# Law No. 2722 of February 6, 1956 > Brazilian law **Wikidata**: [Q105649439](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649439) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-2722-of-february-6-1956 ## Summary Law No. 2722 of February 6, 1956 (Lei nº 2722/1956) is a Brazilian statute that establishes special budgetary credit and financial aid for the Ministry of Education (MEC). Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, this law represents a legislative mechanism for allocating extraordinary financial resources to Brazil's education sector during the mid-1950s. The law was published in Rio de Janeiro and remains accessible through the official government portal, serving as a historical example of Brazil's budgetary legislation for educational funding. ## Key Facts - **Official Title:** Lei nº 2722, de 6 de fevereiro de 1956 - **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2722/1956 - **Country:** Brazil - **Publication Date:** February 6, 1956 - **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro - **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil - **President:** Juscelino Kubitschek (approved on February 6, 1956) - **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law) - **Main Subjects:** Special budgetary adjustment (Crédito Especial), Financial aid (Auxílio Financeiro), Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação - MEC) - **Applies To Jurisdiction:** Brazil - **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese - **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-02-06;2722 - **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2722.htm - **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law - **Wikimedia Project:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws ## FAQs **What is Law No. 2722 of February 6, 1956?** Law No. 2722 of February 6, 1956 is a Brazilian federal law that authorizes special budgetary credit (crédito especial) and financial aid (auxílio financeiro) for the Ministry of Education (MEC). It was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek and represents a legislative mechanism for allocating extraordinary funding to Brazil's education sector. **Who promulgated Law No. 2722/1956?** The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on February 6, 1956. Kubitschek served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961 and was known for his ambitious infrastructure and development programs during his term. **What is the subject matter of Law No. 2722/1956?** The law addresses three main subjects: special budgetary adjustment (crédito especial), financial aid (auxílio financeiro), and matters related to the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação). It represents a specific legislative action to provide extraordinary financial resources to Brazil's education ministry. **Where can Law No. 2722/1956 be accessed?** The full text of the law is available on the official website of the Brazilian Presidency at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2722.htm. It is also catalogued in the LexML Brazilian legal database with the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-02-06;2722. **What type of legal instrument is Law No. 2722/1956?** Law No. 2722/1956 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal system, a "lei" (law) is a legislative act passed by the National Congress and promulgated by the President, representing a binding legal norm within the country's legal hierarchy. ## Why It Matters Law No. 2722 of February 6, 1956 matters as a historical example of Brazil's legislative mechanisms for addressing educational funding needs during a critical period of the country's development. The mid-1950s represented a transformative era in Brazilian history under President Kubitschek's leadership, who pursued ambitious goals for national development, including significant investments in education and infrastructure. This law demonstrates how the Brazilian federal government utilized special budgetary instruments to channel resources to the Ministry of Education, reflecting the prioritization of educational development during this period. The use of "crédito especial" (special budgetary credit) indicates extraordinary financial measures beyond regular budgetary allocations, suggesting significant educational initiatives or needs that required exceptional funding mechanisms. From a legal-historical perspective, Law No. 2722/1956 represents a concrete manifestation of statutory law in Brazil, demonstrating how the legislative process translates governmental priorities into binding legal instruments. The law's inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws indicates its continued relevance as part of Brazil's legal heritage and its utility for legal research and historical documentation. Furthermore, this law exemplifies the relationship between the executive branch and legislative bodies in Brazil's presidential system, where the President both proposes and promulgates legislation, with the law becoming part of the official legal framework governing public administration and financial matters. ## Notable For - **Historical Significance:** Represents Brazilian legislative efforts to fund educational development during the Kubitschek administration (1956-1961) - **Budgetary Innovation:** Utilizes "crédito especial" mechanism for extraordinary educational funding - **Institutional Focus:** Directly addresses the Ministry of Education (MEC), one of Brazil's most important federal ministries - **Legal Classification:** Serves as an example of Brazilian statutory law from the 1950s era - **Accessibility:** Remains publicly available through official government digital archives - **Documentation Quality:** Catalogued in multiple legal databases including LexML with standardized identifiers ## Body ### Legislative Context and Historical Background Law No. 2722 of February 6, 1956 emerged during a significant period in Brazilian history. The year 1956 marked the beginning of President Juscelino Kubitschek's term, who assumed office with a development-oriented agenda focused on industrial growth, infrastructure expansion, and social development. Education