e
supreme tribunal has original and appellate jurisdiction, but its power
to pass on the constitutionality of federal laws and executive acts
seems to fall short of that of the United States Supreme Court. It has
authority, however, to review the acts and laws of state governments and
to decide upon their constitutionality. The district federal court has
but one judge (_juiz de seccao_) and a solicitor of the republic, and
has original jurisdiction in federal causes. Each state has its own
local laws and courts, independent of federal control, but subject to
the review of the supreme tribunal, and with rights of appeal to that
tribunal in specified cases. The federal district, which has a municipal
council instead of a legislature, has a system of municipal and higher
courts peculiar to itself. Limited judicial powers are exercised by
chiefs of police, and by certain department commissions, or boards, of
an executive character. The members of the army and navy are governed by
special laws, enjoy immunities from civil process, and are subject to
the jurisdiction of military courts. The civil code of the republic is
based upon Roman law.

_Army._--The nominal strength of the army in 1906 was 29,489, including
the officers of the general and subordinate staffs and the officers and
cadets of the military schools. This total represents the nominal
strength of the army in times of peace. Its actual strength, however, is
about 15,000 men, some of the regimental and battalion organizations
being skeletons. Its organization consists of 40 battalions of infantry
with one transport and one depot company, 14 regiments of cavalry of 4
squadrons each, 6 regiments of field artillery with 24 batteries and 6
battalions of heavy artillery with 24 batteries, and two battalions of
engineers. Efforts to organize a national guard have been unsuccessful,
although officers have been appointed and the organization perfected, on
paper. The police force, however, is organized on a military footing and
armed, and is available for service in case of necessity. It is credited
with 20,000 men. According to law military service is obligatory, but
the government has been unable to enforce it. Impressment is commonly
employed to fill the ranks, and in cases of emergency the prison
population is drawn upon for recruits. The president is nominally
commander-in-chief of the army, but the actual command is vested in a
general staff in the national capital,