This article analyses the action of Brazilian Senators in the deliberation of international acts negotiated by the executive branch. A central point here argued is that lawmakers are interested actors in discussing and analyzing matters of Foreign Policy. Constitutional precepts put significant limits on congressional action, when prevent the submission of amendments to international acts or the impossibility to exercise control ex ante, which is the reason that makes it necessary to look for other mechanisms in order to measure the parliamentary action. The work demonstrates not only occurrences of different forms of participation of parliamentarians in the deliberative process, but also exemplify heated disagreement situations among them, when it comes to the substantive content of certain international acts. Uninterested lawmakers do not waste time and energy debating questions that do not interest them.
International acts; Federal Senate; Foreign policy; Decision-making process
