Brazilian National Congress Research Articles

Participação da Frente Parlamentar Evangélica no legislativo brasileiro

Este artigo analisa, a partir da etnografia de um dos cultos promovidos pela Frente Parlamentar Evangélica, os deslizamentos entre política e religião no Congresso Nacional brasileiro. Descrevo um destes cultos procurando entendê-lo enquanto ritual antropológico no qual parlamentares evangélicos realizam a invocação do religioso e a sacralização das atividades da política. Ora, mais do que trânsitos e deslocamentos entre o “tempo da política” e o tempo da igreja, estes cultos realizam sobreposições entre o púlpito e o palanque quando o espaço do sagrado sacraliza as boas novas proferidas por estes parlamentares no espaço da política.

The management of difference: reflections on policies concerning immigration and the control of foreigners in Portugal and Brazil

This article conducts an anthropological reflection on Portuguese legislation concerning immigration control and the concession of nationality, and compares it with Brazilian laws governing the entrance, stay and departure of foreigners, and also the naturalization process in that country. The objective is to use a particular European example of "difference management" and compare it to the current Brazilian legislative context (including proposed law 5655, which is being deliberated by the Brazilian national congress), in an attempt to identify significant similarities or distinctions. Although their contexts are quite different, I believe that the detailed comparison of these bodies of law contributes to understanding contemporary processes for managing international migration and the production of illegality and invisibility of immigrants.

Tempos de Império: a trajetória da geometria como um saber escolar para o curso primário

The text analyzes the history of geometry as a content of primary education in Brazil. The period of study ranges from the first to the final decades of the nineteenth century. Official documentation and textbooks were the main research sources. The empirical study is analyzed under the historical-cultural perspective. With regard to the teaching of geometry, the following aspects are analyzed: the appropriation of Condorcet’s proposals, the discussions and debates carried out at the Brazilian National Congress, and the elaboration of a practical geometry for primary school. Results show the sedimentation of the Linear Drawing as geometry for the primary school.

Lei do Abate, guerra às drogas e defesa nacional

O presente artigo analisa o processo de criação e regulamentação da Lei do Abate no Brasil, que autoriza a derrubada em pleno voo de aeronaves civis suspeitas de envolvimento no tráfico de drogas. Investigam-se as relações entre a elaboração da Lei do Abate, a política de guerra às drogas propagada pelos EUA e as preocupações estratégicas dos militares brasileiros acerca da segurança da Região Amazônica. Como parte da contextualização da criação dos programas de interdição aérea baseados no abate de aeronaves, estudam-se as origens e as transformações das políticas antidrogas dos EUA desde a década de 1960 e o modelo de guerra às drogas (War on Drugs). Analisa-se também o processo de discussão parlamentar no Brasil sobre a Lei do Abate e os debates para a sua regulamentação. A pesquisa ocorreu por meio da análise de documentos produzidos pelos governos dos EUA (abertos e sigilosos reclassificados) e do Brasil, da investigação dos anais do Congresso Nacional e do estudo de livros e artigos científicos nacionais e estrangeiros. Verifica-se que os programas que autorizam o abate nascem sob a justificativa do combate ao tráfico, mas se ligam às necessidades militares específicas de Peru e Colômbia. A lei brasileira surge para combater o transporte aéreo ilícito vinculado ao tráfico; contudo, sua origem e os debates posteriores para sua regulamentação submetem-se ao condicionamento dos temores e projetos militares em torno da defesa da soberania sobre a Amazônia brasileira.

The embryo research debate in Brazil: From the National Congress to the Federal Supreme Court

New forms of life produced by biomedical research, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESC), have been the object of public debate beyond the scientific fields involved. This article brings to light the case of Brazil, where recently passed federal legislation has authorized research with in vitro human embryos. It focuses on the legislative debate in the Brazilian National Congress between 2003 and 2005 on the Biosafety Bill of Law, which cleared for hESC research a certain share of supernumerary and unviable human embryos frozen in the country's assisted reproduction clinics. The passing of this Bill triggered other public reactions, chiefly a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality in Brazil's Federal Supreme Court. This study adopts an anthropological perspective for describing and analyzing the chief arguments in both debates, in terms of how the notion of 'life' was deployed and negotiated by contending parties. If, on the one hand, the definition of life appeared firmly attached to a conception of both the in vitro embryo and the fetus as a human person, on the other a movement towards breaking down life along utilitarian lines was found when the potential beneficiaries of stem cell therapy came into the equation. In all cases, however, notions of life were negotiated from a hybrid continuum of (biological) facts and (religious, moral and juridical) values, and resonated in different ways with the idea of the individual as privileged mode of constructing personhood in the context of modern nation states.

