Political System of Rio de Janeiro
The country of Brazil as a whole is a federative republic, meaning that Rio as well is a democratic republic. Citizens of the city vote for a mayor and city councilmen to represent their interests in the government. Voting for these positions is mandatory and abstaining from voting for these positions could result in loss of rights, like the loss of a right to hold government office. After being elected the mayor chooses municipality secretaries to support the city along with the mayor. Each mayor also has submayors, or subprefeitos, who address issue for each of the local areas of the city. City councilmen, or vereador, are elected to four year terms with the mayor. In Rio there are 55 of these vereador elected to office every 4 years. Their role in the city's government is to propose laws and approve or veto laws made by the mayor.
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