Brazil is a federal presidential republic, formally the Republica Federativa do Brasil, made up of 26 states and a Federal District (Brasilia). Government power is divided into three independent branches, executive, legislative, and judicial, with the President serving as both head of state and head of government, elected to a four-year term.
The federal structure gives individual states meaningful autonomy over local governance, while a bicameral National Congress (Chamber of Deputies and Federal Senate) handles national legislation. Brazil's political system has weathered significant recent volatility, including high-profile corruption investigations and sharply contested elections, reflecting an active, if often polarized, democratic culture.