A Concentração eleitoral nas eleições paulistas: medidas e aplicações

This article discusses indicators of electoral concentration published in the literature and proposes a new measurement, estimated for the elections to Members of the Brazilian National Congress from the State of Sao Paulo in the last five races (1994-2010). The resulting estimates show that the strategy of concentrating votes among the elected Representatives is less than expected according to the literature and that when the strategy is adopted, it tends to be more regional than local. Finally, the evolution in this indicator over time suggests that there are no clear trends in application of the strategy.

Porque dinheiro importa: a dinâmica das contribuições eleitorais para o Congresso Nacional em 2002 e 2006

Muitos trabalhos estudam a relação entre dinheiro e eleições, especialmente como o aporte de recursos pode explicar o sucesso do candidato. Nosso artigo tem como objetivo identificar aspectos do financiamento de campanha nas eleições para o Congresso Nacional brasileiro, nos anos de 2002 e 2006, com base nos dados do TSE. Buscamos captar: a) diferenças nas receitas e gastos entre candidatos à reeleição e novos candidatos; b) variações regionais, dadas as profundas clivagens socioeconômicas dos distritos eleitorais, que podem afetar as contribuições e despesas realizadas; c) variações camerais, dada a incongruência do bicameralismo brasileiro; d) variações partidárias, ou seja, se há candidatos cujas campanhas saem mais "caras" ou mais "baratas", a depender do partido politico.

A APLICABILIDADE DA PESQUISA-AÇÃO NA EDUCAÇÃO MUSICAL

Action-research is a model of scientific investigation which is not widely used in musical teaching, even considering its relevant application in the social sciences. David Tripp (2005) classifies it as a type of action-investigation which is used to define any process that follows a cycle where the practice is improved by the systematic oscillation from acting in the field of practice to investigating into it. With the approval by the Brazilian National Congress of Law 17,769, on August 18, 2008, and with the supplementary legislation, we understand that its use in the musical education would be beneficial. This justification has motivated the writing of this article, which approached the characteristics, functions and usefulness of the action-research. The consulted authors were, among others, D. Tripp, M. Thiollent, Maria A. Franco, G. Morceau, and Maria G. de Miranda. Two examples of Master’s dissertations which adopted this type of research were mentioned. Keywords: Action-research; Musical teaching; Characteristics.

Bioethics, culture and infanticide in Brazilian indigenous communities: the Zuruahá case

This article analyzes the practice of infanticide in indigenous communities in Brazil. Taking as a reference point a specific case involving two children of the Zuruahá people, it takes a broader look at the issue and discusses how infanticide is understood among other indigenous peoples. A debate focusing specifically on this topic that took place during a public hearing held in the Brazilian National Congress in December 2005 has also been taken into consideration in this discussion. In view of the positions adopted as a result of the hearing, this paper seeks to identify the ethical problems and moral dilemmas relating to the subject, by putting them into context and analyzing them in the light of respect for cultural pluralism. Seeking to contribute to the debate, the authors analyze the possibilities for intervention in the traditional practices of infanticide, while rejecting those positions that are not anchored in an attitude of profound respect for other people's cultures or that do not create conditions for dialogue between individuals or groups with different moralities.

Metodologia para gerenciamento integrado dos resíduos sólidos da bacia da Estrada Nova do município de Belém (PA)

This work aims to create a proposal for the Integrated Management of Solid Waste, which combines the practice relevant to the topic, to keep the environment clean and healthy, observing the city of Belém (Pará State, Brazil), and specifically Watershed of “Estrada Nova”. It also aims to identify why, despite this watershed own collection of waste and cleaning services performed by the Municipal Department of Sanitation, remains the same, constantly dirty, mainly of rubble and garbage thrown on public roads and drainage channels of the basin. It was used an empirical research - universe/sample, 0.05% of the population of Watershed of “Estrada Nova” through a questionnaire to obtain data. As a result, it presents a methodology that can serve as support for the establishment of a municipal policy, according to the Law of the National Policy for Solid Waste that deal in Brazilian National Congress. It was also identified causes of the inadequacy of current process of collection and cleaning services. Key words: integrated management, solid waste, selective collection, the new road basin.

