Abstract
This article analyses how the Brazilian Supreme Court applies the binding effect of its rulings and summula, especially regarding its bindingness upon the other bodies of the judicial power. The research was based on the collection of data about the constitutional claims n. 11.000 to 13.000, from which we identified three most frequent subjects, related to the rulings on Direct Action of Unconstitutionality n. 3.395, Summula n. 10 and Declaratory Action of Constitutionality n. 16. The jurisprudential analysis of these claims shows that the Brazilian Supreme Court recognizes that the binding effect of its rulings upon judges and courts does not forbid them to make distinguishiments and to decide not to apply these precedents to specific cases.
Brazilian Supreme Court; binding effect; constitutional claims