Brazilian law derives from
Portuguese, French, Italian and German Civil law and is based on statutes and, partly and more recently,
súmula vinculante (
stare decisis). The
Federal Constitution, in force since October 21st, 1988, is the supreme
law of the country and is characterized by its rigid written form. The Constitution organizes the country as a Federative
Republic, formed by the indissoluble union of the
states and municipalities and of the
Federal District. The 26 federate states have powers to adopt their own Constitutions and laws. Their
autonomy, however, is limited by the
principles established in the Federal Constitution.