{"id":84133,"date":"2026-09-29T12:24:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=84133"},"modified":"2026-09-29T12:25:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:25:28","slug":"what-does-a-senator-do-and-why-does-it-matter-for-favelas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=84133","title":{"rendered":"Explainer on the Brazilian Senate: What Does a Senator Do and Why Does This Matter to Favelas?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Federal<\/a>
Federal Senate Plenary. Photo: Senate Agency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This article is part of a series on the 2026 Brazilian elections<\/a>, focusing on the perspectives of Greater Rio\u2019s favelas.<\/em><\/p>\n

Did you know that next Sunday, Brazilians will vote for two of their three senators, who will hold office for most of the coming decade, deciding what can\u2014and cannot\u2014be invested in the nation’s communities? What does the Senate actually do, and what is the difference between a senator and a federal deputy? Why is the vote for senator so important? What should we focus on when looking over their proposals? And lastly, who are the candidates in Rio de Janeiro? These are the questions we will answer in this explainer, below.<\/em><\/p>\n

What Is the Senate?<\/h3>\n

The Federal Senate<\/a> is one of the two houses of the Brazilian National Congress<\/a>. The other is the Chamber of Deputies. Together, they make up the federal Legislative Branch. However, federal deputies and senators are not elected in the same way, do not serve terms of the same length, do not have the same exact responsibilities and play different roles in how the country works. While federal deputies represent the population of their states, senators represent states as a whole, plus the Federal District of Bras\u00edlia.<\/p>\n

That is why the Senate has 81 members<\/a>: each of Brazil\u2019s 27 federative units<\/a> (26 states and the Federal District) elects three senators, regardless of the size of its population. In this manner, Rio de Janeiro and Roraima, for example, have the same number of senators and, therefore, the same decision-making power in the Senate. [Meanwhile, the Chamber has 513 federal deputies<\/a>, representing the populations of their states proportionally.] The idea is to guarantee equal representation to the country\u2019s federative units. In the Senate, the principle is not \u201cthe larger the population, the more representatives,\u201d but rather \u201ceach state has the same number of representatives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Famous<\/a>
National Congress building in Bras\u00edlia, designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The smaller, downward-facing dome is the Federal Senate, while the larger, upward-facing dome is the Chamber of Deputies. Photo: CNBB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Is the Difference Between Electing a Senator and a Federal Deputy?<\/h3>\n

Both are members of the National Congress and have similar roles, such as drafting and voting on laws, overseeing the federal government and participating in decisions on the federal budget. But there are important differences.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, a federal deputy represents the population<\/em> of their state in the Chamber of Deputies. The number of deputies from each state varies according to its population. A senator, on the other hand, represents the state<\/em> as a federative unit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Another important difference is the length of their terms: federal deputies are elected for four years, while senators are elected for eight<\/strong>. The entire Chamber is renewed every four years, while the Senate alternates between renewing one-third and two-thirds of its members every four years. If voters elect one senator in one election, they will elect two in the next general election. For example, in 2026, voters will elect two senators<\/strong> per state, resulting in the renewal of a majority of the Senate.<\/p>\n

The electoral system also differs. Federal deputies are elected through the proportional representation system<\/a>, in which the number of votes received by a party or federation influences how seats are distributed. In other words, in the Chamber, the number of votes received by a political party helps determine who is elected<\/a>. Senators, on the other hand, are elected through the majoritarian system<\/a>: in 2026, the two candidates who receive the most votes will win the Senate seats<\/strong>, regardless of their party or party ticket.<\/p>\n

\"Federal<\/a>
Federal Senate Plenary with the Presiding Board in the background during a special commemorative session, one of the Senate\u2019s ceremonial functions. Photo: Senate Agency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Does a Senator Actually Do?<\/h3>\n

The Senate also has exclusive duties that are not shared with the Chamber of Deputies. These include vetting and approving certain officials nominated by the President of the Republic, such as Supreme Court judges, and making decisions on the states\u2019 and municipalities\u2019 financial operations.<\/p>\n

