This article analyses the impacts of decentralization after 1988 in some areas of public policies in Brazilian federalism. It is known that administrative decentralization in areas such as health, education and income transference have changed intergovernmental relationships. The Federal Government relates directly with municipal branches, reducing the participation at the state level. This is an important change because the member states of the federation become secondary in the production of main social policies. The various examples permit to conclude that is not possible understand the present Brazilian federalism in the one form. However, the direct relation between Federal government and municipal government takes various effects in the political system and in the public policies.
Decentralization; Federalism; Intergovernmental relationships; Social policies; Political system