Chamber of Deputies plenary during a session vote

Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies during an afternoon vote: electronic panels, green chairs, and intense activity.

About this subject

The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of Brazil's National Congress, composed of 513 federal deputies elected by proportional representation for four-year terms. The Ulysses Guimarães plenary, located in the National Congress Palace in Brasília, is the main deliberation space. During votes, the electronic panel displays results in real time: yes votes, no votes, abstentions, and obstructions. The green chairs are arranged in a semicircle, with the presiding officer at the center. Internal rules require a minimum quorum of 257 deputies to deliberate. Voting can be symbolic (standing up) or nominal (individual registration). The plenary also hosts general committees and solemn sessions, such as presidential inaugurations. Oscar Niemeyer's modernist architecture gives the space a unique acoustics, with a concave dome that amplifies sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many deputies form the Chamber plenary?

513 federal deputies, elected for four-year terms.

How does the electronic voting panel work?

It displays in real time the yes votes, no votes, abstentions, and obstructions during nominal votes.

What is required to start a vote?

A minimum quorum of 257 deputies present, according to internal rules.