Although the senators\u2019 best-known roles include participating in the drafting of federal legislation<\/a> and in key discussions on the budget, public policies and national programs\u2014responsibilities shared with federal deputies\u2014there are four main areas of exclusive Senate duties<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Oversight of the Executive Branch<\/strong> \u2014 Senators oversee the Executive Branch, vet certain nominations made by the President of the Republic, such as those for federal Supreme Court justices, and may: suspend, in whole or in part, the enforcement of a law declared unconstitutional by a final ruling of the federal Supreme Court; periodically evaluate how the National Tax System is working and the performance of the tax administrations of federal, state, Federal District and municipal governments; elect members of the Council of the Republic<\/a>; and establish their internal rules, organizational structure and operations, as well as define Senate roles.<\/li>\n
  2. Financial Operations and Public Debt of the Federal, State and Municipal Governments<\/strong> \u2014 Senators may authorize external financial operations by the federal, state, Federal District and municipal governments; establish overall limits on the consolidated debt of the federal, state, Federal District and municipal governments; establish limits and conditions for federal guarantees on domestic and foreign credit operations; and establish overall limits and conditions for domestic and foreign credit operations by these entities.<\/li>\n
  3. Trying Public Officials in Impeachment Proceedings<\/strong> \u2014 The Senate\u2019s greatest power as an oversight body is to conduct impeachment proceedings against the President, Vice President, Ministers of State and Armed Forces Commanders, federal Supreme Court justices, members of the National Council of Justice and the National Council of the Public Prosecution Service, the Prosecutor General of the Republic and the Attorney General of the Union. Note: Conviction requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the Senate and results in removal from office and disqualification from holding public office for eight years.<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Confirmation Hearings and Approval, by Secret Ballot, of Nominees for Public Office<\/strong> \u2014 In confirmation hearings, senators decide on nominees for the following positions: federal Supreme Court justices and other Superior Court judges; members of the Federal Court of Accounts nominated by the President of the Republic; the Central Bank President and Directors; the Prosecutor General of the Republic; and holders of other positions established by law (such as regulatory agency directors and ambassadors\/heads of permanent diplomatic missions).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The two offices have different, specific responsibilities, which may or may not be exclusive, but together they make up the National Congress. In Brazil\u2019s bicameral system, the Senate may serve as either the reviewing or originating house in the legislative process. A bill introduced in the Chamber of Deputies and approved by federal deputies then moves through the Senate\u2019s internal bodies for approval before reaching the Senate floor. Bills may also originate in the Senate and, once approved, move to the other house\u2014in this case, the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n

    In addition to what has already been mentioned, the National Congress also has joint sessions<\/a>, which bring the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate together in a single plenary session to deliberate on specific matters. Mandatory joint sessions include: the opening of the legislative session at the beginning of each year, when Congress receives messages from the President of the Republic and the Federal Supreme Court; presidential inaugurations, when Congress receives the constitutional oath and swears in the President and Vice President of the Republic; consideration of presidential vetoes, when Congress deliberates on whether to uphold or override them; drafting joint rules of procedure and regulating the creation of services shared by the two houses; and budget matters, including deliberations on budget bills and additional appropriations under the joint bicameral process.<\/p>\n

    \"Friar<\/a>
    Friar David, founder of major civil rights and educational organization Educafro, participates in a public hearing held by the Senate’s Human Rights and Participatory Legislation Committee to discuss affirmative action policies in medical residency programs with civil society. Photo: Ag\u00eancia Senado<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    What Does the Senate Have to Do with Favelas?<\/h3>\n

    Although federal deputies and senators are not directly responsible for the management of a favela, their decisions determine the rules and resources that make certain policies possible.<\/p>\n

    Think of federal policy in the areas of housing, sanitation or urban development. It depends on legislation, budgets and funding. And the Senate is responsible for these decisions.<\/p>\n

    Votes in the Senate influence investment in several areas that are essential to favelas, including:<\/p>\n