Municipal Chamber of Macapá

The Municipal Chamber of Macapá (Câmara Municipal de Macapá) is the legislative branch of the municipality of Macapá, the capital of the state of Amapá in northern Brazil. It is a public, state-owned institution responsible for drafting and approving municipal laws, overseeing the local executive branch, and representing the citizens of Macapá. The chamber is currently composed of 23 councillors (vereadores), the maximum number permitted under Brazil's 1988 Constitution, making it the largest municipal legislative house in the state of Amapá. Its seat is the Palácio Janary Nunes, located in the city centre. The chamber's origins date to the colonial period. It was created on 1 January 1758, two days before the founding of the Vila de São José de Macapá. On 2 February 1758, an Intendência was established, which was later transformed into the Câmara Municipal. Four community members were sworn in by Pascoal de Abranches Madeira Fernandes to administer the future village, and Mendonça Furtado erected the pelourinho (pillory) at what is now Praça Veiga Cabral. The councillors governed the village until 10 March 1890, when the Provisional Government of Pará dissolved the chambers and created the Conselho de Intendência (Council of Intendancy). The first appointed Intendente in Macapá was Colonel Coriolano Jucá. Under the government of Getúlio Vargas from 1930, federal interventors appointed local administrators. An election for mayor and councillors was scheduled for 3 December 1935, with the Câmaras Municipais replacing the Conselho de Intendência and the elected manager taking the title of Prefeito. Francisco Alves Soares was elected mayor and took office on 16 February 1936. With the establishment of the Estado Novo in 1937, legislative bodies were closed. A new election for the Macapá chamber only occurred on 30 November 1969, even after the Federal Territory of Amapá had been carved out in 1943; nine councillors took office on 7 January 1970. João de Oliveira Cortes was appointed mayor, with General Ivanhoé Gonçalves Martins as interventor. In 1988, Amapá was elevated to statehood, with Macapá as its capital. Today the chamber operates from the Palácio Janary Nunes and maintains an official website and mobile application ("Aplicativo Oficial do Legislativo") that allow citizens to follow propositions, parliamentarians, sessions and more. The Mesa Diretora (bureau) elected for the 2025–2027 biennium leads the chamber, and 23 councillors were elected in the 2024 municipal elections. As a public legislative body, the chamber is not a commercial enterprise; it is funded by public resources and its role is to serve the residents of Macapá through lawmaking and oversight.

The Municipal Chamber of Macapá was created on 1 January 1758, two days before the founding of the Vila de São José de Macapá. On 2 February 1758, an Intendência was established, which was later transformed into the Câmara Municipal. Four members of the community were sworn in by Pascoal de Abranches Madeira Fernandes to manage and conduct the destinies of the future village, installed two days later. Mendonça Furtado erected the pelourinho at the current Praça Veiga Cabral. The councillors were responsible for the administration of the village of Macapá until 10 March 1890, when the Provisional Government of Pará dissolved the chambers and created the Conselho de Intendência. The first Intendente appointed in Macapá was Colonel Coriolano Jucá. With the government of Getúlio Vargas from 1930, interventors (later governors and mayors) began to be appointed by the federal government. An election for mayor and councillors was scheduled for 3 December 1935. The Câmaras Municipais would replace the Conselho de Intendência and the elected manager would be called Prefeito. Francisco Alves Soares was elected mayor and took office on 16 February 1936. With the installation of the Estado Novo in 1937, legislative bodies were closed. A new election for the Macapá chamber only occurred again on 30 November 1969, even with the dismemberment of the Federal Territory of Amapá in 1943, with the inauguration of nine councillors on 7 January 1970. João de Oliveira Cortes was appointed mayor, with General Ivanhoé Gonçalves Martins as interventor. In 1988, Amapá was elevated to the category of state, with Macapá as capital. The chamber is currently composed of 23 councillors, the maximum number established by the 1988 Constitution. It is considered the largest municipal legislative house in the state, and its current seat is established in the Palácio Janary Nunes in the centre of the city. The Mesa Diretora elected for the 2025-2027 biennium leads the chamber, and 23 councillors were elected in the 2024 municipal election.

• Creation of the Municipal Chamber of Macapá on 1 January 1758, two days before the founding of the Vila de São José de Macapá.

• Establishment of the Intendência on 2 February 1758, later transformed into the Câmara Municipal.

• Dissolution of the chambers by the Provisional Government of Pará on 10 March 1890 and creation of the Conselho de Intendência.

• Election for mayor and councillors scheduled for 3 December 1935; Francisco Alves Soares elected mayor and took office on 16 February 1936.

• Legislative bodies closed with the installation of the Estado Novo in 1937.

• New election for the Macapá chamber on 30 November 1969; nine councillors took office on 7 January 1970.

• Amapá elevated to statehood in 1988, with Macapá as capital.

• 23 councillors elected in the 2024 municipal election; Mesa Diretora elected for the 2025-2027 biennium.

1. 1Poder Legislativomacapa.ap.leg.br
2. 2Municipal Chamber of Macapáwikidata.org
3. 3Câmara Municipal de Macapápt.wikipedia.org