capital of the empire transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in 1815, the Brazil was elevated to the rank of a kingdom, and eventually earned its independence from Portuguese rule in 1822.

The largest natural rainforest in the world is in Brazil. The Amazon is home to diverse wildlife and ecological systems. The country is extremely biodiverse primarily because of the Amazon Rainforest.

Brazil has the 8th largest economy in the world by GDP. The country is a member of BRICS, is a founding member of NATO, and is a member of several other international groups including the Organization of American States. The country is considered a regional power in Latin America, and middle-power in international affairs. It has also been characterized as a potential superpower. For the last 150-years, the country has been the largest coffee producer in the world. Brazil is now the fourth-largest auto producer in the world, and has major exports in textile, aircraft, electrical equipment, ethanol, and steel, among other industries. Brazil is also the tenth largest energy consumer, with a majority of consumption coming in the form of renewable products.

Brazil is governed by a democratic republic, with the President having ultimate authority over Congress and foreign policy.  Brazil’s government has been known to be highly-corrupt, especially in recent years with the latest President having been impeached. Corruption costs the country over $41 billion annually and has been identified as a major constraint in the nation’s ability to successfully penetrate world markets.

The Brazilian Judicial System is a civil law adversarial system, and it is divided into a state and federal system.  Judges in courts of first instance may take office after taking a public examination, and judges in courts of second instances are promoted from the pool of judges of first instance.  For judges in the Superior courts, they are appointed by life and approved by the Senate, and they must retire by the age of 70.

Tourism is one of the leading industries in the nation in recent years. In addition to the Amazon and natural rainforests throughout the country, the world’s most famous beach, Copacabana, is situated in Rio de Janeiro. The famous Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue also sits atop Sugar Loaf Mountain, which is nearly 1300 meters above the harbor. In addition to these sites other popular attractions in the country include beaches in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, Iguazu Falls (which can be seen from the Brazilian and Argentinian borders), and regions like Sao Paulo, which is one of the largest, most highly-developed cities in the country, and around the world.

Visitors to the National Law Review can find coverage, stories, and news from the country of Brazil, South America, and international relations with the US. Production of ethanol and other natural fuels/resources, labor and employment laws in the country, the pharmaceuticals industry, international relations, government and political regulations, and other stories are covered by the National Law Review regularly for its visitors.