Increasing controls and accountability: institutional change in Brazil

Session Submission Type: LASA Section Panel

Abstract

Brazilian institutions have been put to test in later years. Operations like Car Wash, Sand Castle and Satiagraha unveiled the troubled relationship between interest groups, political parties and governments. Several reforms tried to improve state capacity for holding politicians accountable and curbing corruption. The roles of institutions, such as Controladoria Geral da Uniao, Tribunal de Contas and within the Judiciary branch, have been broadened. Federal, State and municipal governments faced dilemmas on how to improve accountability and reacted by implementing institutional innovations during a time of economic turmoil and deepening fiscal crisis. New laws, especially regarding transparency, anticorruption and plea bargains were introduced, changing the role of institutions. The panel aims to analyze how accountability in their multiple facets worked within the Brazilian institutional framework.

Sub Track

• Section Sessions

Session Organizer

• Marcus Vinicius R da Rocha, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Chairs

• Paulo Castro, Brasilia Institute for Public Law (IDP)

• Marcus Vinicius R da Rocha, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Discussant

• Paulo Castro, Brasilia Institute for Public Law (IDP)

Individual Presentations

• Democratizing business political action in Brazil: attempts to increase formalization during PT Governments - Stefanie T Schmitt

• Political Crises and the Orthodontia of Accountability: a study on the impact of Car Wash scandal forged on the trajectory of leniency agreements in Brazil - Temístocles M de Oliveira Júnior, Ministry of Transparency and Comptroller General

• Right to Information in Brazil: promoting social accountability or legitimizing secrets? - Marcio Camargo Cunha Filho

• Control and accountability in Brazilian municipalities - Marcus Vinicius R da Rocha, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul