Percurso para o Senado: carreiras e social background dos senadores das 51ª e 52ª Legislaturas

Analyzing the Brazilian Federal Senate between 1999 and 2006 the main objective is to presentthe characteristics of recruitment of the Senators who had a seat in the Upper House accordingto parties’ position in the political spectrum. Exploring a database consisting of information suchas academic degree, profession before the political career and positions previously held by the135 politicians with mandates during the interim, the Federal Senate was composed mainly ofpoliticians with bachelor’s degrees, who were reasonably distinct in their previous professionsand with a strong contrast in the formation of their political careers – high level of experience forcenter and right parties’ politicians and less experience of Senators from the left.