# Law No. 168 of December 11, 1947

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647688](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647688)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-168-of-december-11-1947

## Summary
Law No. 168 of December 11, 1947, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to authorize a special budgetary adjustment known as a "Credito Especial" for the Ministry of Education and Health. Promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, this legal instrument serves as the official written record for the allocation of specific funds within the national budget. It remains a documented part of Brazil's legislative history, accessible via the official LexML Brazil repository.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 168, de 11 de dezembro de 1947.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 168/1947.
- **Classification:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Date of Promulgation:** December 11, 1947.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial).
- **Specific Purpose:** Authorization for the opening of a special credit (Abertura De Credito).
- **Beneficiary Entity:** Ministry of Education and Health (Ministerio Da Educação E Saude).
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML Brazil Identifier:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1947-12-11;168.
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law.
- **Source Reference:** https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1947-12-11;168 (Accessed 2021-01-28 and 2021-04-06).

## FAQs
**What is the primary function of Law No. 168 of 1947?**
The law functions as an authorization mechanism to open a special budgetary credit specifically designated for the Ministry of Education and Health. It serves as the formal legal instrument allowing the government to adjust the budget to meet specific financial needs for that ministry.

**Who enacted this legislation and where was it published?**
The statute was approved and promulgated by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil on December 11, 1947. It was officially published in the city of Rio de Janeiro, which served as the capital at that time.

**How is this law identified in digital legal repositories?**
The law is uniquely identified in the LexML Brazil system by the Uniform Resource Name (URN) `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1947-12-11;168`. This identifier allows for precise retrieval of the text from the official government portal.

**What specific budgetary mechanism does this statute utilize?**
The legislation utilizes the mechanism of a "Credito Especial" (Special Credit) to allocate funds. This is a specific type of budgetary adjustment used to authorize expenditures that were not included in the original annual budget plan.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 168 of 1947 is significant as a concrete example of how the Brazilian federal government manages fiscal resources through legislative action. By authorizing a special credit for the Ministry of Education and Health, it highlights the legislative branch's role in overseeing and directing public funds toward essential social services. This statute demonstrates the operational mechanics of the Brazilian budgetary process, where specific needs are addressed through targeted legal instruments rather than general appropriations. Its preservation in the LexML system ensures that historical fiscal decisions remain transparent and accessible to researchers, legal professionals, and the public, reinforcing the principle of open government.

## Notable For
- **Specific Budgetary Focus:** It is distinct for its targeted allocation of funds to the Ministry of Education and Health via a special credit mechanism.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted in 1947, it represents a legislative act from the early post-World War II era of the Brazilian Republic.
- **Digital Preservation:** It is fully cataloged in the modern LexML Brazil repository with a persistent URN identifier.
- **Administrative Scope:** It specifically addresses the financial operations of a major federal ministry, linking legislative approval to executive administration.
- **Formal Classification:** It stands as a verified instance of a "statute" within the broader taxonomy of Brazilian law.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 168 of December 11, 1947, is formally classified as a **statute**. In the context of legal taxonomy, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. This specific law functions as the physical manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. It is an instance of a legal term and concept, serving as a subclass of written work, document, and rule. The document was created through the act of legislation and is caused by a legal act, specifically the promulgation by the Presidency.

### Legislative History and Promulgation
The statute was approved and promulgated on **December 11, 1947**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. At the time of its publication, the capital of Brazil was **Rio de Janeiro**, which is recorded as the place of publication. The law was enacted during a period when Brazil was operating under its 1946 Constitution, which had re-established democratic governance following the Estado Novo period. The specific date of publication is recorded as 1947-12-11, with the sourcing circumstance noted as an inference based on the official repository data.

### Subject Matter and Financial Authorization
The core subject of this legislation is a **special budgetary adjustment**, technically referred to in the text as a **"Credito Especial"**. The law serves as an **authorization** for the **opening of a special credit** (Abertura De Credito). This financial mechanism allows the government to allocate funds that were not originally planned in the general budget. The specific **destination** (Destinação) of these funds is the **Ministry of Education and Health** (Ministerio Da Educação E Saude). This indicates that the law was designed to address immediate or unforeseen financial requirements within the sectors of education and public health.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The law applies exclusively to the **Federative Republic of Brazil**, establishing its jurisdiction over the entire national territory. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, which is the official language of the country. As a federal law, it holds authority over all states and municipalities within the Brazilian federation. The legal citation for this text is standardly written as **Lei nº 168/1947**, providing a concise reference for legal professionals and historians.

### Digital Identification and Repository Data
The statute is meticulously cataloged in the **LexML Brazil** system, a project dedicated to the standardization and accessibility of Brazilian legal data. Its unique identifier is the URN: **urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1947-12-11;168**. This identifier ensures that the law can be unambiguously retrieved from the official portal at `https://www.lexml.gov.br`. The data associated with this entry was last verified and referenced on **January 28, 2021**, and **April 6, 2021**, ensuring the accuracy of the metadata. The entry is also linked to the Wikidata entity **Q105737370**, which serves as the digital knowledge base record for this specific law.

### Context within the Brazilian Legal System
This law operates within the framework of the Brazilian federal legislative system. As a federal statute, it is part of the hierarchy of laws that govern the nation. The creation of such a law follows a standard legislative process involving the drafting of laws, legislative approval, and final promulgation by the executive branch. The specific inclusion of the Ministry of Education and Health reflects the administrative structure of the Brazilian government in the late 1940s, where these two critical sectors were often managed under a single ministry. The law serves as a historical record of how the government prioritized and funded public services during that era.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1947-12-11;168)