Análise da produção legislativa em saúde no Congresso Nacional brasileiro (1990-2006)

This article analyzes the submission of health policy bills by the Legislative and Executive Branches in the Brazilian National Congress, since 1990. The study analyzes the health legislation passed by the National Congress from 1990 to 2006. The bills were analyzed by type, authorship, review time, and thematic content, considering the political and institutional context. The Executive Branch passed 89.8% of its health bills, submitted budget issues and modified the approved budget, and ensured review and passage of its own bills six times faster than bills submitted by the Legislative itself. In conclusion, the policy process is imbalanced, with power concentrated in the Executive, with the latter assuming the main role of filtering health policy demands, thus reflecting a persistently immature approach for institutions in the democratic process.

O golpe civil-militar de 1961: Crítica a uma explicação hegemônica

The present article presents a critical perspective of the hegemonic interpretation which sustains that in 1961, after Jânio Quadro renounced, there was a frustrated attempt at a military coup, demonstrated by the fact that Joao Goulart was then able to assume the presidency. We argue that what in fact occurred was a civil-military coup in which the nation’s Congress took part. Keywords: 1961 coup, Joao Goulart, Brazilian National Congress.

Vigilância sanitária e risco: uma abordagem das proposições legislativas apresentadas no congresso nacional em 2007

In distinct theorical approaches, risk is a recurring theme and it is perceived as inherent to contemporary societies. Risk prevention, elimination or reduction are pointed as a Health Surveillance mission by the Brazilian National Public Health Systems (BNPHS). By one side, if the concept of health surveillance means a challenge in the sense of integrating practices to the risk control and to BNPHS consolidation, by the other side, the Legislative has a main role on proposing laws that aim at its minimization. It is considered that the system of rules produced by the Legislative disciplines situations which have health surveillance as objective. This article analyzes all legislative propositions, presented in 2007 at the Brazilian National Congress, which has approached health surveillance as main theme.

The epistemological basis of radiological protection: two initiatives of the search for the truth about the biological effects of low doses of ionising radiation

Two initiatives to reach the 'truth' about the effects of low doses of ionising radiation were analysed: the initiative of the Brazilian National Congress through the creation of a Working Group (WG) in charge of evaluating the status of radiological protection in the country and the initiative of the World Council of Nuclear Workers (WONUC) to create a publication focused exclusively on the effect of low radiation as an instrument for the scientific community to raise awareness of the demands for this particular type of knowledge.

Visibilidade em coloproctologia está correlacionada com atividade em pesquisa

INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influencia da atividade médica em pesquisa, com a exposição que o coloproctologista tem nos congressos da Sociedade Brasileira de Coloproctologia (SBCP). MÉTODOS: Comparamos o número de publicações em revistas indexadas ao Medline e Lilacs de cada palestrante dos últimos cinco congressos da SBCP, com o número de publicações de médicos sócios não palestrantes, selecionados aleatoriamente. A pesquisa incluiu o ano de 1965 até 2005, respeitando o mesmo tempo de formado e estado de atuação profissional. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados um total de 13 conferencistas e 88 palestrantes dos últimos 5 congressos da SBCP, que foram comparados com 102 médicos sócios não palestrantes da SBCP. Os palestrantes publicaram mais trabalhos científicos que os não palestrantes (p<0,0009), e os conferencistas produziram estatisticamente mais publicações (p<0,0009). Maior visibilidade foi observada em São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais (71,8%, 6,5% e 6,5% dos palestrantes respectivamente), e maior atividade científica foi observada entre 20 e 40 anos de atividade profissional. A grande maioria das publicações foi em revistas nacionais, especialmente na revista da SBCP (aproximadamente 45%). CONCLUSÃO: A exposição do médico como convidado nos congressos da SBCP e o volume de produção científica estão correlacionados.

