Military — Brazil's unacknowledged fifth institution. Formally subordinate to the president under Art. 142 of the 1988 Constitution — but that same article has been interpreted by the military itself as granting a "moderating" role independent of civilian command. Brazil's military has staged or enabled four governmental changes since 1889. During 2021–22, senior generals publicly refused to commit to respecting the election result. The Bolsonaro coup investigation showed generals actively participated in planning. This is not a footnote — it is a structural power that the formal chart deliberately cannot capture.