Abstract
This paper argues that Brazilian parliamentary activity is not limited to the decision-making process. It answers the following question: is there sufficient evidence to state that parliamentary communication is governed by the government-opposition status as previous studies have concluded about the decision-making process? To answer this question, I have analyzed the frequency of speeches of over 2,000 different Brazilian deputies over a period of more than 15 years. With robust evidence of the frequency of speeches, it appears that this activity is not governed by the government-opposition relationship. The results show the influence of other variables, such as ideology, popularity, and seniority, on parliamentary performance.
political behavior; legislative speech; parliamentary activity; Chamber of Deputies