Editing Politics of Brazil (section)

===States===
{{Main|States of Brazil}}

[[Image:Rio-PalacioTiradentes.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro]] holds the legislature of [[Rio de Janeiro]] state.]]
[[Image:Cidade Administrativa MG 1.jpg|thumb|[[Palácio Tiradentes]] holds the executive power of [[Minas Gerais]] state.]]

The 26 Brazilian ''states'' are semi-autonomous self-governing entities organized with complete administration branches, relative financial independence and their own set of symbols, similar to those owned by the country itself. Despite their relative autonomy they all have the same model of administration, as set by the Federal Constitution.

States hold elections every four years and exercise a considerable amount of power. The 1988 constitution allows states to keep their own taxes, set up [[State Senator (Brazil)|State Houses]], and mandates regular allocation of a share of the taxes collected locally by the federal government.

The Executive role is held by the {{lang|pt|Governador}} (Governor) and his appointed {{lang|pt|Secretários}} (Secretaries); the Legislative role is held by the {{lang|pt|Assembléia Legislativa}} (Legislative Assembly); and the Judiciary role, by the {{lang|pt|Tribunal de Justiça}} (Justice Tribunal). The governors and the members of the assemblies are elected, but the members of the Judiciary are appointed by the governor from a list provided by the current members of the State Law Court containing only judges (these are chosen by merit in exams open to anyone with a law degree). The name chosen by the governor must be approved by the Assembly before inauguration. The 1988 Constitution has granted the states the greatest amount of autonomy since the Old Republic.

Each of the 26 state governors must achieve more than 50% of the vote, including a second round run-off between the top two candidates if necessary. In contrast to the federal level, state legislatures are unicameral, although the deputies are elected through similar means, involving an open-list system in which the state serves as one constituency. State level elections occur at the same time as those for the presidency and Congress. In 2002, candidates from eight different parties won the gubernatorial contest while 28 parties are represented in the country's state legislatures. The last set of elections took place in 2006.