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| | THE FEDERAL SENATE OF BRAZIL |
 | | Commissions of inquiry may be set up by the Federal Senate or by the Chamber of Deputies alone, or by both chambers acting in concert, at the request of one third of the members, to investigate a specific matter within a specific time-period. |
 | | The Senate chaired by the President of the Supreme Federal Tribunal has the sole right to institute legal proceedings against, and try, the President and Vice-President of the Republic in cases of allegations of failing to fulfil statutory duties, and Ministers of State in the case of similar offences in which they may be involved. |
 | | At the request of the Senate (or of the Chamber of Deputies, a commission of inquiry or a technical committee, or on its own initiative), the Tribunal of Accounts of the Union may conduct accounting, financial, budgetary, operational and assets-related inspections and audits in administrative departments of the three houses. |
| www.senat.fr /senatsdumonde/english/bresil.html (1702 words) |
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