# Law No. 2903 of October 5, 1956

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649607](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649607)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-2903-of-october-5-1956

## Summary
**Law No. 2903 of October 5, 1956** (Portuguese: Lei nº 2903, de 5 de outubro de 1956) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. Promulgated in Rio de Janeiro, the law authorizes a special budgetary adjustment ("Crédito Especial") to open credit for the Ministry of Health. Its primary legal function is to declare properties of public utility for purposes of eminent domain (desapropriação) in the state of Pernambuco. It is classified as a formal written document (statute) that creates law within the Brazilian legal system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 2903, de 5 de outubro de 1956
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 2903/1956
- **Enactment Date:** October 5, 1956
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President at Enactment:** Juscelino Kubitschek
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Approving Body:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Legislative Type:** Federal Law (Lei)
- **Main Subjects:**
    - Special budgetary adjustment (Credito Especial)
    - Eminent domain (Desapropriação)
    - Public utility (Utilidade Publica)
    - Ministry of Health of Brasil (Ministerio Da Saude - Ms)
    - Real property (Imovel)
    - Pernambuco State (Estado De Pernambuco - Pe)
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-10-05;2903
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2903.htm
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 2903/1956?**
The law's main purpose is to authorize a special budgetary credit ("Crédito Especial") specifically for the Ministry of Health. It facilitates this by declaring certain real properties as being of "public utility," a legal prerequisite for the government to exercise eminent domain (desapropriação).

**Which geographic region and government body are directly affected by this law?**
The law specifically applies to the state of Pernambuco (Estado De Pernambuco) in Brazil. The government body directly responsible for executing the law's provisions is the Ministry of Health of Brazil (Ministerio Da Saude).

**Who signed Law No. 2903 into effect and when?**
The law was promulgated on October 5, 1956, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, under the administration of President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was published in Rio de Janeiro, which was the federal capital at the time.

**What legal classification does this law fall under?**
It is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document enacted to create law. It is a federal law (Lei) applicable to the entire Federative Republic of Brazil, though its specific subject matter is geographically targeted.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 2903 of October 5, 1956, is significant as a specific instrument of federal executive power in Brazil, illustrating the legal mechanisms for public investment and social policy during the mid-20th century. It serves as a concrete example of how the Brazilian government utilizes "special budgetary adjustments" to allocate funds outside of the ordinary budget cycle, often to address urgent needs or specific projects. By linking a financial authorization directly to a "public utility" declaration, the law showcases the procedural step required for the state to acquire private real property (eminent domain) for public purposes—in this case, related to health initiatives in Pernambuco. The law is a manifestation of statutory law from the Juscelino Kubitschek era, a period noted for its ambitious development programs, and stands as an accessible public domain legal record within Brazil's legislative history.

## Notable For
- **Specific Budgetary Mechanism:** Utilizes a "Crédito Especial" (Special Credit), a distinct financial instrument for government spending.
- **Targeted Eminent Domain:** Explicitly declares real properties as being of "public utility" for the purpose of expropriation.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a pivotal figure in Brazilian modernization.
- **Capital Publication:** Published in Rio de Janeiro, reflecting its status as the federal capital before the move to Brasília.
- **Subject Matter Focus:** Connects federal health policy (via the Ministry of Health) with land acquisition in a specific state (Pernambuco).
- **Digital Accessibility:** As a public domain document, it is available via the official Planalto Palace website, ensuring transparency and public access to legal records.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Classification
Law No. 2903 of October 5, 1956, is formally classified as a **statute** (Portuguese: *estatuto* or *lei*), which constitutes a formal written document enacted to create law. It is an instance of a legal term or legal concept and a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As a statute, it serves as the manifestation of statutory law, created through legislation and functioning as the official record of a legal rule enacted by the Brazilian federal government. It is part of the broader concepts of "law" and "legal act" and is composed of legal norms. Its copyright status is public domain, consistent with the "edict of government doctrine" applied to official legal documents.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was promulgated on **October 5, 1956**, a time when **Rio de Janeiro** served as the federal capital of Brazil (Brasília would not become the capital until 1960). It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with President **Juscelino Kubitschek** serving as the head of state who authorized its enactment. The law falls within the historical period of the Kubitschek administration (1956-1961), which was characterized by rapid industrialization and development projects, such as the construction of Brasília and the expansion of infrastructure.

### Subject Matter and Jurisdiction
The statute has a defined jurisdiction and specific subject areas:
- **Jurisdiction:** The law applies to the **Federative Republic of Brazil** as a whole, but its content has a specific geographic focus.
- **Geographic Scope:** Its primary geographic subject is **Pernambuco** (Estado De Pernambuco - PE), a state in the Northeast region of Brazil.
- **Primary Subjects:** The law addresses several interconnected concepts:
    - **Special Budgetary Adjustment (Credito Especial):** The core financial mechanism authorized by the law.
    - **Ministry of Health of Brasil (Ministerio Da Saude - Ms):** The federal body designated to receive and manage the allocated credit.
    - **Public Utility (Utilidade Publica):** The legal status conferred upon properties, making them eligible for government acquisition.
    - **Eminent Domain (Desapropriação):** The legal process enabled by the public utility declaration for the state to take private property.
    - **Real Property (Imovel):** The specific type of asset affected by the law's provisions.

### Function and Operation
The law's operation follows a logical sequence typical of public works legislation. First, it authorizes a **special budgetary adjustment**, creating a financial allocation for a specific purpose. Second, it designates the recipient of these funds as the **Ministry of Health**. Third, to fulfill the implied purpose (likely the construction or expansion of health-related facilities), it declares certain **real properties** in **Pernambuco** to be of **public utility**. This legal declaration is the necessary precursor for the government to exercise **eminent domain**, allowing it to acquire the private land for public use.

### Official Identification and Access
The law is indexed and accessible through several official channels and identifiers:
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-10-05;2903` (a unique identifier within the Brazilian Legal XML system).
- **Official URL:** The full text of the law is available for public consultation at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l2903.htm` on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic.
- **Legal Citation:** It is formally cited as **Lei nº 2903/1956**.
- **Language:** The text is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.
- **WikiProject:** It is a subject of interest on **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its relevance within collaborative knowledge-building projects focused on Brazilian legislation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1956-10-05;2903)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=2903&ano=1956&data=05/10/1956&ato=d11c3a650dNRVT18f)