Elections in two moments: the impact of the Lei dos Círculos in the representation of Minas Gerais in the Chamber of Deputies (1852 and 1856)

Abstract

The Election Law of 1855, or Lei dos Círculos, promised to change the Brazilian parliamentary representation with district vote and ineligibilities. What is the impact of this law in the province with the largest number of chairs in the Empire? This study identified and compared the profile of the representation of Minas Gerais elected before and after the reform, making use of several sources: almanacs, periodicals, presidential reports, parliamentary debates, and biographies. In conclusion the Lei de Círculos brought party diversity and debuted local elites from Minas Gerais in the Chamber of Deputies. Thus, a new law was adopted in 1860 to reduce its unpredictability.

Keywords:
Election Law of 1855; Chamber of Deputies; Political elites; Elections; Empire of Brazil; Prosopography