Pedro I opens Brazil's first General Assembly

Background. Following the declaration of independence in September 1822, Pedro I established the Empire of Brazil. The first General Assembly, known as the Constituent Assembly, convened in 1823. Its composition, later formalized as 50 senators and 102 deputies in the 1824 Constitution, was tasked with defining the roles of the emperor and the legislature. This period was marked by ideological struggles regarding governance and the balance of powers.

Composition. The assembly was structured with 50 senators and 102 general deputies, as defined in Article 2 of the 1824 Constitution. These representatives were defined as the nation's representatives. The membership reflected the political landscape of the early Empire, with debates centering on whether the government would be chosen by the monarch or by the legislature.

Dissolution. Tensions between the executive and legislative branches escalated during the assembly's tenure. On 12 November 1823, Pedro I ordered the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and called for new elections. This action reflected the ongoing struggle over the balance of powers that had characterized the political debates since the assembly's inception.