# Law No. 2784 of May 16, 1956

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649442](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649442)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-2784-of-may-16-1956

## Summary
**Law No. 2784 of May 16, 1956** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 2784, de 16 de maio de 1956*) is a Brazilian statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. The legislation authorizes a special budgetary adjustment (*Crédito Especial*) intended to cover specific financial obligations within the Brazilian Judiciary, particularly regarding salaries and payments for ministers of the Supreme Federal Court. It was published in Rio de Janeiro, which was the federal capital at the time.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 2784, de 16 de maio de 1956.
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law).
- **Date of Enactment:** May 16, 1956.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil; promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro (Capital of Brazil until 1960).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Primary Subject:** Special budgetary adjustment (*Crédito Especial*) for the Judiciary (*Judiciario*).
- **Specific Beneficiaries:** Supreme Federal Court (*Supremo Tribunal Federal*), specifically referencing ministers (*Ministro*) and their remuneration/salaries (*Vencimentos*).
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2784/1956.
- **Identifier:** LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-05-16;2784`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2784.htm`.

## FAQs
**What is the legal function of Law No. 2784/1956?**
The law functions as a statutory instrument to authorize a "special budgetary adjustment" (Crédito Especial). Its specific purpose is to allocate funds to cover pending payments (*Vencimentos*) for ministers within the Supreme Federal Court and the broader Judiciary.

**Who signed Law No. 2784/1956?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on May 16, 1956.

**Where was this law published?**
Although the current capital of Brazil is Brasília, this law was published in Rio de Janeiro on May 16, 1956, as Rio served as the national capital until April 1960.

**Is this law copyrighted?**
As a statute (edict of government), it is generally considered public domain in Brazil and the United States, meaning the text is not subject to copyright restrictions and is freely accessible to the public.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 2784 of May 16, 1956, represents a specific exercise of executive and legislative authority in mid-20th century Brazil. Enacted early in Juscelino Kubitschek’s administration (1956–1961), it highlights the procedural mechanisms used to manage state finances, specifically through "special credits" outside the standard budget. By targeting the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the law underscores the administrative necessities of maintaining the highest level of the judiciary. It serves as a primary source for understanding Brazilian administrative history, the evolution of public finance laws, and the operational context of the STF during the period preceding the relocation of the capital to Brasília.

## Notable For
- **Historical Context:** Being a statute enacted in 1956, placing it in the post-war era of Brazilian politics and just prior to the construction of Brasília.
- **Specific Allocation:** Notable for its narrow focus on "special budgetary adjustments" rather than broad legislative reform.
- **Executive Link:** Directly links to the administration of Juscelino Kubitschek, a pivotal figure in Brazilian modernization.
- **Digital Preservation:** Fully integrated into the modern Brazilian legal infrastructure via the LexML platform and the Presidency's official digital archive.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Classification
Law No. 2784 is formally classified as a **statute**. In legal ontology, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, serving as a manifestation of statutory law. It is a subclass of "written work" and "rule," distinct from broader legal concepts but functioning as a concrete legal act. As an "instance of" a statute, it shares the inherent characteristics of this class: it is a formal enactment by a legislature or authority (in this case, sanctioned by the Presidency), it creates a legal norm, and it is a matter of public record.

### Subject Matter and Content
The core content of Law No. 2784 revolves around financial administration within the government branch. The law establishes a **special budgetary adjustment** (cited in the text as *Credito Especial*). Specific subjects addressed in the statute include:
- **The Judiciary (*Judiciario*):** The broader branch of government responsible for the administration of justice.
- **The Supreme Federal Court (*Supremo Tribunal Federal*):** The highest body of the Brazilian judicial system.
- **Ministers (*Ministro*):** Referring to the judges of the Supreme Federal Court.
- **Remuneration (*Vencimentos*):** Covering salaries, wages, or overdue payments due to these officials.

This combination of subjects indicates the law was a specific financial measure to ensure the proper payment of the highest court's members.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was officially approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The promulgation method is identified as a standard legislative act sanctioned by **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who served as President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. This law is one of the earliest statutory acts of his term, taking place just months after his inauguration in January 1956.

### Publication and Historical Geography
The law was published on **May 16, 1956**, in **Rio de Janeiro**. This detail is historically significant as it confirms the law originated while Rio de Janeiro was still the federal capital (Capital of Brazil). The capital was subsequently moved to Brasília on April 22, 1960, making this law an artifact of the "Rio Era" of the Brazilian Republic.

### Identification and Access
The law is cataloged within the Brazilian legal information system using the **LexML Brazil ID**: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-05-16;2784`. This identifier allows for the standardized retrieval of the legal text across government databases. The full text of the law is accessible to the public via the official portal of the Presidency of the Republic (Planalto Palace) at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2784.htm`. It is also tracked by **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its relevance in legal cataloging and wiki-based knowledge management.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The law applies to the entirety of the **Federative Republic of Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. As a federal statute, its jurisdiction supersedes local or state laws in matters of its specific subject matter (federal budget and judiciary), conforming to the hierarchy of the Brazilian legal system defined by the Constitution in force at the time.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-05-16;2784)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2784&ano=1956&data=16/05/1956&ato=e86oXVU50dNRVTada)