This paper discusses the relationship between the Brazilian Presidency and other Union powers during Fernando Henrique Cardoso's second term in office, from 1999 to 2002. The central hypotheses is that the growing separation of powers, highlighted by various researchers since the 1988 Constitution, also characterizes important processes, which took place during this time. It is argued that this empirical process demands a reevaluation of concepts on Brazilian democracy and that theories that separate power and government offer new perspectives for the study of Brazilian political institutions.
Separation of powers; Political institutions; Democracy