Análise do arcabouço legal do controle congressual sobre o Banco Central do Brasil

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar o arcabouço legal à disposição do Congresso Nacional para o controle e supervisão das burocracias públicas federais, com o intuito de contribuir para o aprimoramento dos controles sobre essas agências estatais, tendo em vista o contexto de aprofundamento da vivência democrática, ora experimentado no Brasil. Para tanto, utilizou-se especificamente o caso do Banco Central do Brasil e procedeu-se a avaliações nos mecanismos de governança legalmente instituídos sobre o Bacen, em vigor até outubro de 2003. A partir da análise pôde-se concluir que o processo de delegação e, conseqüentemente, a estrutura de governança e de tomada de contas por parte do Congresso são incompletos, na medida em que a autoridade supervisora do Bacen se mostra mais efetivamente exercida pelo Poder Executivo que, em última instância, detém os poderes efetivos relacionados ao controle e supervisão sobre aquela entidade pública, em detrimento do Poder Legislativo. O controle parlamentar apresenta-se, assim, limitado, irresoluto e freqüentemente restrito a circunstâncias de apreciação de decisões já tomadas, fragilmente vinculado com as etapas de formulação e implementação das políticas relacionadas à moeda, ao crédito e ao câmbio.

Comparing Group and Subgroup Cohesion Scores: A Nonparametric Method with an Application to Brazil

This article builds a nonparametric method for inference from roll-call cohesion scores. Cohesion scores have been a staple of legislative studies since the publication of Rice's 1924 thesis. Unfortunately, little effort has been dedicated to understanding their statistical properties or relating them to existing models of legislative behavior. I show how a common use of cohesion scores, testing for distinct voting blocs, is severely biased toward Type I error, practically guaranteeing significant findings even when the null hypothesis is correct. I offer a nonparametric method—permutation analysis—that solves the bias problem and provides for simple and intuitive inference. I demonstrate with an examination of roll-call voting data from the Brazilian National Congress.

Federalismo e conflitos distributivos: disputa dos estados por recursos orçamentários federais

This article analyzes how State-by-State representation in the Brazilian National Congress processes and negotiates amendments to the Federal budget within the Joint Budget Committee. Amendments submitted from 1995 to 1999 by members of Congress from three selected States (Bahia, Ceara, and Parana) are analyzed. Several hypotheses concerning the role of amendments are investigated, arguing that the amendments, like certain Federal policies, facilitate the accommodation of tensions arising in a Federative system marked by regional inequalities.

New reproductive technologies, ethics and gender: the legislative process in Brazil.

In this article, I will analyse the conduct of the Brazilian legislative process regarding new reproductive technologies, mainly the moral assumptions of three categories that are essential to the debate: the status of the child generated by these techniques; the number of embryos transferred in each cycle (as well as foetal reduction); and the issue of women's eligibility for such techniques. The analysis will be a sociological study of the Brazilian legislative debate, using feminist perspectives in ethics as the theoretical reference. The focus will be the bills in progress in the Brazilian National Congress, the public and official declarations of legislators involved in the issue and the regulation of the medical class, which has influenced the legislative process. Aside from the analysis of the legislative process, I include a section on the justification of these bills, since that is where the legislator exposes what he/she believes is the moral support for the bill.

New reproductive technologies, ethics and legislation in Brazil: a delayed debate.

This paper focuses on the debate about the utilization of new reproductive technologies in Brazil, and the paths taken in the Brazilian National Congress in an attempt to draw up legislation to regulate the clinical practice of human assisted reproduction. British documents, such as the Warnock Report and Human Fertilization and Embriology [sic] Authority (HFEA) are used for thorough reference. The analysis of the Law Projects in the National Congress, the Resolution by the Federal Medicine Council, Resolution 196/96 and documents by the the Ministerio Publico (Public Prosecution Office), supplied the bases for the discussion. The principal question involved is the observation of different technical and moral prientations [sic] that influence the conduct of the issue in the legislative process. It is possible to observe that the main focus of the projects relates to the rights and interests of the children, to those possibly benefited by the technique and to embryo reduction. Very little attention has been directed to the issues of sexual and reproductive rights and to the health of the women submitted to the new reproductive techologies [sic].