The 1988 Constituent Assembly ( pt, Assembléia Constituinte de 1988), also known as the National Constituent Assembly ( pt, Assembléia Nacional Constituinte) was a

constituent assembly A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...

held in

Brasília Brasília (; ) is the federal capital of Brazil and seat of government of the Federal District. The city is located at the top of the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West region. It was founded by President Juscelino Kubitsche ...

to establish

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

's new democratic Constitution after 21 years under military rule. In November 1986, general elections were held to elect the members of the Constituent Assembly, which took office on February 1, 1987.

Ulysses Guimarães Ulysses Silveira Guimarães ( October 6, 1916 – October 12, 1992) was a Brazilian politician and lawyer who played an important role in opposing the military dictatorship in Brazil and in the fight to restore democracy in the country. He died i ...

, from the

Brazilian Democratic Movement Party The Brazilian Democratic Movement ( pt, Movimento Democrático Brasileiro, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a " big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, ...

(''Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro - PMDB'') of

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...

, served as president of the Assembly. The majority in the Constituent Assembly was formed by the Democratic Centre (

PMDB The Brazilian Democratic Movement ( pt, Movimento Democrático Brasileiro, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a "big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, ...

, PFL, PTB,

PDS PD, P.D., or Pd may refer to: Arts and media * ''People's Democracy'' (newspaper), weekly organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) * ''The Plain Dealer'', a Cleveland, Ohio, US newspaper * Post Diaspora, a time frame in the ''Honorverse'' ...

, and smaller parties), also known as "Big Centre" (''Centrão''). They were supported by the executive branch and represented conservative factions of the society, and had a decisive influence in the work of the Constituent and the outcome of important decisions, such as the duration of then President Sarney's term, the maintenance of the agrarian policy and the role of the Armed Forces.

External links

Constituicao de 1988
on Brasil Escola. Constitution of Brazil Defunct unicameral legislatures Constituent assemblies 1988 in Brazil {{brazil-gov-stub