CPI is the acronym for Parliamentary Inquiry Committee, name given to investigation process led by the Legislative Power in order to investigate certain complaints of irregularities in the public sector.
One of the main functions of the Legislative Power is precisely to supervise the work performed by the Executive Branch and, in case of suspected infractions, the CPI's are necessary to investigate these cases.
The CPI only has the investigative power, that is, it cannot punish or bring criminal action against the accused. However, after the investigations raised by the Commission, a final and conclusive report can be presented to the Public Prosecutor's Office for it to take the appropriate punishment measures against the defendants, if it is the case.
According to the text in paragraph 3 of article 58 of the Federal Constitution of 1988, "the parliamentary inquiry committees, which will have investigative powers of the judicial authorities, in addition to others provided for in the regulations of the respective Houses will be created by the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, jointly or separately, upon request of one third of its members, for the calculation of determined fact and for a fixed period, with its conclusions, if applicable, forwarded to the Public Ministry, so that it promotes the civil or criminal liability of the offenders”.
In other words, for a CPI to be established, the approval of at least one third of the parliamentarians, whether from the Chamber of Deputies or the Federal Senate, is required.
The CPI's are also born with a deadline to end (usually investigations and debates last 120 days), however this period can be extended, if necessary.
Brazil has already witnessed several public scandals that were investigated by CPIs, such as the BNDES CPI, CPMI do Mensalão and the CPI of Petrobrás (calculation of the diversion of state resources by members of the PT, PP and PMDB).
Learn more about the meaning of monthly.
CPI Powers
It is worth remembering that the CPI has the same investigative power as a judicial authority, and may carry out some actions such as: breach of bank, tax and data secrecy, hearing witnesses, investigated and indicted, arresting in the act, among others.
However, there are some limitations that escape the power granted to the CPIs, such as: decreeing preventive detention, decree house search and seizure, determine the removal of the accused from his position during the investigations, among others.
CPI and CPMI
CPMI is the acronym for the Joint Parliamentary Inquiry Committee, with the same objective as the CPI, but formed within the scope of the National Congress, as it unites the will of the Chamber of Deputies (with at least one third of the deputies) and the Federal Senate (with one third of the senators).
It is called a CPI when the manifestation for the opening of a parliamentary investigation process is created within the scope of one of the Houses, that is, in the Chamber or in the Senate.
Learn more about the meaning of CPMI.