The Principle of Participation and Brazilian Municipalism

The Principle of Participation, implicit in the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, encourages the creation of various direct participatory mechanisms. In this context, we seek to verify the possibility of realising this principle in civil society in relation to issues concerning the management of the res publica. To this end, the instruments of public hearings, participatory budgets, public consultations, public debates, opinion polls and public collegiate bodies at local level are analysed, given the democratic immaturity and political apathy (lack of interest) of Brazilian citizens. In addition, the models and participatory techniques of other countries are briefly presented, especially the Portuguese state, which deals with Administrative Litigation as a judicial body that enables citizens to participate in the formation of decisions relating to their interests, in order to ensure state efficiency in the sphere of administrative procedure. Decentralisation and the active participation of citizens are fundamental prerequisites for direct democracy at local level, capable of bringing citizens closer to the public administration and making them feel part of it.