was a key priority in this developmental vision, as Brazil sought to modernize its economy and society. The law was promulgated on February 6, 1956, in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital at the time. The selection of Rio de Janeiro as the place of publication reflects the constitutional requirement that federal laws be officially published in the capital city before entering into force. ### Legal Nature and Classification As a "lei" (law) in the Brazilian legal system, Law No. 2722/1956 represents a legislative act with binding force. It is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. This classification places it within the broader category of statutory law, which constitutes one of the primary sources of Brazilian law alongside constitutional law, regulatory law, and jurisprudence. The law's instance as a "statute" connects it to the fundamental legal concept describing formal written documents that create law. This classification is consistent across Brazilian legal doctrine and international legal terminology, where statutes represent the official expression of legislative will. ### Subject Matter and Purpose Law No. 2722/1956 addresses three interconnected subjects that reflect its purpose: **Special Budgetary Adjustment (Crédito Especial):** This refers to an extraordinary budgetary mechanism that allows the government to allocate funds beyond the regular budget allocation. In Brazilian public finance, "crédito especial" represents a specific type of budget credit authorized by law to meet unforeseen expenses or special needs not contemplated in the annual budget law. **Financial Aid (Auxílio Financeiro):** This represents direct financial assistance provided to support specific programs or institutions. In the context of the Ministry of Education, such aid could support educational institutions, student assistance programs, or educational infrastructure projects. **Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação - MEC):** The law directly concerns Brazil's primary federal agency responsible for national education policy. The Ministry of Education oversees federal universities, educational programs, student financial aid systems, and educational standards across the country. ### Institutional Framework The law operates within Brazil's federal executive structure, specifically relating to the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The President of Brazil holds constitutional authority to promulgate laws passed by the National Congress, and in this case, President Juscelino Kubitschek exercised this authority on February 6, 1956. The Ministry of Education, established as a federal ministry, represents the institutional beneficiary of the financial provisions contained in the law. Throughout Brazilian history, the MEC has played a crucial role in developing the country's education system, from primary education to higher education and research. ### Legal Documentation and Preservation Law No. 2722/1956 is preserved in multiple official legal databases and repositories. The official text is available through the Brazilian Presidency's legislative portal, specifically at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2722.htm. This portal maintains the complete collection of Brazilian federal laws organized chronologically. The LexML system, Brazil's primary legal information repository, assigns the law the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-02-06;2722, enabling precise citation and retrieval. This standardized identification system facilitates legal research, academic citation, and legal practice. ### Relationship to Broader Legal Concepts This law connects to several broader legal concepts in the Brazilian legal system: **Statutory Law:** The law exemplifies statutory law in action—legislation enacted by the legislative body and signed into law by the executive. Brazilian statutory law operates within a hierarchical system where the Constitution stands at the top, followed by complementary laws, ordinary laws, and regulatory decrees. **Public Finance:** The use of "crédito especial" situates this law within Brazilian public finance law, which governs how the federal government manages its budget, allocates resources, and meets financial obligations to various sectors, including education. **Educational Law:** As a law specifically concerning the Ministry of Education, it forms part of Brazil's educational law framework, which encompasses all legislation related to education, from the Constitution's educational provisions to specific laws governing schools, universities, and student assistance. ### Accessibility and Legal Research The law remains accessible for legal research and historical study. Its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws indicates its documentation within Wikimedia projects dedicated to Brazilian legislation, suggesting ongoing efforts to preserve and make accessible Brazil's legal heritage. The law's publication in Brazilian Portuguese reflects the standard practice for domestic legislation, ensuring that legal texts are accessible to Brazilian citizens, legal professionals, and researchers who work with the official language of the country. ### Historical Context of Brazilian Education Funding Law No. 2722/1956 emerged during a period when Brazil was actively developing its education system. The mid-1950s represented a time of expansion for Brazilian education, with growing recognition of the importance of education for national development. The Kubitschek administration, in particular, pursued policies aimed at modernizing Brazil's infrastructure and human capital. The use of special budgetary mechanisms like "crédito especial" suggests that the government sought flexible financial tools to address urgent educational needs that exceeded regular budgetary allocations. This approach reflects the broader challenge of funding educational development in a large, developing country with significant social and economic demands. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-02-06;2722) 2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2722&ano=1956&data=06/02/1956&ato=ddbUTSE50dNRVTf7d)