# Law No. 2703 of January 4, 1956

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649415](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649415)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-2703-of-january-4-1956

## Summary
**Law No. 2703 of January 4, 1956** (Lei nº 2703, de 4 de janeiro de 1956) is a Brazilian statute enacted to authorize a special budgetary adjustment (*Crédito Especial*) for the Ministry of War. Promulgated by President Nereu Ramos, the law provides the legal framework for specific financial allocations and payments within the Brazilian military establishment. It serves as a formal manifestation of statutory law in Brazil, classified as a written legal document within the public domain.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 2703, de 4 de janeiro de 1956
- **Classification:** Instance of a **statute** (formal written document that creates law)
- **Date of Enactment:** January 4, 1956
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signatory:** Nereu Ramos (President, 1956-01-04)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro (then capital)
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (*Crédito Especial*)
- **Beneficiary Entity:** Ministry of War of Brazil (*Ministério da Guerra*)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2703/1956
- **Lexml ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-01-04;2703`
- **Status:** Public domain (per edict of government doctrine)
- **Availability:** Accessible via the official Planalto Palace website and Lexml Brazil portal.

## FAQs
**What is the specific purpose of Law No. 2703?**
The law authorizes a "special budgetary adjustment" (Crédito Especial) specifically for the Ministry of War. Its documented objectives include establishing a goal (*Objetivo*), defining a destination/end (*Destinação*), and authorizing payment (*Pagamento*) related to this adjustment.

**Who approved and signed this law?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and formally promulgated by Nereu Ramos on January 4, 1956.

**Where was the law published and what language is it in?**
The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is written in Brazilian Portuguese. As an official legal document, it is part of the public domain.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 2703 of January 4, 1956, matters as a concrete example of Brazilian statutory law during the mid-20th century. It illustrates the mechanisms of government finance and military administration during the democratic period of 1946–1964, specifically how the state allocated extraordinary resources ("special credits") to the Ministry of War. As a statute, it serves as a primary source for legal research and historical analysis of Brazil's defense budgeting processes. Its existence highlights the role of the President (then Nereu Ramos) in executing financial oversight and the functioning of the legislative machinery in Rio de Janeiro prior to the move to Brasília.

## Notable For
- **Specific Budgetary Function:** Notable for authorizing a "special credit" rather than general legislation, a specific financial mechanism used for unforeseen or urgent expenses.
- **Military Administration:** Directly serves the "Ministry of War of Brazil," reflecting the organizational structure of the Brazilian military before the creation of the Ministry of Defence.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted in 1956, placing it within a significant period of Brazilian political history (post-Getúlio Vargas, pre-military dictatorship).
- **Public Accessibility:** Fully accessible as public domain text via the `planalto.gov.br` portal and identified by the standardized Lexml URN.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
Law No. 2703 of January 4, 1956, is an instance of a **statute**. In legal taxonomy, a statute is a formal written document that creates law; it acts as a manifestation of statutory law and is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As an official edict of the Brazilian government, the text is in the **public domain**, consistent with the "edict of government doctrine" which mandates that laws are not copyrightable and must be accessible to the public.

### Legislative Authority and Approval
The law was created through the legislative authority of the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. It was determined by method of **promulgation** on January 4, 1956. The key figure in this process was **Nereu Ramos**, who served as the approver (signatory) at that specific point in time.

### Subject Matter and Financial Scope
The core function of this statute is the authorization of a **special budgetary adjustment** (identified in the text as *Credito Especial*). The law explicitly targets the **Ministry of War of Brazil** (*Ministerio Da Guerra*) as the beneficiary of these funds. The detailed knowledge of the law outlines specific functional components:
- **Goal (*Objetivo*):** The targeted aim of the budgetary allocation.
- **End/Destination (*Destinação*):** The specific purpose or location where the funds are directed.
- **Payment (*Pagamento*):** The authorization of financial disbursement.

### Jurisdiction and Geopolitical Context
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. At the time of its enactment in 1956, the country operated as a **Federative Republic** with **Rio de Janeiro** as its capital (Brasília became the capital in 1960). Consequently, Rio de Janeiro is listed as the **place of publication** for this statute.

### Identification and Access
To facilitate legal research and digital access, Law No. 2703 is indexed under several standardized identifiers:
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-01-04;2703`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2703/1956
- **Web Resource:** The full text is available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2703.htm`.
- **Language:** The work is recorded in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Related Context: The Concept of "Statute"
As a statute, Law No. 2703 shares characteristics common to all such legal instruments. It is a "legal term or legal concept" that follows "draft laws" and is caused by "legislation." Structurally, it is composed of "legal norms" and is considered a "part of" the broader concepts of "law" and "legal act." It serves as the tangible, written evidence of the "special budgetary adjustment" it enacts.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-01-04;2703)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2703&ano=1956&data=04/01/1956&ato=3a3UzZ610dNRVTa68)