Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | Saudi ArabiaReviewed | BrazilReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Islamic law | Civil law |
| System of government | Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy | Federal presidential republic |
| Constitution | Basic Law of Governance | Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil |
| In force since | 1992 | 1988 |
| Capital | Riyadh | Brasília |
| Official languages | Arabic | Portuguese |
| Currency | Saudi riyal (SAR) | Brazilian Real (BRL) |
| Population | 36,900,000 | 217,000,000 |
| Division of powers | Unitary. Thirteen provinces headed by governors drawn from the royal family and appointed by the King, each with an appointed provincial council. No legislative competence exists below the national level. | Presidentialism with a bicameral Congress and an assertive judiciary; the STF hears direct actions of unconstitutionality brought by defined institutional applicants. |
| How law is made | There is no legislature with power to enact law. Proposals originate in ministries or the Shura Council, are considered by the Council of Ministers, and take effect as royal decrees signed by the King and published in Umm al-Qura. The Shura Council may study and recommend but its resolutions require royal approval, and the King may legislate without consulting it. | Bills pass both chambers, with the initiating chamber reviewing amendments; the President may veto in whole or part, and Congress may override in joint session. |
| Legal profession | Advocates are licensed under the Code of Law Practice and must be Saudi nationals to appear in court, though licensed foreign firms may advise and now associate more freely following the 2024 opening. Judges are appointed from graduates of Sharia faculties by the Supreme Judicial Council and the King. Notarisation is a judicial function performed by notaries within the Ministry of Justice, and most commercial documentation must be executed in Arabic to be enforceable onshore. | Law graduates must pass the OAB examination; membership of the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil is mandatory to practise. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.