faq
Q: How does the Transparency Card have access to parliamentarians' expenses?
A: The Transparency Card is a technology connected in real time with the open and official data of the Portal da Transparência of the Chamber of Deputies. The card analyzes the data and turns it into an easier way to view parliamentarians' expense statements.
Q: Is there any law that guarantees access to this information?
A: According to Law No. 12,527, enacted on November 18, 2011, citizens' access to public information is a constitutional right and is applicable to the three powers of the Union, the states, the Federal District and the municipalities. The Law establishes as a fundamental principle that access to public information is the rule, and secrecy is the exception.
Q: Is there any political interest behind the Transparency Card?
A: No. It is a non-partisan tool that gives access to information from parliamentarians regardless of party or political orientation.
Q: Why can't I monitor the spending of the Senate or the President?
A: Currently, the tool validates the data of 513 deputies. There is still no active availability of information from the Senate and the Presidency of the Republic that allows the consultation of this data in real time. That's why we need to push even more for transparency.
Q: I’ve added the card, but haven't received any notification until now. What could have happened?
A: There are variables that depend on good practices and commitment from the parliamentarians so that technology can obtain the data. We depend on the frequency with which they update their expense statements - unfortunately, not all deputies are frequent. They have up to 90 days to do so. Also, we depend on how they fill in these declarations. Information needs to be added clearly. When parliamentarians fulfill their obligations and correctly declare expenses, notifications reach Brazilians.
Q: Is there any difference between iOS and Android version?
A: Yes. For iOS, you can add cards, track statements with spending history and receive real-time notifications. As for the Android version, however, it is not possible to receive notifications in real time due to a limitation of the Android operating system.
Q: Is it possible to have multiple Transparency Cards in my mobile wallet?
A: Yes, you can add as many cards as you like whenever you like.
Q: I haven't found the parliamentarian I want to monitor. Why?
A: The tool depends on how often politicians update their spending statements to get the data. Unfortunately, not all Members of Parliament live up to this commitment. How about demanding that he be included in the government database using your social networks? Having access to information about how your money is spent is your right.
Q: Does the email I provide go to a database?
A: No. The emails provided to obtain the Transparency Card are only to confirm that the person consuming the information has a valid email address. After checking that, the email is discarded and no one will have access to your data or which politicians you follow.
Q: Does the card have commercial purposes?
A: It doesn't and it never will. The focus of the Transparency Card is to be an information and monitoring tool for increasing transparency in our country.
Q: Is it possible to see expenses from previous years? If yes, how?
A: Currently, the Transparency Card only covers the current year (2022). But we are constantly evolving so that more information reaches you.
Q: What is the Parliamentary Allowance?
A: Did you know that, in addition to salary and servers, every federal deputy is entitled to receive a monthly amount to spend on expenses related to the mandate? It is the so-called Parliamentary Allowance for the Exercise of Parliamentary Activity (Ceap). Expenses with office rent, airline tickets, food, lodging, car rental, fuel and telephone, among others, may be covered by this benefit. The amount spent by the parliamentarian can be refunded or debited from the allowance, in the case of a postal service request and reservation of tickets on accredited airlines. Also in the case of debt, there is no individual issue of invoice, since the contract is signed by the Chamber and not by the deputy. The value of the allowance is different for each state of the Federation, because it takes into account the price of air tickets from Brasília to the capital of the state for which the deputy was elected. The current values are: Refund The deputy has up to 90 days to present the documentation proving the expense. The amounts of invoices submitted within this period are deducted from the allowance for the month to which the expense refers. Thus, before the 90 days have elapsed, it is not correct to state the total spent by a parliamentarian, since he can still present documents referring to expenses from previous months. According to Table Act 43/2009, the parliamentarian assumes full responsibility for the invoice he presents. The Chamber, at the administrative level, is responsible of verifying expenditures only regarding the fiscal and accounting regularity of the supporting documentation. Expenses that can be paid with the parliamentary allowance: 1 - Airline tickets; 2 - Telephones for offices, state offices and expenses with the deputy's work cell phone. The accounts must be of proven responsibility by the parliamentarian; 3 - Postal services, except stamps; 4 - Office maintenance to support parliamentary activity, such as leasing of properties, electricity, water and sewage, internet access, among others; 5 - Food; 6 - Accommodation, except in the Federal District; 7 - travel expenses for: - leasing or chartering of aircraft; - leasing or chartering of motor vehicles (non-accumulative limit of R$ 12,713.00 per month), insurance is permitted; - leasing or chartering of vessels; - taxi, toll and parking services (non-accumulative limit of BRL 2,700.00 per month); - land, sea or river passages. 8 - Fuels and lubricants (non-accumulative limit of BRL 6,000.00 monthly); 9 - Security services from specialized companies (non-accumulative limit of BRL 8,700.00 per month); 10 - Consultancy and technical work to support parliamentary exercise; 11 - Disclosure of parliamentary activity (except in the 120 days prior to the election date, if the deputy is a candidate - Bureau Act 40/2012); 12 - Participation in courses, congresses or events, held by a specialized institution (non-accumulative monthly limit of 25% of the lowest allowance value – currently R$ 7,697.17); 13 - Supplementation of housing allowance, in accordance with Table Act 104/88 (non-accumulative limit of R$ 1,747.00 monthly). Expenses that cannot be paid with the Parliamentary Allowance Expenses with the use of the allowance for: 1 - Goods or services acquired from a company or entity in which the deputy or relative up to the third degree or servant of the Chamber is the owner or holder of any participation; 2 - Leasing or chartering in companies in which the deputy or relative up to the third degree or in which a servant of the Chamber are owners or holders of any participation; 3 - Payment made to an individual person and not a company, except for rental of property, use of aircraft or boat, and taxi services; 4 - Without presentation of an invoice, unless the company is legally exempt from issuing the invoice; 5 - Acquisition of foodstuff; 6 - Acquisition of permanent material, with over a two year durability; 7 - Leasing of movable assets with clauses that allow their acquisition with allowance resources; 8 - Leasing of a motor vehicle with chauffeur service, provided by a specialized company 9 - Electoral expenses; 10 - Expenses related to the participation of the deputy in basic education, graduation and post-graduation courses. Some deputies receive an additional BRL 1,353.04 in the amount of the monthly allowance for holding the position of leader or vice-leader of a political party or parliamentary bloc; government leader in the House or Congress; Minority leader; chairman or vice-chairman of a standing committee; and representative of political parties with less than one hundredth of the composition of the House. The expenses of officials in the service of the parliamentary activity of the deputy that can be reimbursed from the allowance are: air, land, sea or river tickets; accommodation; leasing or chartering of vehicles, aircraft and vessels; taxi services; toll; and parking.