1. Latin American GovernmentsUnit 8

2. Brazil: Type of Government Representative Democracy Brazil is made up of 26 states Each state has its own constitution and legislature.

3. BRAZIL Capital City: Brasilia Date of Independence: September 7, 1822. Status: DEMOCRACY! Voting Age: 18

4. Brazil: Type of Legislature State level: Has its own legislature in which to make state laws. Citizens vote on representative for their state legislature. National level: National Congress consists of 2 houses: Chamber of Deputies Federal Senate States vote on representatives for each of these houses.

5. Brazil: Type of Executive Branch President LuizInacio “Lula” Da Silva. Since January 1, 2003.

6. Political Parties Brazilian Democratic Movement Party; Brazilian Labor Party; Brazilian Renewal Labor Party; Brazilian Republican Party; Brazilian Social Democracy Party; Brazilian Socialist Party; Christian Labor Party.

7. Cuba: Type of Government Unitary Socialist Republic 14 provinces and 1 special municipality

8. CUBA Capital City: Havana Date of Independence: May 20, 1902. Status: DICTATORSHIP Voting Age: 16

9. Cuba: Type of Legislature National Assembly of People’s Power 600 members voted on by citizens of Cuba National assembly appoints members to Council of State. Council of State 31 members Led by President Controls Cuba’s economy at the national and regional level.

10. Cuba: Type of Executive Branch President: Raul Castro Since: February 28, 2008.

11. Political Parties Cuban Communist Party

12. Cuba: Role of Citizen Age 16 Cubans must vote. Vote for members of legislature Do Not vote on the president

13. Mexico: Type of Government Federal Republic 31 states, one federal district

14. MEXICO Capital City: Mexico City Date of Independence: September 16, 1810. Status: FEDERAL DEMOCRACY

15. Mexico: Form of Leadership Elected President: Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa Since: December 1, 2006.

16. Mexico: Type of Legislature Senate 96 elected members Serve six year terms Chamber of Deputies 300 members Serve 3 year terms

17. Mexico: Role of Citizen Age 18 citizens are required by law to vote Vote on state governors, city mayors, members of legislature and the President.

18. Political Parties Convergence for Democracy; Institutional Revolutionary Party; Labor Party; Mexican Green Ecological Party; National Action Party; New Alliance Party