Administrative regions of the Federal District (Brazil)

The administrative regions of the Federal District (Portuguese: regiões administrativas do Distrito Federal, RADF or RA) are administrative divisions of the Federal District, Brazil. They have similar jurisdiction to municipalities, albeit with a much lesser degree of autonomy. However, administrators are not directly elected, but appointed by the Governor of the Federal District. Moreover, administrative regions have no specific legislative representation apart from the district-wide Legislative Chamber of the Federal District.

History

The Federal District was first divided into administrative regions by a 1964 federal law. Prior to this, the regions were not officially defined, but the seven oldest seats of government (Gama, Taguatinga, Brazlândia, Sobradinho, Planaltina, Paranoá, and Núcleo Bandeirante) already existed and were often called satellite cities (Portuguese: cidades satélites) to the capital Brasília, located in the Brasília administrative region.

The 1988 Constitution of Brazil divides the country into federated states and these into municipalities with a degree of autonomy, headed by an elected mayor, but explicitly forbids the Federal District to divide into municipalities. It is instead divided into administrative regions headed by a regional administrator who is appointed by the Governor of the Federal District , as opposed to the elected mayors of municipalities.

Regional administrations are tasked with representing the government of the Federal District and coordinating local public services, and carry out most tasks reserved for municipalities, except for matters exclusive to states, which are handled by the governor themself.