Constitucionalização do Sistema Único de Segurança Pública: desafios federativos da PEC 18/2025

Abstract

This article examines the impacts of the Proposed Constitutional Amendment no. 18/2025 (Public Security Amendment) on the configuration of Brazilian cooperative federalism under the 1988 Constitution. The amendment, submitted by the Executive Branch, aims to constitutionalize the Unified Public Security System (SUSP), created by Law No. 13.675/2018, which still lacks full regulatory implementation. The study starts from the observation that the rise in crime and the strengthening of organized criminal groups have driven national public policies that promote integration among federative entities. By proposing the issuance of general rules by the Union and conditioning federal funding on adherence to national guidelines, the amendment has drawn criticism from state authorities and experts, especially regarding the preservation of subnational autonomy. This qualitative, theoretical-documentary research seeks to assess whether the proposal poses a threat to the constitutional division of powers or fits within the legitimate framework of cooperative federalism. The conclusion is that, although the amendment formally respects the model of concurrent competences, its implementation must be cautious to avoid establishing mechanisms of induced centralization that may undermine state autonomy. The success of the proposal depends on institutional commitment to intergovernmental cooperation and clear normative boundaries for federal intervention in public security policy.