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 | ThailandReviewed | BrazilReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal familyIdentical | Civil law | Civil law |
| System of government | Constitutional monarchy | Federal presidential republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand | Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil |
| In force since | 2017 | 1988 |
| Capital | Bangkok | Brasília |
| Official languages | Thai | Portuguese |
| Currency | Thai baht (THB) | Brazilian Real (BRL) |
| Population | 71,700,000 | 217,000,000 |
| Division of powers | Unitary and centralised, with 76 provinces headed by appointed governors plus Bangkok, which elects its own governor. Pattaya has a special administrative status. Local administrative organisations exist at municipal and sub-district level with limited functions, and the deep south provinces are subject to special security legislation. | 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 | Bills pass three readings in the House of Representatives and are then considered by the Senate, which may delay. Money bills require Cabinet endorsement. Before royal assent, a bill may be referred to the Constitutional Court for pre-enactment review. The King signs; if assent is withheld, Parliament may reaffirm the bill by a two-thirds majority after 90 days. Constitutional amendment requires specified majorities in a joint sitting including Senate support, and referendums for some chapters. | 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 | Lawyers are licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under the Lawyers Act 1985 after a law degree and the ethics course; a separate and much harder Thai Bar Association examination is required for judicial and prosecutorial careers. Notarial services are performed by lawyers holding a notarial services attorney licence. Foreign lawyers may not appear in Thai courts and foreign ownership of law firms is restricted under the Foreign Business Act. | 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.