Der Kaiser und die Verfassung

Overview & Synopsis

After its independence in 1822, Brazil became a constitutional empire with the Portuguese heir to the throne as its head of state. The Constituent Assembly's constitutional project failed, and instead a constitutional octroi was enacted. The author examines the discussions of the Constituent Assembly and the public discourse surrounding the constitution-making process. She also examines the influence of European constitutions on the constitutional project and the constitutional octroi.