CHAPTER 1 — THE BRAZILIAN STATE AND NATIONAL DEFENSE Basic Principles of State Brazil is a Federative Republic with a presidential system. The separation of powers — Executive, Legislative and Judicial — is, within the Brazilian legal system, a fundamental and necessary principle for the promotion of the common good. For this reason, the separation is based on the balance among the three Branches and their reciprocal and conscious collaboration and control. The Brazilian Federation is formed by the indissoluble union of states, the Federal District and the municipalities. Such federative entities have political autonomy, allowing them to make their own laws, to elect their political leaders and to manage their own resources, according to the separation of powers provided for in the Federal Constitution. As a democratic state observant of the rule of law, the country stands on constitutional principles, which are: sovereignty, citizenship, human dignity, labor rights, free enterprise, and political pluralism. Democratic values permeate all constitutional guarantees of the Brazilian state. Among such guarantees, human dignity serves as the basis for the Nation’s own existence, and is, simultaneously, the permanent purpose of all its activities. The state’s objectives, outlined in the 3rd Article of the Federal Constitution, reinforce the country’s political choice for the construction of a free, fair and just society, the promotion of national development, the eradication of poverty and social exclusion, the reduction of social and regional inequality and the promotion of the common good, without discrimination. In the international arena, Brazil acts in accordance to the principles established in the 4th Article of the Federal Constitution: national independence, preservation of human rights, self-determination of nations, non-intervention, equality among the states, defense of peace, peaceful settlement of conflicts, repudiation of terrorism and racism, cooperation among nations for the progress of mankind, and granting of political asylum. Brazilian foreign policy considers international dialogue and cooperation as essential instruments to overcome obstacles and to build confidence among states. With regards to other countries, Brazil gives priority to its immediate neighbors in South America, the South Atlantic region and Africa’s western coast. 16 DEFENSE WHITE PAPER