Brazilian constitutional referendum, 1963

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A constitutional referendum was held in Brazil on 6 January 1963. Voters were asked whether they approved of a constitutional amendment made in 1961 that transferred many of the President's powers to the National Congress. The changes were rejected by over 80% of voters.^[1]

Background

Following the resignation of Jânio Quadros on 25 August 1961 and the resistance of the Armed Forces and the upper classes to allowing left-wing Vice-President João Goulart to take office, a serious crisis developed, which almost resulted in a civil war. Goulart, who had been on an official visit to the People's Republic of China, was forbidden to return to the country.

Due to Goulart's massive popular support, rather than removing Goulart from office, the National Congress proposed an amendment to the 1946 Constitution, changing the form of government from presidentialism to parliamentarianism, reducing the powers of the President and creating a new post of Prime Minister. The amendment was approved and the military suspended their veto over Goulart, who took office on Independence Day in 1961.

However, the system of government, which had been based on the German model, did not work well, due to the hurry in which the amendment was approved. The ambitions of Goulart and his rivals Juscelino Kubitschek and Carlos Lacerda, both of whom were seeking to become President in the forthcoming 1965 elections, also contributed to the failure of parliamentarianism.

In less than two years, there were three Prime Ministers; Tancredo Neves (1961–1962), Brochado da Rocha (July–September 1962) and Hermes Lima (1962–1963).

Result

Voters were asked "Do you approve the amendment that established parliamentarism?" ("Aprova o ato adicional que instituiu o parlamentarismo?").

Aftermath

Goulart, having achieved full presidential powers, started his Basic Reforms plan (Reformas de Base), which led to a military coup d'état in April 1964.

References

• A ditadura militar no Brasil, Volume 3 - Jango: Ascenção e queda, p. 72, São Paulo, Caros Amigos Editora, 2007.

Elections and referendums in Brazil
Presidential elections	(1891) 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1919 1922 1926 1930 (1934) 1945 1950 1955 1960 (1964) (1966) (1969) (1974) (1978) (1985) 1989 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Parliamentary elections	1823 1826 1830 1834 1842 1843 1845 1848 1850 1853 1857 1861 1864 1867 1869 1872 1877 1878 1882 1885 1886 1890 1894 1896 1899 1903 1906 1909 1912 1915 1918 1927 1930 1933 1934 1945 1947 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Municipal elections	1985 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016
Referendums	1963 1993 2005
Elections in brackets were indirect