Brazil's Top Court Rejects Ex-Lawmaker's Bid to Keep His Seat
Listen to the story
Brazil has a top court. It is called the STF.
A man named Paulão lost his job as a deputy. A deputy is like a member of parliament.
Paulão is from the PT party. The Chamber of Deputies took his job away.
Paulão wanted his job back. He asked the STF for help.
He used a legal tool called a mandado de segurança. This is a request to protect a right.
A judge named Zanin looked at the case. Zanin said no to Paulão.
The STF agreed with Zanin. Paulão did not get his job back.
This means the Chamber's first decision stays. Paulão is still not a deputy.
The case shows how courts can check decisions made by parliament.
Many people in Brazil are watching this story closely.
Vocabulary15 words
- STF
- the highest court in Brazil
- deputy
- a person who works in parliament
- PT
- a political party in Brazil
- mandado de segurança
- a legal request to protect a person's right
- Zanin
- the name of the judge in this case
- mandate
- the official job or position of a politician
- Chamber of Deputies
- the part of parliament with elected members
- court
- a place where judges decide legal cases
- decision
- a choice made after thinking
- lawmaker
- a person who makes laws
- appeal
- asking a court to change a decision
- case
- a legal problem looked at by a court
- ruling
- the final decision of a judge
- seat
- a position held by an elected person
- parliament
- the group that makes laws in a country
Quiz
Answer key
1. His mandate as a deputy 2. STF 3. No
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Brazil has a top court. It is called the _____.
A man named Paulão lost his job as a _____.
Paulão is from the _____ party.
Paulão wanted his job back. He asked the _____ for help.
A judge named _____ looked at the case.
Zanin said _____ to Paulão.
The STF agreed with _____.
Paulão did not get his job back. He is still not a _____.
This shows how courts can check decisions made by _____.
Many people in Brazil are watching this _____ closely.